Everyone has seen pictures of fearless climbers in colorful clothing, hanging off tiny little grips on a huge granite wall.  As we look on in awe and disbelief, rock climbing seems like something only the craziest of us would attempt. However, with every sport and hobby, it has humble beginnings. Practicing in safer terrains, climbers and those interested are increasingly finding themselves in a climbing gym. Over the past few years, climbing gyms have evolved from being solely focused on hard core athletes to being family-friendly experiences, offering challenges for experts and novices alike. The gym walls, filled with colorful grips, create routes for all levels of difficulty.  The floors are covered in bouncy mats offering safe landings and a break from the hard surfaces you were just scaling.

An important person once said, “Getting out of bed is half the battle.”

We wanted to be part of this year’s National Park Lands Day, but in order to be there in time, we needed to be at the White River Camp Ground at Mt Rainier National Park before 9 in the morning. That meant we had to get the kids up and out of bed at 6am on a Saturday, during the school year. We debated. Was it worth the potential battle? Were we the worst parents ever, to even consider this?

School’s back in session. People are busy prepping the house for the cooler winter weather. School activities are demanding attention. Daylight is waining, time to grab the blanket and a few good books.

But wait, bad weather is only has bad as your clothes and here in the Pacific Northwest it anyway doesn’t really get that cold out. Don’t give you on the outdoors, there’s still so much to do and explore.
So, grab your raincoat and your fleece, and head outside.

Here’s your challenge:
Most of us know a friend or family member who doesn’t love the outdoors as much as we do. We hike miles of back country trails, find excitement in the obscure and enjoy peak bagging. But our friends? Not so much.
So when they agree to join us for once, we need to plan the day, and choose the right location.

Last year, friends of ours took my family on one of the most epic adventures: We hiked the Ape Caves at Mt. St. Helens.

Since this summer is shaping up to be hot hot hot, this is a great place to cool of and have an epic adventure where it is always 42 degrees.

Make the best of your family trip to Paradise at Mount Rainier National Park with these ten great tips.

Paradise is one of the quintessential Northwest visitor destinations, offering stunning views of Pacific Northwest’s iconic Mount Rainier and the surrounding region. Anybody living in the area or visiting this region has to visit this beautiful place at least once in their life, but once is never enough.

This weekend, Saturday June 13th, is National Get Outdoors Day! All over the country events will take place which will include hikes, biking and horseback rides, paddling trips, birdwatching, geocaching, gear demonstrations, stewardship projects and more.

At The Outdoor Society we are fully behind every excuse to hit the trails. If you go alone, with your best buddy, your family, or you join any of the nationwide events posted on the website of the American Hiking Association, make sure you get out and hike this weekend!

Below is our list of our favorite, fantastically beautifully, and real-family-tested trails in Western Washington.

A hike with a view, oh boy, what a view!

A couple weeks ago my kids crushed the Mount Rose trail and I knew we were ready for bigger and bolder things.

Next up: Mount Townsend on the northeast corner of the Olympic Peninsula in the Buckhorn Wilderness close to Quilcene, Washington.

The Summit of Mount Townsend is at 6260ft, which instantly has me incredibly excited.

This was our family’s first big hike of 2015 and we climbed a real mountain.

This weekend the weather forecast announced that the mercury could hit 70 for the first time in 2015. It was clearly time for our family to hit the trail and attempt our first peak of the season.

Hey kids,
A couple of weeks ago I wrote an article titled: “18 Tips for an Amazing Family Trip into America’s Wilderness“. In it, I shared some really smart ideas and tips on how you parents can get your family ready for a cool trip into the outdoors.

Springtime in the Upper Left of the U.S. means it is time for to plan the warmer months ahead. Before you know it, the snow will be melted around the nation, with the outdoors beckoning for adventures.

I’m not an overly organized person, but I love taking advantage of great weather and love taking my family to the outdoors any given opportunity and I’ve learned a few things over the last years.

Last night, while preparing for this article, I decided to interview my kids about their favorite hikes, what makes them special for them and what they are looking forward to the most.