Close Encounters With Bears
Guidebook author James P. Johnson shares about his harrowing close encounters with bears while hiking in the wilds of Washington State.
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Search Results for: James P. Johnson
How To Create A Frugal Outdoor Lifestyle
Hiking guidebook writer James P. Johnson shares what inspired him to chose frugality and freedom to pursue an outdoor-oriented lifestyle.
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Backcountry Hiking Fernie, B.C.
Cover photo courtesy of James P. Johnson By James P. Johnson I noticed Fernie on a map while road-tripping through southeastern British Columbia more than a decade ago. I decided to head that way and become more Fernie-aware. About a half-dozen visits later, my Fernie-awareness has really increased. Hiking is my favorite activity. Whatever yours,
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Message in a Bottle on a Mountain Top
Cover photo courtesy of James P. Johnson By James P. Johnson Hiking for exercise and the scenery is plenty justification to hike. However, when I find an additional purpose, hiking is even more satisfying. In the mid-1990s, I compiled a list of the 50 highest mountains in eastern Washington and then hiked to the top
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Five “See Washington” Road Trip Stops with Kids
Cover photo courtesy Shallan Knowles By James P. Johnson Unless you commute by ferry, it’s a special occasion to ride one. We took the Anacortes to Orcas Island ferry and enjoyed island vibes and the summit of Mt. Constitution, the highest point in the San Juan Islands, where a stone tower with a lookout gives
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A 34-Day Road Trip with My Kids
Cover photo courtesy of James P. Johnson By James P. Johnson “Daddy, I don’t think I want plastic surgery,” my 8-year-old daughter Tricia stated as we drove through Central Washington. An interview about the topic I’d tuned into on the radio earlier apparently caused her to contemplate it. Her thoughtful expression produced a follow-up statement.
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Hiking Mineral Ridge in North Idaho
Cover photo by James P. Johnson There are a lot of reasons to like Coeur d’Alene—among them, a couple of enjoyable, well-known, lakeside hikes. Tubbs Hill, with a main trail that follows the lake shore and is mostly flat, begins next to the Coeur d’Alene Resort downtown. But less-trafficked Mineral Ridge, which demands a little
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“Beautiful Wounds” by Timothy Connor
(Nature Photography/Natural History, 2022) By James P. Johnson When I saw this hardcover book on the store shelf, there was no doubt I’d buy it. Eastern Washington’s landscape and the floods that ravaged it during the last ice age intrigues me, and I’ve seen the results while hiking thousands of miles over the years. So
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Chasing Down a Total Solar Eclipse
Cover photo courtesy of Danielle Denham @thePDXphotographer By James P. Johnson On April 8, a total solar eclipse will cross the U.S. from Texas to New England. My streak of witnessing totality of every solar eclipse in the contiguous U.S. for the past 45 years may end. My claim is true, but hyperbolic. I haven’t
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Join A Winter Group Run
By James P. Johnson There are plenty of reasons not to run during winter, but for runners who want to stay fit and active despite the season, joining a running group can make it easier. There are several Spokane-area groups that meet year-round, and a couple that are winter-only. Most meet on weekday evenings; others
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