“Whether it was the mosquitos, flat tires, back roads, or dodging grizzly bears on long hikes, we knew there would be an issue for us to get through.” That initial anxiety led to something of a reckoning; a pointed decision to live more presently.

There's just something so unique, so dynamic about the Pacific Northwest. To be able to call this place our backyard is something out of a movie, and to be able to take a day trip to the mountains and be back to our office the next day is even crazier. One August afternoon, we decided to take a trip into the wilderness of the Cascade mountains. Arriving at the trailhead at 4pm, we started our 5-mile round-trip hike with a moderate elevation gain of 1,700 feet.

As we made our way up the trail, the wildflowers were heavy in bloom, marmots whistled with their young, and the Northwest canopy of fir trees were the most magnificent hue of green. As we hit a mile and a half in, we encountered the first river crossing. The first couple crossings were mild, and we were able to walk across with waterproof boots without getting wet. The third and fourth crossings we had to change into sandals as the water was 2-3 feet deep, and we carried our 12-week old-pup across as well.

When we hit the glacier, the canopy broke; you could almost feel nature’s AC hit you from the ice field. The massive ice field glistened an alpine blue as we hit the ridge line, and you could hear the almost thunderous cracking and shifting of the glacier. Golden hour light was beginning to shine though the mountain silhouettes of the Cascade range; the peaks lit up blue and pink, and the glacier field was quite literally glowing with color. We took the opportunity to capture the moment, the glacier field, the peaks in the distance, and the soft orange glow of sunset.

As the sun went down behind the peaks, blue hour set in and we made our way back down the trail. With headlamps on, the river crossings almost became more difficult in the dark. After making it safely across, we descended the trail until we reached the trailhead in the parking lot. As we unloaded our gear, we all reminisced of a solid day in the books.