Hiking Striped Peak with Friends!

Last week, my friend Helene texted to ask if I wanted to join her for an evening hike at Striped Peak. I almost never say no to outdoor invitations — especially when someone else is driving. There’s something so luxurious about being a passenger and watching the landscape unfold between “here” and “there.”

Striped Peak is a gorgeous climb with a stunning vista, and we had the whole trail to ourselves. I wore my usual tired tennis shoes (a choice that sometimes causes trouble, but not here), while Helene took the opportunity to practice Girl Scout-level preparedness. She brought her Arc’teryx waist pack—two beverage pockets, snacks, first aid, the works—and when we reached the summit she unpacked a mini picnic to share.

We didn’t see bears, eagles, or whales (all of which are known to show up in these woods or the Strait of Juan de Fuca), but we did see banana slugs, lush greenery, and even some thimbleberries (they taste like raspberry).

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