June/May
Down Shift: Change in Course
After a great trip in the San Rafael Swell, I headed through Flaming Gorge and entered Yellowstone via the East Entrance, taking the Beartooth Highway over Beartooth Pass—the highest paved pass in Wyoming. I also stopped to visit my cousin and her husband in Billings. From there, I aimed to go due west to get my van heater fixed in Washington (again). As of this writing, the heater is still working—not that I’ve needed heat much lately, but having hot water has been a big deal.
Yellowstone Herd
Bozeman: Brakes and Rotors: I paid my buddy Rob to handle the front brake and rotor replacement instead of going to a shop. Always good to support a friend—braking feels solid again. Thanks Rob!”
Reverse Shift: Bugged Out
A few weeks off the map, but not off the journey.
A planned visit mid-June was next. I was looking forward to flying to Texas to visit family. My friend Rob in Bozeman kindly let me park my van at his place in Bozeman, Montana, while I flew out for a few weeks.
Unfortunately, I must have picked up something on the flight, which turned into a sinus infection. Whatever it was, it knocked me out for at least a month. My step count was basically zero.
It was a bittersweet visit, since I don’t get to see my mom, sister, and the rest of the family as often as I’d like. But, I am so glad I was able to visit!
UP Shift: Vision quest
Wind Mountain
Wind Mountain, near Stevenson in the Columbia River Gorge, holds deep cultural significance for local Native American tribes. The summit was historically used for vision quests, with rock piles marking sacred spaces for spiritual reflection and rites of passage. Visitors are asked to respect these formations and the mountain’s heritage[^1].
[^1]: Oregon Hikers Field Guide, “Wind Mountain Hike,” https://www.oregonhikers.org/field_guide/Wind_mountain_hike
Up Shift: Coming Back From Bozeman to Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park 2025
My plans after the heater fix in Washougal, WA, were to get some local hiking in before heading north to the Olympic National Park.
I encountered a fire nearby that had started just the day before. I noticed quite a bit of smoke once I got to the trailhead at Mt. Ellinor. I was able to confirm using a Fire App, “Watch Duty”. Note: You can see my location at the blue dot. At that time, it was just 10 acres, As of 8/19/25 it is at over 8,000 acres.
Hikes in Olympic National Park: Mt Ellinor (near the Bear Gulch Fire), Lillian Ridge Way Trail, Maiden Peak, Mount Walker. With all the objective dangers, I am still finding access roads can be pretty sketchy with blind corners and huge exposed drop offs.
Next stop: North Cascades!