Washington

Floris van Breugel on October 31st, 2013

Have you ever wondered why it seems like there are more spider webs around this time of year? I’m not talking about the fake cobwebs people string up around their houses for Halloween, but real spider webs. On a recent trip to the coast, it struck me how many webs were out. Perhaps the eerie …Read the Rest…

Continue reading about Spider Season – Olympic National Park

Floris van Breugel on October 28th, 2013

Two weeks ago my girlfriend, Aubrey, and I headed out to the mountains to enjoy the fall colors and early snow. We had limited time, so we chose the easy, and thus popular, hike to Lake Ingalls. Knowing that most hikers are hesitant to camp in the snow, I suspected we would still be able …Read the Rest…

Continue reading about In Search of Quiet – Golden Larches

Floris van Breugel on October 12th, 2013

Thanks to everyone who pre-ordered my 2014 calendars through Kickstarter! If you missed out, you can now order on my website: 2014 Calendars ~ ~ ~ Winter has arrived a little early this year, and already the mountains are covered in several feet of snow! Maybe we will be skiing by the end of the …Read the Rest…

Continue reading about Early Snow in the Cascades

Floris van Breugel on September 28th, 2013

If you haven’t ordered 2014 calendars yet, please do so soon through my Kickstarter project. Less than 2 weeks left! My calendars feature 11×16.5 inch prints, Sun/Moon rise/set times, tide charts, and seasonal advice. I am printing two editions: California and Washington. Note: this year the calendars will have a Sunday week-start. 2014 Art in …Read the Rest…

Continue reading about The Cascadian Experience

Floris van Breugel on September 2nd, 2013

Most of us, unfortunately, lead the majority of our lives under artificial lighting. This has a profound effect on our sleep cycle, which is controlled largely by the levels of the hormone melatonin in our bodies. Living under artificial lighting causes the melatonin cycle and our sleep cycle to lose sync, resulting in groggy mornings …Read the Rest…

Continue reading about A Night in a Tent – Mt Rainier

Floris van Breugel on August 25th, 2013

“Because of the rugged terrain, the Picket Range has remained the wildest and most unexplored region in the North Cascades. It is not an area for the wilderness novice; its isolated brushy valleys and jagged ridges are a test for the most seasoned mountaineers. The length of climbs, combined with steep mixed terrain and variable …Read the Rest…

Continue reading about Pickets in Pea Soup – Luna Peak

Floris van Breugel on August 14th, 2013

What follows is a condensed excerpt that I wanted to share from a longer essay that I have been working on. I would greatly appreciate hearing your thoughts, personal experiences, and other articles that resonate with these ideas! Feel free to leave a comment below, or send me an email. It happens to all of …Read the Rest…

Continue reading about Why We Need Wilderness

Floris van Breugel on July 31st, 2013

“If the radiance of a thousand suns were to burst at once into the sky, that would be like the splendor of the mighty one.” – Bhagavad Gita (Hindu holy book) This view – the thousands of radiant flowers, endless wild valleys, glaciated peaks, and the life giving warmth of our dazzling sun – is …Read the Rest…

Continue reading about Radiance of a Thousand Suns – Olympic National Park

Floris van Breugel on July 4th, 2013

After “cleaning” Aubrey’s gear on rock climbs for over a year now, I was finally inspired to take a traditional lead climbing course myself. In traditional (aka “trad”) climbing the lead climber places removable protection in cracks in the rock to minimize the extent of a potential fall. Once the leader has climbed one rope …Read the Rest…

Continue reading about Liberty – Alpine Bliss in the North Cascades

Floris van Breugel on June 19th, 2013

This past weekend my girlfriend, Aubrey, and I took a glacier skills and crevasse rescue course from the American Alpine Institute (AAI) on the flanks of Mt Baker. While this was by no means a photography trip, I couldn’t leave my camera behind, and I thought it would be fun to share a few images …Read the Rest…

Continue reading about Crevasse Rescue – Mt Baker’s Easton Glacier