Wait til you see Mailbox Peak 🤯

Always a jack knifed semi at Snoqualmie Pass. What do you guys have against driving well?

They only do that if I use the 'auto detect light level' setting. I'd rather have them on when the car is running and off when it's not, but it won't do that.

TIL that not only is there a town named Ridgefield in Washington, but I have driven through it a number of times. Must be a suburb of La Center.

Lovely shot. We also had a nice sunset on the Olympic Peninsula last night but it was a lot less spectacular.

Nothing good no doubt.

I was standing out there last summer. Amazing how powerful nature is and how resilient life is at the same time.

"For various reasons"

$1200/month studio apartments and mental healthcare being a luxury service reserved for the middle-class and up are probably the biggest reasons.

Less every year in a climate change world though.

Achievement unlocked: a picture of Ridgefield without a train or a U-haul

We usually carry firewood or at least firelogs with us. If you have a rugged wagon, you can pull a load of firewood with you.

April is a good time to go, hopefully before it warms up enough for the rattlers to emerge. I've backpacked there like 5 times, but in different locations; there is so much space in all directions to camp and get a private spot; you don't need to be right at Ancient or Dusty Lake and the crowds.

The genuine nature and innocence of the Midwest people is jarring! I'm fascinated by what that really says about us.

West coast native, I am always so jarred the first couple interactions when I travel Midwest. Like why are you talking to me in an elevator lol, I’m not prepared for this.

Socially hostile is the most interesting and yet the the most fitting term I have heard so far to describe W. Washington people.

Emotional island is also correct.

One thing I will add, and this could be a plus or a minus, is that recent reports have WA state adults (adults only) among the highest in the nation for "illicit drug use", and lowest when it comes to substance abuse treatment.

A LOT of people are using... for various reasons.

Great suggestions so far; I'll add one. Check out the Alpine Village Apts. in Tumwater on "T" Street. They have studios, my son lives there, and it seems like a decent complex based on the few times I've visited there. They don't show prices online so you'd have to call. That would give you at least an idea of rent and you can go from there. Tumwater is the town just south of Olympia and that location is a straight shot to Olympia's Downtown/Old Town/Capitol area.

I've never lived in Oly but have always enjoyed visiting. They recently built a waterfront boardwalk, and have a nice old town and farmers market. And it's close to nature!

I really like Tacoma. It is a lot chiller than seattle, has some cool gritty bars and an industrial sort of setting. 40k anywhere in Washington will be tight, but doable. Maybe check out the job market, 60k will be easier in Tacoma and Olympia. Olympia is very blue, it has evergreen state college which has a very liberal student body. It’s pretty small and out of the way. I’d personally rather live in Tacoma, you can still access nature really easily but it’s more of a city than a town.

Neither of them are towns for one. Secondly 40k is doable, but expect your purchasing power to go way down. South of Olympia sounds more up your alley. Cheaper, good nature.

And anything that isn’t a city will be fairly red. Just like the midwest. That’s just America.

You're describing a winter storm. I'm just appreciating winter.

I know that hill/cliff! Always see it driving Veazie/Cumberland. Such a pretty area.

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You’d probably fit in well in Olympia if your political beliefs are blue. They’re pretty progressive out there. Tacoma is okay but the crime rate is pretty insane. They don’t call it Tacompton for nothing. If seeing homeless people is not a regular thing where you live now, you’re in for a culture shock. The homeless have tent cities literally everywhere in Tacoma and Olympia. Now that I got that stuff out of the way, they both have a lot to offer. A lot of work, great food, tons of outdoor fun opportunities extremely close by. It’s super expensive out here but, depending on what job you land, you should be good. The cost of living is outrageous. I’m in the Army and wouldn’t be able to live comfortably if I didn’t live on the base. One of the reasons why I’m leaving. I’ve been here almost 10 years and I love it dearly, I have a deep connection with this state but I can’t afford to live here anymore. I can get by, but I can’t live comfortably and to me that’s no life at all.

Yeah agree with this. OP, SW Washington, King County, not sure what north of king county is considered.

We’re hoping to take the trail to the top this year!

This is Harry’s Ridge Trail.

Seems the mountain is approaching being due for more activity. Will be interesting when it happens.