Posts
AllTrails Says "Moderate." Cascades Terrain Doesn't Care.
AllTrails, WTA, and agency ratings don't agree — and none of them account for what actually kills your plans. Here's the methodology for reading trail difficulty ratings intelligently before you commit.
Garrett VanceMarch 5, 2026The Women Who Actually Built the Trails You Hike (And the Data That Matters)
Fifty-three percent of U.S. hikers are now female — women aren't catching up to hiking culture, they built it. Here's the measurable record, from Bellingham's own Catherine Montgomery to the 2025 records still being processed.
Garrett VanceMarch 4, 2026The March Trap: Why Spring's Arrival Makes Cascades Hiking More Dangerous, Not Less
The calendar says spring, the sun is out, and you're already mapping your first big Cascades objective — but March and April are statistically the most dangerous months for backcountry travel in Washington. Here's the data, and here's what to do about it.
Garrett VanceMarch 3, 2026
Solo Hiking Isn't the Problem—Complacency Is (The Data Proves It)
The "never hike alone" rule is conventional wisdom — but SAR data and avalanche research tell a more complicated story. Here's what actually determines solo hiking risk, and the protocol that matters.
Garrett VanceMarch 3, 2026