Tag Archives: seattle

Musings

Mount Si Trail Hike

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After almost seven years in Seattle, I finally got up the gumption to hike Mount Si. It was not the four miles of vertical gain that dissuaded me, nor the call of more remote and pristine hikes. Rather, it has simply been the mountain’s extreme popularity given its close proximity to Seattle, Bellevue, Issaquah, and beyond.

Striking out on a warm and hazy Tuesday afternoon in mid May, I found the large parking lot about half full. It still felt like a lot of people to me, but throughout the hike I found enough spacing between those I encountered that the trail felt surprisingly peaceful overall. I do not know whether it is because the trail ranks so highly in searches for day hikes near Seattle, or because the outdoors have become a playground for so many new recruits, but proper etiquette dictates that hikers going uphill have the right of way. Let’s get it right, people.

Trail Highlights

I set a pretty good pace and reached the top in exactly two hours. The highlights included moss covered maples and ferns mixed with intermittent stands of large hemlocks at the beginning of the trail, a grove of 350 year old Douglas firs in the middle section, and of course the summit itself, with views of Mount Rainier, Snoqualmie Pass, Seattle, Bellevue, and the Middle Fork Snoqualmie meandering through the North Bend Valley below.

The Haystack

Do not be fooled by the false summit. The true top is the Haystack farther up the hill. The best approach is to continue along the trail and wrap around the back side of the Haystack, where you will find a steep Class III ascent. This route is not for everyone, so use your best judgment. People have fallen here and suffered serious injuries, including at least one fatality.

Trail Map

Once on top, it is tempting to descend and continue all the way out to Mount Teneriffe, then return via the Mount Teneriffe Trail, Talus Loop Trail, and Mount Si Trail. But I knew my winter feet were not ready for that distance, and I had not gotten an early enough start.

Geology

The top of Mount Si is made up of metamorphic rock that was once igneous rock formed beneath the ocean 150 million years ago. The valley below, unsurprisingly, was carved by glaciers. Nick Zentner, as always, does a great job explaining the geology in more detail. You will be dropping “metagabbro” into conversations at your next party. You’re welcome.

For all its reputation as Seattle’s crowded proving ground for hikers, Mount Si still manages to deliver. Ancient forests, sweeping views, deep geologic history, and just enough exertion to get you ready for more demanding and scenic hikes in the Cascade Range.

Musings

The Winter That Didn’t Quite Stick

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Well, that’s a wrap on ski season. It was an odd one, and I’ve seen my fair share of strange weather shifts across the Cascades, Rocky Mountains, Sierra Nevada, and Wasatch. Warmer temperatures plagued ski areas across the region, resulting in rain. When it did snow, we dealt with power outages, landslides, avalanches, and tree falls that blocked roads.

Washington state and the greater Seattle region did not bank the snow needed at higher elevations, and we will see the ramifications as summer comes into view. El Niño is adding uncertainty, but it looks like conditions will be dry and fire prone. Lower river levels in the fall will have a cascading effect on salmon and, in turn, on orcas.

Nevertheless, Seattle has been in full bloom, and the longer days and beautiful weather are calling for other forms of recreation, even if we know there is always a good chance of May showers, June gloom, or whatever else the Pacific Northwest has up its sleeve. See you out there.

Professional

Farnborough International Airshow

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Great to be back in London and the U.K for the Farnborough International Airshow. We had a great delegation of public and private partners including Lieutenant Governor Heck, representatives of the Washington State Department of Commerce, Head of the UK Government Office in Seattle, Alaska Airlines, Boeing, ZeroAvia, and regional economic development partners.

After a welcoming reception at the The Shard and the National History Museum, our team engaged in one-on-one meetings with 15 international aerospace companies where we actively promoted the Greater Seattle region as a leading hub for aerospace, clean energy, and advanced manufacturing, with a strong emphasis on sustainable solutions.

Following Farnborough, a smaller delegation of Washington State representatives ventured to northwest England and Chester to further co-operation on trade, innovation and clean energy. Founded as a Roman fortress in the 1st century A.D., Chester is a charming city that also serves as a nexus to world-class aerospace innovation.

The first day began at Electroimpact, which is an aerospace automation company with an exceptional concentration of engineers working on a wide range of projects include complete automation assembly systems for commercial aircraft wings, riveting machines and tools for wing panel and fuselage assembly, advanced fiber placement machines, robotic assembly systems, and spacecraft handling equipment.

The group proceeded just up the road to Broughton and the Airbus factory where the majority of its commercia aircraft wings are made. Adjacent to Airbus, the group also had the opportunity to tour the Advance Manufacturing Research Center (AMRC) that specializes in carrying out world-leading research into advanced machining, manufacturing and materials for aerospace and other high-value manufacturing sectors.  

The day concluded with a roundtable discussion at HyNet Northwest where the group learned more about the UK’s ambitious plans for industrial decarbonization and hydrogen production.

A special thanks to the head of the UK Government Office in Seattle, Robin Twyman, Lord Mayor Razia Daniels, Cheshire West and Chester Council, and so many others for hosting the delegation. Everyone was exceedingly warm and welcoming. 

Professional

Uncommon Thinkers Welcome

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Anyone who has gone through the process of developing a brand position that encapsulates the unique values and spirit of a company or themselves knows it’s not easy, especially in a crowded and competitive marketplace. Even more so for a region that does not like to be defined or put in a box. That is why I like to think of Uncommon Thinkers Welcome, my latest brand development project, as more of an invitation than a label.

It has definitely been a journey moving through the various phases of stakeholder engagement – regional, domestic and international research – brand development and trademark – and final production. GeekWire does a great job of laying it out in this article, and I really appreciate their partnership in helping me launch the brand out in the world.

There are a lot of  fun but smart elements to the campaign.

I worked with each of these partners to provide social guidance and assets to amplify the launch. Of course, there were multiple channels involved to launch the campaign:

It has been an honor to work with so many amazing companies and partners to breathe life into this. I worked with more than 22 companies and partners to pull this off, including a 4-day video and photo shoot across Snohomish, King and Pierce County.

Paid media and much more to come!

Musings

Harrison Hot Springs

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A nice little jaunt from Seattle across the border to Canada and up through the Fraser Valley to Harrison Hot Springs. Feels a little bit like a throw back to the 1920s, but the pools are varied in temperature and relaxing, and there are plenty of lodging and food options.

The Village of Harrison Hot Springs has been a small resort community since 1886 when the opening of the Canadian Pacific Railway brought the lakeside springs within a short carriage ride of the transcontinental mainline. In its first promotion as a resort it was known as St. Alice’s Well, although Europeans had discovered it (not new to indigenous communities) decades earlier when a party of goldfield-bound travelers on Harrison Lake capsized into what they thought was their doom, only to discover the lake at that spot was not freezing, but warm.

Starting in November, over 35,000 eagles will pass through the lower Fraser Valley until February, with thousands of the birds accumulating on Harrison River daily to feast on spawning salmon. White Trumpeter Swans also winter in the valley.