The Daily Chronicle

Elk graze in a field off U.S. Highway 12 in Packwood in this Chronicle file photo.

Hoof Rot or Not, WDFW Wants Reports of Elk With Limps, Misshapen Hooves

Elk in Packwood can seem as common as pigeons in Seattle, but pigeons don’t tend to stand in the roadway, sift through trash or take up residence overnight in the front lawn. Along with the … more

By Isabel Vander Stoep / isabel@chronline.com | 9/23/22

Marmots on a rock look toward Mount Rainier on the Golden Gate Trail at Paradise on Wednesday afternoon.

Mountains and Marmots and Meadows: a Guide to Cascadian Critters at Paradise

Most of the year, Mount Rainier is a sleeping giant with a blanket of snow and a pillow of clouds. In ephemeral late summer, the mountain reminds us it’s teeming with life. Especially at … more

By Isabel Vander Stoep / isabel@chronline.com | 9/23/22

Mount Rainier scrapes the skies as the meadows of Paradise begin to turn to fall colors on Wednesday.

In Focus: Scenes From Paradise as Summer Comes to an End

9/23/22

Mount Rainier and Spirit Lake are seen from the summit of Mount St. Helens in this May 2019 Chronicle file photo.

How to Climb Mount St. Helens During Peak Season

So you want to climb a mountain. Scratch that — a volcano. For many, especially those living in the Pacific Northwest, climbing Mount St. Helens is a great way to dip your toes into … more

By Vickie Connor / The Oregonian (TNS) | 9/21/22

Diggers search for clams on the Washington coast in this 2021 courtesy photo from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

WDFW Announces 56 Days of Tentative Coastal Razor Clam Digs, Beginning Sept. 22

Shellfish managers with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) last week announced 56 tentative dates for razor clam digs at coastal beaches from Sept. 22 through Dec. 28. "The … more

By The Chronicle staff | 9/12/22

Kayaks, rowboats and paddle boards take to Lost Lake on a cloudy summer day, with Mount Hood in the near distance.

How to Visit the Elusive North Side of Mount Hood, Home of Big Views and Beautiful Trails

It’s not so easy to get a good look at the north side of Mount Hood. While folks in Washington might be used to a distant look at the north face of Oregon’s tallest mountain, … more

Jamie Hale / Oregonlive.com /(TNS) | 9/5/22

Reader’s Lens: Waterfall Views at Mount Rainier National Park

Chehalis resident Brian Zylstra captured these images during a weekend trip to Stafford Falls. These photographs were taken from near the Eastside Trail in Mount Rainier National Park on Sunday, Aug. … more

By The Chronicle staff | 8/24/22

Jeff Green and Kim Freeman work to retrieve a memory card from a game camera in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest Saturday morning in Lewis County.

Volunteers and OSU Study Fisher Reintroduction in Gifford Pinchot National Forest

As fishers are carnivorous cousins of wolverines and predators of porcupines, one may think researchers would be hesitant about tromping through the Gifford Pinchot National Forest to find … more

By Isabel Vander Stoep / isabel@chronline.com | 8/15/22

Visitors recreate on Mineral Lake Sunday afternoon.

In Focus: Clear Skies and Stunning Views of Mount Rainier at Mineral Lake

8/15/22

Photo: View From Skyline Trail at Mount Rainier

Chehalis resident Brian Zylstra captured this photograph from the Skyline Trail above Paradise in Mount Rainier National Park while hiking Sunday. In the background are the Tatoosh Range and Mount … more

8/15/22

The Ape Cave and surrounding areas are pictured in these 2021 Chronicle file photos.

Ape Cave Makes for Dark, Cold and Creepy Adventure in Gifford Pinchot

COUGAR — A bit sizzly up there on the surface, is it? Why not hang out down here, underground, with us supremely cool apes? The year-round temperature inside Ape Cave, a lava tube on the … more

Scott Hewitt / The Columbian (TNS) | 8/7/22

Cascade Carnivore Project Reports Wolverines Have Reproduced at Mount Rainier for Third Consecutive Year

Wolverines have reproduced at Mount Rainier National Park for a third year in a row, according to an announcement last week by the Cascade Carnivore Project. The news marks another positive … more

By The Chronicle staff | 7/25/22

An elk sticks its tongue out as it grazes in a field near Packwood in this 2021 file photo.

Washingtonians Support Legal Hunting, But More Than Ever Don't Care Either Way, Survey Finds

While the majority of Washingtonians support legal hunting, more people than ever don't care, according to a survey commissioned by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and published … more

Eli Francovich / The Spokesman-Review | 7/25/22

Clouds hang around foothills of Mount Rainier as an orange sky is seen above at sunrise.

Centralia Man, 70, Aims to Climb State’s Five Volcanoes in One Year

Some call turning 50 getting “over the hill.” For Neal Kirby, who spent over two decades as a school principal in Centralia, turning 70 means getting over the volcano — five … more

By Isabel Vander Stoep / isabel@chronline.com | 7/22/22

Mount Rainier is seen from Forest Service Road 1260 outside of Packwood just after sunset in late June.

New Fees Proposed at Gifford Pinchot National Forest

Visitors to the Gifford Pinchot National Forest could soon pay more for parking and camping passes, with the forest service suggesting fee increases at several outdoor spots. If all proposed fees … more

By Sydney Brown / The Daily News | 7/20/22

Mount St. Helens towers over the horizon and Coldwater Lake Tuesday evening.

In Focus: Coldwater Lake an Outdoor Oasis at Mount St. Helens

The Coldwater Lake Recreation Area is located 45 miles east of Castle Rock in the heart of the blast zone near the Science and Learning Center at Coldwater and Johnston Ridge Observatory. Visitors … more

7/15/22

Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife Game Warden Dave Jones confirmed that a bear carcass found on a beach in Whatcom County the week of June 13, just north of the Cherry Point refinery, was a grizzly.

'Mystery': Bear Carcass Found on Washington Beach '100% a Grizzly'

Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife Game Warden Dave Jones says he was just as shocked by reports of a dead grizzly bear on a Whatcom County beach last week as anyone else. In fact, he … more

By David Rasbach / The Bellingham Herald | 6/22/22

Washington Commission Shoots Down Petition Allowing Senior Crossbow Hunts

The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission unanimously voted to deny a petition allowing those 65 and older to use a crossbow for hunting during archery season. The commission is appointed by the … more

By Brett Davis / The Center Square | 6/12/22

This photo of a cougar was provided by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Slew of Animal Attacks Highlights Importance of Paying Attention When Recreating Outdoors

Human-animal encounters — of the violent kind — have been in the news. Most notably, and closest to home, a 9-year-old girl was attacked by a cougar less than two hours from Spokane. … more

Eli Francovich / The Spokesman-Review | 6/12/22

A mountain goat with a single horn looks on from below a trail in the Mount Margaret Backcountry in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest on Wednesday.

In Focus: Stunning Views and Mountain Goats as Johnston Ridge Reopens

Mountain goats and their kids were visible from the Johnston Ridge Observatory at Mount St. Helens this Wednesday evening as the observatory closed for the night after its second day open in three … more

By The Chronicle staff | 6/10/22