Welcome to the The Washington State Hiking Podcast with your host, Jennie Thwing Flaming. Along with part time co-host and guidebook author Craig Romano, she provides practical and timely seasonal hiking advice for hikers, trail runners and potential hikers of all skill and ability levels that is practical, accurate, fun and inclusive. We cover hikes near Seattle and Tacoma as well as hikes all across Washington from the rain forests of the Olympic Peninsula to the Shrub Steppe of Eastern Washington. Jennie is a middle aged, plus sized, frequently solo slow hiker and a born and raised Washingtonian and has enjoyed Washington’s trails her entire life. Craig is a trail runner and ultra marathoner who also loves the mellow walk close to home. Originally from New Hampshire, he has made his home in Washington for more than 30 years. He the author of more than 20 guidebooks covering trails across Washington State and beyond.
The podcast The Washington State Hiking Podcast is created by Jennie Thwing Flaming and Craig Romano. The podcast and the artwork on this page are embedded on this page using the public podcast feed (RSS).
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Jennie shares her favorite places to snowshoe in Mt Rainier National Park and important things to know before heading to the park in winter.
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Jennie’s free monthly newsletter
Northwest Avalanche Center Forecast
Mt Rainier National Park winter page
WSDOT mountain pass conditions
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Author, lightweight backpacker and author Glen Van Peski joins Craig and Jennie to share about lessons learned from traveling lighter in the backcountry for more adventures on the trail and in life beyond the trail.
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Register for Glen’s book talk at Village Books in Bellingham on January 11th
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Jennie and Craig discuss their goals and hiking resolutions for 2025 and share some ideas for setting your own hiking resolutions for the coming year.
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Jennie’s hike planner and Seattle seasonal hiking guide
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Jennie and Craig talk about their favorite hikes in Washington State for snow free winter hiking, from lower altitude big views for those rare sunny days, to islands, forests, valley hikes and waterfalls.
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Jennie’s favorite winter hikes
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Jennie and Craig talk about their favorite winter solstice hikes - snow free ways to enjoy those late sunrises and early sunsets!
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Lifelong Olympic Peninsula resident Tommy Farris, founder of Olympic Hiking Company, joins Jennie to talk about year round shuttles available to get around Olympic National Park and how to connect those with transit to Seattle and Victoria BC. We also talk about guided hikes and snowshoe trips and Tommy’s favorite trails in Olympic National Park where he grew up.
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Olympic Hiking Company (book shuttles and tours here)
Craig’s Olympic Peninsula hiking guide
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Jennie shares her favorite snowshoeing hikes near Seattle with some important updates to snowshoeing access at Snoqualmie Pass for 2024-25
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Jennie's Seattle Seasonal Hiking Guide
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Northwest Avalanche Center Forecast
WSDOT mountain pass conditions
New parking restrictions at the Summit at Snoqualmie
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Jennie and Craig discuss their favorite hikes around Washington State to take visitors on during the holiday season and the ones they go back to again and again this time of year.
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Did you know that Craig spent several summers as a forest service ranger which involved a lot of cleaning toilets? Learn all about the inner workings of the backcountry toilet and how you can make rangers lives better. Jennie and Craig talk about backcountry toilets, pit toilets and outhouses including etiquette and the best and worst pit toilets in Washington State
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Kula Cloth - pee cloth mentioned in the episode
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Jennie and Craig share what they each carry in their packs in fall and winter to stay safe, warm and dry.
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Jennie’s what to wear for a hike article
Jennie’s what to bring for a hike article
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Jennie and Craig discuss the unique parts of November hiking in Washington and share some of their favorites.
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Jennie’s November hiking guide
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Jennie and Craig talk about hikes to take in Washington if you want to freak yourself out - from haunted ghost towns to creepy dark forests and weird giant boulders.
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Jennie shares her three favorite places in Washington for a hiking oriented fall weekend getaways to take before the snow flies.
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Jennie shares five hikes that are extremely popular and crowded but totally deserve your vacation days for a crowd free experience.
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Lake Ingalls and Headlight Basin
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Search and Rescue expert Jay Flaming (Jennie’s husband) comes on the podcast to talk about simple steps to reduce your chances of getting in trouble while hiking as well as how to improve your chances of a successful rescue if you do need help.
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Jennie shares her four favorite larch hikes in Washington that aren’t as steep or as long as some of the most famous ones.
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Jennie’s favorite Larch hikes in Washington
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Jennie and Craig talk about their favorite hikes in Washington State for seeing larches, alpine berry bushes in all colors, vine maples as well as aspens and birches in Eastern Washington.
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Jennie and Craig discuss their favorite hikes in the North Cascades, including North Cascades National Park and the surrounding National Recreation Areas
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Craig’s Guidebook - Hiking the North Cascades
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Jennie interviews Craig about his advice for hikers or runners who want to get started with trail running, including why he loves it, suggestions for beginners and what to bring with you on your first trail run.
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No Enchantments permit? No problem! Jennie and Craig discuss the many wonderful hikes with similar stunning scenery but without the crowds and red tape.
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Jennie shares about her recent experience taking the Clallam Transit shuttle from downtown Port Angeles to Hurricane Ridge, as well as what to expect at Hurricane Ridge after the fire and without the day lodge.
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Buy Craig’s Guidebook for hiking the Olympic Peninsula
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Jennie and Craig discuss their favorite big view hikes for summer in Olympic National Park.
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Craig’s Olympic Peninsula Hiking Guide
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Looking for a challenge? Craig and Jennie talk about the best super hard hikes in Washington that are worth the effort.
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Jennie shares her favorite hikes with big payoffs (views, wildflowers, cold water) without too much sweating and climbing, perfect for a mellow day in midsummer.
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Jennie’s article about Entiat Falls/Silver Falls
Jennie’s article about Oyster Dome
Jennie’s article about the Naches Peak Loop
Jennie’s article about Deer Park
Jennie’s article about hiking Orcas Island
Jennie’s article about Mt Fremont
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Buy Craig’s Guidebook for 100 Classic Hikes in Washington
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No timed entry permit? No problem! Jennie and Craig discuss their favorite hikes in Mt Rainier National Park that do not require a timed entry permit in 2024.
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Jennie and Craig discuss their favorite hikes in Mt Rainier National Park that require a timed entry permit this summer that are worth the effort of getting one.
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Jennie and Craig discuss alternatives to the most crowded hikes in the Greater Seattle Area - thanks to listener Laura for the inspiration for this episode!
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Jennie and Craig discuss their favorite hikes for the peak of summer in Washington - beyond the ones you’ve heard a million times before with wildflowers and views
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Jennie’s favorite summer hikes near Seattle
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Jennie and Craig discuss the 10 essentials and the things they each carry in their packs for day hikes in summer, along with some extras they consider essential.
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Garmin inReach mini 2 (this is an affiliate link on Amazon, which means if you make a purchase I receive a small commission at no cost to you), this is the link to REI (also an affiliate link)
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Jennie and Craig discuss hikes in the remote Kettle Range of Northeastern Washington and Craig shares some of his favorite hikes for views and solitude in the Kettles.
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Craig’s Day Hiking Eastern Washington book which includes hikes in the Kettle Range
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Jennie shares why she frequently hikes solo and her tips for other hikers (especially women) interested in getting started with hiking alone.
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Garmin inReach mini 2 (this is an affiliate link on Amazon, which means if you make a purchase I receive a small commission at no cost to you), this is the link to REI (also an affiliate link)
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Jennie and Craig discuss their favorite hikes during the month of June, that tricky month that is mostly summer but not quite summer yet - especially in the high alpine with surprise summer snow.
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Jennie and Craig discuss interacting with other hikers on the trail - what to say, what not to say with help and suggestions from other hikers (thank you!).
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Ryan Miller from King County Metro joins Jennie to talk about the Trailhead Direct bus service to popular trailheads in King County as well as other metro routes to trails year round - skipping driving, parking hassles and parking passes.
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Metro’s Trailhead Direct website
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Jennie and Craig discuss favorite hikes in the less frequently hiked Trapper Creek Wilderness in the South Cascades
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Get Craig’s NEW Columbia River Gorge hiking guidebook!
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Jennie shares her favorite places to go for the greenest time of the year in the always-green-but-extra-now forests of Western Washington.
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Jennie’s article about Margaret’s Way
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Buy Craig’s Guidebook for 100 Classic Hikes in Washington
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Jennie and Craig discuss their favorite waterfall hikes in part two of the waterfall series. This includes waterfall hikes around Washington except on the Olympic Peninsula and the Columbia River Gorge which we covered in earlier episodes.
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Jennie’s favorite Washington State Waterfalls
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Jennie and Craig discuss their favorite waterfall hikes on the Olympic Peninsula, perfect for spring!
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Jennie’s favorite waterfall hikes in Olympic National Park
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Jennie shares some of her favorite beach hikes perfect for our fickle spring weather, from the Pacific Ocean to the inland Salish Sea.
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Jennie’s favorite beaches in Washington State
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Jennie and Craig discuss the best hikes to do while beating the crowds at the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival
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Jennie and Craig discuss the best hikes in the Columbia River Gorge that are especially good for spring.
Show notes:
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Get Craig’s NEW Columbia River Gorge hiking guidebook!
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Jennie shares one of her favorite Spring hikes in Washington State, Hanford Reach National Monument in Eastern Washington, and other places to explore and places to check out nearby.
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Jennie’s article about hiking Hanford Reach
Jennie’s article about exploring the Tri-Cities Area
Craig’s Eastern Washington Hikes guidebook that includes Hanford Reach
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Jennie shares her favorite hikes on Vashon Island, accessible by car, bus or bike, along with some of her favorite places to stop after a hike on the island.
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Jennie’s article about Vashon hikes
Jennie’s article about exploring Vashon Island
Craig’s Urban Trails Seattle book which includes Vashon hikes
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Jennie shares tips for getting started with hiking in Washington State without getting overwhelmed.
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Jennie’s article about getting started with hiking for absolute beginners
Washington Trails Association’s resources for new hikers
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Anna Roth, Hiking Guide Manager for the Washington Trails Association, joins Jennie to share about all the resources WTA has to help hikers find incredible hikes of all kinds everywhere in Washington all year long.
Washington Trails Association - WTA’s website with the hiking guide, trip reports and more
Music credits: ADD
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Jennie and Craig discuss the best areas of Washington for spring hiking, including wildflowers and waterfalls as well as some of their favorite spring hikes.
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Jennie’s favorite spring hikes
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Welcome to the Washington State Hiking Podcast - coming March 13, 2024! Host Jennie Thwing Flaming and part time co-host Craig Romano bring practical and timely seasonal hiking advice for hikers, trail runners and potential hikers and trail runners of all skill and ability levels that is helpful, accurate, fun and inclusive.
Music credits: ADD
En liten tjänst av I'm With Friends. Finns även på engelska.