Washington State

From the rivers of Yakima to the peaks of the North Cascades, Washington is defined by people who live for its landscapes. Trail runners, bikers, paddlers, guides – across Washington we met people whose lives revolve around the state’s protected areas.

Shannon Mahre has built her life around Washington’s wild spaces. An ultrarunner, skier, mountain biker, and endurance coach, she channels her energy into her family and Girls with Grit, the community she founded to help women find confidence outdoors. We met her near Yakima, threw mountain bikes in the back of her pickup, and followed the Tieton River into the foothills of Mount Rainier – Washington’s towering compass point.

Over the following week, we met others who share her spirit. At Semiahmoo, near the northern border, we paddled with Tori Ayres of Dragonfly Kayak Tours as the sun sank behind the Salish Sea. In Bellingham, mountain biker Ike Bancroft showed us the trails of Galbraith Mountain. ‘The dirt here is amazing,’ he grinned. ‘We just want people to experience what’s so great about this place.’

Farther east, high in the North Cascades, we stood with Steve on Slate Peak, gazing across the vast Pasayten Wilderness to the Canadian border.

From misty coastlines to alpine ridges, Washington revealed itself through those who live closest to its elements – people whose generosity and passion for the wild are as enduring as the landscapes they protect.