0605, 2019

Visit Old Alder Before it Vanishes…Again

Washington Our Home
May 6, 2019
Destinations, Ghost Towns, History, Podcast
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1709

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The term “ghost town” in today’s time has evolved from its more literal interpretation to describe any small town that has been abandoned or vacated. In fact, there’s a whole culture of folks dedicated to discovering and exploring ghost towns and their history. Most of the time, however, towns devoid of inhabitants have nowhere to grow but older. Not so for old Alder. Join your fearless field guide Erich Ebel

0408, 2012

Lake Chelan, often mistaken for an Italian lago

Washington Our Home
August 4, 2012
Central Washington, History, Mt. Saint Helens, Western Washington
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1693

I’m reading (actually, listening to) a book called The Big Burn: Teddy Roosevelt and the Fire that Saved America by Timothy Egan. In it, Gifford Pinchot comments that Washington State’s Lake Chelan bears a striking resemblance to Italy’s Lago di Como (Lake Como). I thought that was interesting so I put together this little side-by-side comparison thanks to the technological marvel that is Google Maps. What do you think? Does

0706, 2012

Spending National Trails Day at Sahara Creek/Nicholson Horse Trail System

Several weeks ago, I spotted a Facebook post from the Washington State Department of Natural Resources which invited any and all participants to volunteer with trail repair and maintenance. Being that I was in need of some good, old-fashioned dirty, wet and muddy outdoor time I decided to sign up. I checked out the various locations in which DNR needed volunteers and decide that Sahara Creek/Nicholson Horse Trail System would

1004, 2012

What’s in a name? As it turns out, a lot

Washington Our Home
April 10, 2012
Central Washington, History, Legislature, Puget Sound, Western Washington
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1385

As I tweeted last week, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources’ Committee on Geographic Names is meeting to consider changing the names of a number of Washington State locations, the most prominent being Soap Lake in Grant County. Someone had the bright idea of renaming it “Lake Smokiam” despite the local community having spent th0usands of dollars marketing the lake’s alleged medicinal properties. Needless to say, Soap Lake residents