Friendships New & Old

Winter Playground! Mt. Baker Wilderness, Washington State.

I have never really written an annual “wrap-up” posting before. But my wife Stephanie and I were sitting around the fireplace, dodging the rain, enjoying the wonders of the holiday season, and reflecting on the past twelve months of adventures – and we thought that, if any, 2025 would be the year to do it!

I didn’t want to write just about mileage, days on the road (well over half the year), or just a listing of places visited – incredible as they were – with sun and snow, desert, and ocean, north and south, and including so many  parks, wilderness, sanctuaries, and special places and unique experiences. I needed a theme.

What tied it all together? What stood out? What kept our passion for travel and the outdoors alive? What makes us want to do this all over again next year?

Winter Ridges! Haines, Alaska.

The overriding answer is friendship. Meeting so many new people, rendezvousing with existing friends in wonderful nature, and how our friends (and family) made this year such an amazing time and kept us stoked and moving day after day, one shifting landscape, glistening mountain range, and river valley after another.

"A journey is best measured in friends, rather than miles."

Tim Cahill. 

Spring! Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington State.

In early February, good friends offered us the opportunity of a lifetime – use of their sprinter van “Elwood” for as long as we needed. Elwood allowed us a full three-months on the road, our first real camper van outing, and time together as a family of three with our dog Willow. When the offer came, the big question was how long could Stephanie remain away from home? To answer that, and to sum up the trip, when we returned home we both had tears in our eyes, and Steph looked at me and asked, “one more month please?”

As we planned our travel, new and old friends were quick to share their favorite destinations, drives, road conditions, and what to be sure not to miss along each route. Recommendations on: visiting California’s Lost Coast and Alabama Hills; which passes to cross in the snow; where to get a campground; which local restaurants (South American/Mexican in Steward, AK??) to dine at. One early morning text suggesting we stop at Chiricahua National Monument  (we had not heard of it, and were about twenty minutes away). One memory, not recommended by anyone, was a coastal farm stay where Stephanie got to milk a goat. Experiences come in many (strange) forms.

Sunrise! Death Valley National Park, California.

Our first friend stop, Crescent City, California, where our friend sent us on our way with a van full of food and goodies. A week later, Stephanie and I reunited in Kernville California with colleagues and friends that I hadn’t seen in over 30 years. This is a wonderful small town in the high Sierra’s, so no surprise that many still live there. As with most friends, time doesn’t seem to make much of a difference (outside of age and abilities). Good friends are friends for life!

Barrel Cactus. Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Arizona.

Then across the mountains to spend time with our very good friend in Death Valley, one of our very favorite places. Then to southern Utah to visit with Stephanie’s family and a quick reunion with our kids and granddaughter. Time in southern Arizona and New Mexico, dinner with friends, and recommendations on where best to see the desert wildlife. Then meeting AAA drivers, mechanics, and local lodging employees as Elwood needed minor (but hard to figure out) repairs. Again, everyone was wonderful and what could have been a disaster was merely a detour on the road of life.

Storm Coming! Southern Colorado.

Across more mountain ranges, and time with an old kayaking friend (and now photographer) in Ridgeway Colorado, then more miles to see another paddling friend in Salt Lake City.

We came home just in time to participate in our first Whatcom Artist  Tour. Our two-weekend open house introduced us to so many new people, all interested in wildlife, landscapes, and photography. We made some sales, and opened up a whole new world of friendships.

Heading north, staying with special friends in Smithers BC, and maybe hundreds of conversations with Canadians that we met regarding recent U.S./Canada relations. As you would expect from Canada, all of this was supportive, lamenting (as we were) the lost relationships and looking  forward to eventually restoring  bonds between two good neighbors, allies, partners… and friends!

Petroglyph National Monument. Arizona.

And before I forget, about a zillion trips between each major adventure, and most weekends at home, as we zipped between Bellingham and Seattle to see our daughter, son-in-law, our granddaughter, and our niece and nephew who moved from Texas to Oregon just to be nearer to family (more likely, to ski, drink wine and enjoy cooler weather).

Great Bear Rainforest, British Columbia.

Of course, our time in (and to and from) the Great Bear was wonderful. In my experience, spend a week on a boat with almost anyone and you have new friends for life. Something about the shared experience, time in the wild… and friendships just seem to happen. To all of our crew, our companions and new friends, thank you!

Slough Creek. Yellowstone National Park.

In late October, I tried to push the envelope and get in one final trip to Yellowstone. That was an ill-fated trip as too much driving found me with back and leg problems, and in need of medical assistance. During the government shutdown, I wasn’t very hopeful of help. But it turns out that Yellowstone has a wonderful walk-in clinic in Mammoth Hot Springs. All of the staff and doctors there are amazing and friendly, and I really want to give each of them a shout out. I thank you; I so appreciate the care you gave, and I hope to never see you again under those conditions! Seems even the worst experiences can be worked out with a little tenderness, care, and compassion. And I got all of that and more at this clinic.

This article gives you some of the highlights, but it really fails to acknowledge and thank all the wonderful people that we met over the past year. New people every day for random conversations while walking the dog, hiking in the parks, sitting in the waiting room for Elwood repairs, dog sitters while we flew back to see our granddaughter Daisy, local artists, and a special happy birthday to me from band members in a tiny restaurant along the road! Special thanks to all the park and monument staff and rangers that we met just as funding was being cut for our nation’s great places. Each of you makes going to our national and state parks so very worth it!

People everyday living their lives, doing their jobs, and taking the time to get to know, welcome, and talk with us.

End of the Rainbow! Western Montana.

Endnotes:

While writing this, I came across a 2021 posting that echoed many of this year's travels to Death Valley, Yellowstone, and the Cassiar Highway in Alaska. That post said I could easily redo all of those trips and be happy! That post also said that my hope was to get good photos of wolves in the wild. Four years later, with images of both wolves in the Rockies and along the BC Coast, I am very happy and looking forward to what the New Year brings. Best wishes for everyone in 2026.