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Deborah Kilduff-Ragone

@ragone88

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Go where there is no path and leave a trail. ❤️🌲 ‘Bound to cover just a ‘lil more ground. ⛰️🥾. “Don’t you carry stones in your bowl of light” ~TH

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I made it to the Sunrise area of Mt. Rainier with hopes of a beautiful sunset. The last time I was here with Claudia, this area of the park was closed due to snow, so I really wanted to return. This time, it was open!

I hiked Dege Peak, with its incredible 360° views. 💪🏻🏔️🥾 On a clear day, this must be a spectacular hike. Unfortunately, Rainier was hidden by smoke. But I had a feeling sunrise the next morning might be beautiful, so I stayed.

I’m SO glad I did.

Sunrise was surreal!!! Wow!!! Fire on the mountain! 🔥🏔️ Mt. Rainier lit up by the rising sun was absolutely beautiful to witness. I was shocked to see the parking lot nearly full at 5 a.m.!

Making the most of my last day in the PNW, I began making my way back toward Seattle for my flight home. Along the way, I stopped on Highway 410 to pick, and eat wild blackberries, stopped at Snoqualmie Falls, strolled through the historic railway town, and had a great meal at Freestone Bakery.

Ohhhh…and of course I had to make one final stop at an espresso drive-thru for a Seattle latte. Seattle has incredible lattes. I’ll miss these! ☕️

As always, I’m beyond grateful for this experience—smoke and all.

Another adventure to be grateful for! ❤️🎶🏔️☮️💪🏻🥾🌲🌅. Note: this exact area (Sunrise - Mt Rainier - Route 410) is now closed due to fire. Hard to believe and sad to hear this news. 😔 taken in Sunrise Point, Mt. Rainier National Park by @ragone88

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2 months ago

When Claudia and I attempted to hike here just three weeks prior, we were waist deep in snow. I knew then I wanted to return and I’m so glad I did. Mt. Baker’s Artist’s Point is a must see. Absolute postcard perfection!! The Cascades are wonderful and not crowded. I loved my day here. But I still had hope to see sunrise at Rainier… so, off I went. taken in Artist's Point, Mt. Baker Washington by @ragone88

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2 months ago

Back in Washington State!

I hiked 💪🏻🥾❤️ Oyster Dome in Bow, WA with the hope of seeing water views, but the smoke returned, so I headed to Seattle just in time to see Tedeschi Trucks Band at Château Ste. Michelle Winery! Wow!

When the show ended, I drove east toward Olympic National Park in search of blue skies!

At Olympic, I hiked a badass rock scramble to Mt. Angeles via Klahhane Ridge 💪🏻🏔️🥾. Some of the trail even felt like a rainforest.

The next morning, Sunrise Point at Olympic NP did not disappoint 💪🏻🥾🏔️. I added Hurricane Hill via Hurricane Ridge after sunrise 🏔️💪🏻🥾.

More wildlife here too!

Although the skies were clear at Olympic, I really wanted to see Mount Rainier, so I hit the road after my sunrise hike.

“Trust the Process.” taken in Olympic National Park by @ragone88

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2 months ago

Continuing my journey through the spectacular Canadian Rockies from the Icefields Parkway to Lake Louise to Banff!

Stops I made were:

Lake Louise (never have I seen a lake this blue! 💙)
Lake Agnes
Lake Agnes Tea House 🥾🏔️💪🏻
Big Beehive 🥾🏔️💪🏻
Lunch at Château Lake Louise
Bow Valley Parkway
Morant’s Curve 🚂
Sulphur Mountain 🥾🏔️💪🏻
Castle Lookout 🥾🏔️💪🏻
More wildlife!

Next… Banff!

As I made my way to Banff, things changed.

I faced crowds, smoke, no views, and even the threat of August SNOW! ❄️🌨️ I held out hope and hiked Banff’s Sulphur Mountain (no gondola for me! 💪🏻🏔️🥾), checked out beautiful—but crowded—downtown Banff, and then began my journey back toward Jasper/Mt. Robson.

I saw a huge bear and a bull elk with velvet antlers. The wildlife throughout the Canadian Rockies was constant!

No air conditioning needed!

Next… Washington State! Hopefully with less smoke.

“Trust the Process” taken in Lake Louise, Banff National Park by @ragone88

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2 months ago

Canada’s Icefields Parkway! Considered one of the most scenic drives in the world…
Part 1…
I started in the Miette Hot Springs area, just northeast of Jasper National Park, and then made my way south along the magnificent 144-mile Icefields Parkway toward Lake Louise. Elk literally walk through the town of Jasper, Evidence of the devastating 2024 fires in Jasper were obvious.

Stops/Hikes included:

Sulphur Skyline 🥾🏔️💪🏻
Talbot Lake
Miette River
Sunwapta Falls
Toe of the Athabasca Glacier 🥾
Wilcox Pass 🥾🏔️💪🏻
Parker Ridge ❤️🏔️🥾💪🏻
Peyto Lake 🐺
Bow Lake

Although it was a bit smoky from the fires, these stops, the wildlife I witnessed, and the hikes I conquered were magnificent!

When in Canada…

I adjusted to the metric system (seeing 110 on my speedometer 😳), paying closer attention to the roads when signage was sparse, seeing English/French translations throughout the national parks, and the insane Canadian gas prices. I learned—the hard way—what one is NOT allowed to bring across the border 😬, and I struggled to understand the logic behind the paper straws that seemed to be the norm.

Several of the Canadian locals I met told me how much they wished they lived in the States, which made me reflect on just how fortunate I am.

“Experiences over possessions.” ❤️ taken in Icefields Pkwy, AB by @ragone88

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2 months ago

Day 9
We parked The Dragon and caught the ferry from Anacortes to San Juan Island. After crepes in Friday Harbor, we dropped the top on our little pink rental and explored the island. Stops were: San Juan Island National Historical Park, Cattle Point Lighthouse, Roche Harbor for coffee, and the Sculpture Park. We returned to Bow for camping. Day 10
We traded the road for a whale-watching tour where we saw orcas, sea lions, and even a gray whale. Our final night of camping had a perfect sunset at Bay View State Park.
Day 11 On our last morning, we filled The Dragon’s tank (Washington gas prices are no joke), hugged The Dragon and gave her back. We headed into Seattle. We made stops at Pike Place Market to witness the “throwing” of the fish, the Space Needle, Fremont for shopping, the Troll under the Bridge to make a wish, (please come true!) the International District to eat and that’s a wrap!! I’m beyond grateful to have had this time with my girl. 💗🏔️🥾 (But ….I cant wait to get on the road again! 😉😜) taken in Anacortes, Washington by @ragone88

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3 months ago

“On the road again. Goin places that I’ve never been. Seeing’ things I may never see again. And I can’t wait to get on the road again.”
Day 8
We finished Route 20 and headed toward Artist Point, North Cascades. We know the views are incredible... we’ll just have to take everyone’s word for it because all we saw was fog.
With microspikes, we ventured out for a short, safe hike through deep summer snow, and a June snowball fight
Leaving the clouds behind, we found blue skies, enjoyed lunch overlooking Diablo Dam, and made our way to our campsite along the bay in Bow, Washington. We loved this campsite so much we stayed here twice. taken in Artist's Point, Mt. Baker Washington by @ragone88

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3 months ago

On the road again! Like a band of gypsies we go down the highway!
Day 6
North Cascades National Park is home to more glaciers than Glacier National Park and wonderfully uncrowded.
We drove the breathtaking North Cascades Highway (Route 20), passed through the Old West town of Winthrop, then hiked Washington Pass beneath Liberty Bell Mountain before continuing to the stunning Blue Lake Trail.
At Blue Lake we saw a marmot and a mountain goat that got much closer than either of us expected.
The day ended at spectacular Ross Lake, where we had dinner by the water, crossed the suspension bridge, and hiked to the illuminated Ladder Creek Falls by headlamp.
Another day we’ll never forget.
Day 7
Diablo Lake... wow. We lingered here because glacier-fed lakes really are perfection.
We made one more stop at Ross Lake before continuing along Route 20, where we stumbled upon the charming Wildwood Chapel
That evening we settled into another riverside campsite for some cell service and shenanigans! We were loving our trip!! taken in North Cascades National Park, Washington by @ragone88

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3 months ago

Day 5
Plan B was in effect as Sunrise Road at Mt. Rainier closed because of snow. (I shall return.)
We headed toward Leavenworth, making a few memorable stops along the way. First, one of Washington’s iconic espresso huts, where we quickly learned that coffee culture here isn’t about drip coffee, it’s about lattes. By the end of the trip, we’d had plenty, and they alone are worth another visit to Washington. (Foreshadowing here)
Next stop: feeding what we thought were alpacas... until we realized they were llamas.
We wandered Leavenworth’s Bavarian village, shopped, rode horses through the mountains at Eagle Creek Ranch. We had dinner overlooking the mountains and slept in beds! The next morning, smoothie from Little Red’s in hand, we set our sights on North Cascades National Park. taken in Leavenworth, Washington by @ragone88

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3 months ago

Day 4
Mt. Rainier... just wow. The highlight of our trip!
At the very start of our hike, (Muir’s Steps) we recognized a friend, Regan, whose presence brightened our entire day!
With Mt. St. Helens in the distance, the views were endless…white peaks, grey mountains, evergreen forests, wildflowers, waterfalls, and crystal-blue lakes. We spotted mountain goats, tiptoed over ice caves, slipped and skidded across snowfields, and even caught a rainbow. Easily one of the most beautiful hikes I’ve ever done.
And once again, my girl conquered another badass hike.
We returned to Adler Lake for another night under the stars.
“We don’t meet friends. We recognize them.” by @ragone88

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3 months ago

So grateful for my girl!!
So excited to share the highlights from our road trip through Washington State!
Day 1
We landed in Seattle, picked up The Dragon (our home for the next 12 days), caught the ferry, left Seattle behind, and headed for Olympic National Park. Hurricane Ridge, Rainier cherries, and a riverside camp along the Elwha.
Day 2
Lake Crescent at sunrise, then Claudia crushed the Mt. Storm King trail. 2,000 feet of relentless climbing…she never backed down. Stopped at Marymere Falls. Stayed riverside at Allen’s Bar Campground.
Day 3
The Hoh Rain Forest didn’t quite live up to the hype, but Ruby Beach at low tide absolutely did. Even wrapped in fog, it was wild! We camped beside Adler Lake. taken in Washington State, USA by @ragone88

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3 months ago

A final stop for me on Day 8 was Mystic Hot Springs. This place is quirky with a subtle Grateful Dead spirit. A “Shakedown Street” of old buses—now transformed into small Airbnbs—lines the property, and peacocks wander freely throughout the grounds. The soaking pools and private bathtubs built into the rocks offered the perfect way to unwind after a week of hiking, dust, and long days outdoors. I absolutely loved it and would highly recommend it to anyone traveling through Utah.
Another highlight of the Escalante area was Kiva Coffeehouse..great coffee with truly unforgettable views
On Day 9, I took the scenic route back to Denver and flew home just in time to return to work the next day. It was a truly special trip, one that pushed me, grounded me, and taught me how to navigate BLM land, camp in some of the most breathtaking landscapes, and sleep under star-filled skies. As always, I am grateful. taken in Utah, USA by @ragone88

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6 months ago