Elliott Almond

Journalist/writer/nature lover in Bellingham, WA., formerly LA Times, Seattle Times & Bay Area. Author of Surfing: Mastering Waves from Basic to Intermediate.

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Articles

North Cascades pack mule team can be supported with public donations

1 month ago | cascadiadaily.com | Elliott Almond

The philanthropic arm of Washington’s three national parks is accepting donations for the North Cascades National Park stock program that is in limbo because of deep cuts to the federal bureaucracy.
David Suzuki will talk sports, but his real passion is the environment

1 month ago | seattletimes.com | Elliott Almond

VANCOUVER, B.C. — Noted environmentalists David Suzuki and Tara Cullis-Suzuki often attend one of the largest Indigenous cultural events in Canada — the All Native Basketball Tournament held annually in February in Prince Rupert, B.C. “David cheers for who he wants and makes the other towns mad — he’s got friends everywhere,” says Miles Richardson, director of the National Consortium for Indigenous Economic Development at the University of Victoria, B.C. Attending the tournament is a tangible...
State money saves summer season at Hoh Rain Forest — and more outdoors updates | Cascadia Daily News

1 month ago | cascadiadaily.com | Elliott Almond

Gary Peterson, owner of Peak 6 Adventure store, had erected a small trail system for customers on his historic ranch just outside Olympic National Park. He invited anyone to use it after Jefferson County officials closed the Upper Hoh Road on Dec. 23, 2024, because of storm damage at milepost 9.7. The property is located before the closure that has prohibited tourists from entering the Hoh Rain Forest, which attracted about 460,000 visitors last year, according to the National Park Service.
History and hope may not be enough to save North Cascades pack mules

1 month ago | cascadiadaily.com | Elliott Almond

LYNDEN — Heather Koon-Swanson guided a dark bay mule named Ruth to turn on command at the farm where the North Cascades National Park pack string spends winters. The newest member of the storied stock program followed the direction of the petite woman from Kendall, who led the string for two decades until retiring in December. Koon-Swanson, 59, spoke softly but firmly to the youngest of nine equines, who were about to get their hooves trimmed by Ferndale farrier Derek Hinde.
Hundreds gather at North Cascades National Park headquarters to protest job cuts

1 month ago | cascadiadaily.com | Elliott Almond

SEDRO-WOOLLEY — Outdoor enthusiasts and federal employees joined forces Saturday, March 1 to express outrage over the Trump administration’s divisive campaign to cut staff and decrease spending for one of America’s treasured public resources: national parks and forests.
Saving the Pacific Northwest’s symbolic Douglas fir

2 months ago | treefrogcreative.ca | Elliott Almond |Kevin Mason |David Elstone |Denise Mullen

Saving the Pacific Northwest’s symbolic Douglas fir By Elliott Almond The Cascadia Daily News February 18, 2025 Category: Forestry Region: United States, US West The Douglas fir is a symbol of the Pacific Northwest [that] represents the checkered past of overlogging.
Saving the Pacific Northwest's symbolic Douglas fir

2 months ago | cascadiadaily.com | Elliott Almond

The Douglas fir is an indelible symbol of the Pacific Northwest. The thick-barked native represents the aesthetics of biologically rich Cascadia and the checkered past of overlogging. Suzanne Simard of the University of British Columbia has experienced both sides. One of the world’s foremost forest ecologists grew up in a logging family in British Columbia’s interior. But she is no friend of Big Timber after her groundbreaking research elevated the understanding of preserving healthy old forests.
Breezy Johnson clinches second gold medal with longtime friend at the Alpine World Championships

2 months ago | cascadiadaily.com | Elliott Almond

Skier Breezy Johnson, a one time Western Washington English major, did it again on Tuesday. Johnson, 29, laid down another solid downhill run in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, to win her second gold medal in four days at the Alpine World Championships. [ Read more: Breezy Johnson wins women’s world downhill title ]After a stunning victory on Saturday, Feb. 8, Johnson teamed with skiing great Mikaela Shiffrin to win the new team combined race on a drama-filled day.
Former WWU student Breezy Johnson wins women's world downhill title

2 months ago | cascadiadaily.com | Elliott Almond

Breezy Johnson, a former Western Washington University English major, made skiing history on Saturday, Feb. 8, with a stunning victory in the women’s downhill at the 2025 Alpine World Championships in Austria. Her top speed of 86 mph on the Saalbach-Hinterglemm course was among the fastest ever recorded by a woman in a race. “I was psyched because I knew that I had skied my best,” Johnson told reporters.
When your PNW beach discovery is more appalling than appealing

2 months ago | seattletimes.com | Elliott Almond

Editor’s note: Pacific NW magazine’s weekly Backstory provides a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the writer’s process or an extra tidbit that accompanies our cover story. This week’s cover story explores how a celebrated Washington state beachcomber has found copious treasures over the years. JOHN ANDERSON, of Forks, has found enough Nikes and Avias to fill a Famous Footwear outlet store. But one of the world’s preeminent beachcombers laments, “I never found shoes with feet in them.”Say what?