Welcome to Beyond Sea Level Blog!

Beyond Sea Level will offer posts of an environmental nature that range in scope from observational to contemplative, personal to philosophical, humorous to serious. We aim to visit and experience both the literal and metaphorical at and beyond sea level. At sea level it is easy to breathe and easy to see to the horizon - at least in one direction. Beyond sea level the elevation can prove challenging, forests can close in on all sides, and your focus may narrow to only the trail ahead. Sea level also represents our comfort zone – where routine dictates our thoughts and guides our behaviors. Beyond Sea Level we may be challenged, and while simultaneously curious and uneasy, find understanding and satisfaction in altered perceptions.

We continue our personal journey beyond sea level with a three-month backpacking adventure from the Continental Divide to the Pacific Ocean along the Pacific Northwest Trail (see Trekking the Pacific Northwest Trail).

Blogs on Delay
When we’re out in the backcountry, or otherwise travelling out of range of internet access, blogs will be posted on delay. You may not have any new posts for weeks at a time and then the blog will receive a sudden, multiple-post influx. Unlike the instant gratification of today’s electronic world, our blogging will follow the slower, (perhaps more rewarding) pattern of letter-writing from yesteryear. While we’re off in the wild, you’ll have a sense of eager anticipation, wondering what new challenges we’ve faced and triumphs we’ve experienced. You might wonder what kind of habitats we’ve walked through or how many bears, wolverine, or elk we’ve encountered. Then, just when you can’t hardly stand the tension of not knowing, voila!, the blog will receive a plethora of reading material which you can leisurely ingest while awaiting the next installment.

Of course the lack of immediate internet access (and sometime complete disappearance of wifi for weeks at a time) will hamper our ability to read and respond to your comments and emails. Please do not take it personally if you do not have a (or any) immediate response from us. We value your reactions and insights and encourage conversation between readers via the comments page. Enjoy!