This past weekend, I swapped story deadlines for forested switchbacks, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the reset. With the sun finally showing up in Seattle and temps landing around a breezy 64°F, it felt like the perfect time to head east toward one of my favorite trails: Rattlesnake Ledge. Just 45 minutes from the city, the trail winds through tall pines and mossy underbrush before rewarding you with a jaw-dropping view of Rattlesnake Lake below. Alex, my golden retriever and most loyal adventure buddy, was all in. Ears flapping, tail wagging, zero regrets. I packed coffee and a well-worn paperback; he packed pure joy and a whole lot of dirt in his paws.
There’s something about being above it all, the traffic, the inbox, even the characters in my head, that gives me clarity. It was one of those rare hikes where I didn’t rush. We paused to listen to birdsong, to feel the sun on our faces, to breathe. By the time we reached the ledge, the stress I’d carried up the trail was gone, replaced by calm, inspiration… and a few solid ideas for the next chapter. Sometimes, the best thing a writer can do is leave the page and follow the trail.
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