This quarter, I am doing an ILC (Independent Learning Contract) based around textile crafts. Because of the independent nature of the contract, most of my “class time” is actually just me sitting in the library reading book after book and compiling research. I’m really passionate about the subject that I have chosen to study so its quite a lot of fun, but weeks of sitting in the library studying any subject can get a little monotonous. So, this past week I decided to switch things up and go up to the mountains to read.

The road at about 1,500 feet in elevation – the mountain peak in the distance.

I drove up to the Staircase area of the Olympics and drove as high in elevation as the snow would let me. Then, I hiked a bit until I found a nice vista to park myself and read in the serene quiet of the mountains (a lot of layers and some tea in a thermos was helpful for staying warm). My study session was incredibly productive – it was a welcome change from sitting in the library and a surprisingly refreshing workout from trudging through the snow and dragging my books along with me.

The southernmost access point to the Olympic Mountains sits just 40 minutes North of Olympia. Studying in the mountains is something that has seriously gotten me through even the toughest of study assignments throughout my education at Evergreen. The Olympics have become a second library and haven for me and I feel incredibly grateful to have such a beautiful backyard to adventure in as part of my college experience.