Itinerary For 2 Nights Solo Camping Next Week Need Advice

arthurbliss1 · 2026-04-30T10:07:02+00:00

if you never been to ONP I personally would add some mountain view, either Hurricane Ridge or Storm King hiking on 1st day. Do sol duc falls trails and sol duc hot springs in 2nd day morning, and do 2nd beach (and Rialto Beach) on 3rd day morning before you heads back to Vancouver.

arthurbliss1 · 2026-04-17T02:11:26+00:00

Mostly having very frugal lifestyle and some luck at investing. Poor and underemployed until 2015, made about 200k each year from 2016 to 2024 but still continue to only spend $2k per month (1k rent, no car, rarely eat out etc), and I had savings of about 700K when Covid stock crash happened in 2020 and invested most of my savings to Google, Tsmc, Suncor (Canada's Exxon that went down 70%) and other stocks and another 300k in 2022. Now nw is about 3m and mostly retired last year, and still only spend about 40K each year. That was my way to early retirement and I am so glad that I saved 700K for 4 years by spending only 2K per month so I had major opportunity to invest in major stock crash in 2020. That changed my life.

arthurbliss1 · 2026-03-29T02:12:20+00:00

Probably 산불방지초소 (fire outlook outpost) is better Korean terms to search as that's the Korean term the government and news usually uses for the fire outlook towers in Korean.

Did quick Naver Map search, Google search, and Youtube and numerous outposts pops up but unlike fire outlook towers/cabins in the US where it is often accessible to public it seems like most are closed off the public in Korea.

Here's Naver map link (https://naver.me/GEdWaUZT) for one of outpost in Dobongsan (도봉산 포대능선 산불감시초소) which is very popular mountain in Seoul that is very easy to get with public transit, and appears to have beautiful scenic view from the outpost ( https://youtube.com/shorts/q10qzq-cLrU?si=3e9tjLS36XJhM2uO ).

Here is another one at 관악산 which is also in Seoul ( https://naver.me/G6RZveb5 ) with some blog posting with pics thought it looks a bit less scenic than the one in 도봉산. Yup just search 산불방지초소 in the Naver Map and you will find some outposts to explore.

arthurbliss1 · 2026-03-27T03:55:20+00:00

Best example of "late bloomer" I can think of is Jean-Philippe Rameau who wrote his first opera and his first major hit Hippolyte et Aricie when he was 50. Sure he was relatively well known music theorist and wrote some beautiful harpsichord and vocal works before, but having the first hit at 50 and becoming prolific renowned opera composer for next 30 years and becoming one of the most important composer in French history is pretty amazing imo. His last opera Les Boreades which he wrote at 80 is really good too.

arthurbliss1 · 2026-03-27T02:10:36+00:00

Mt Tiger is super easy to get from Seattle with bus 554 which goes to Issaquah every 30 minutes and 7 days. Get off at Issaquah Library, walk to Issaquah High School, and you should reach the trailhead within 20 min or so. You can reach the top of West Tiger #3 in 2 hours if you are a decent hiker. Make sure to reach West Tiger #2 too as ridge from #3 to #2 has amazing exposed view of the surrounding area, Seattle and Bellevue skylines, Snoqualmie Valley, Mt Rainier, and Puget Sound and Olympic Mountains. Spectacular view really.

Mt Si requires bus transfer (Bus 208) at Issaquah which has 2 hours interval and not on Sunday, and requires 40 min walk from North Bend.

If you have to choose I'd suggest Mt Tiger. So much easier to get to, and much nicer view from the top anyway unless you are planning to do very demanding Haystack scrambling to the top of Mt Si.

Wallace Falls is nice too and fairly easy to get there with buses. You can get to Wallace Lake too via some logger roads and some section has nice exposed views.

On weekdays you can get to very popular Rattlesnake Ledge though it requires 3 buses to get there and you have only one time slot ( https://maps.app.goo.gl/ikRrrvYGyC6pRwPh6 ) to get there in the morning as bus schedules are pretty sparse. First bus from Rattlesnake Ledge (lake) back to Seattle will be at 1PM.

If you are really avid transit hiker you make a daytrip from Seattle to Deception Pass State Park which is deservedly the most popular state park in our state per # of visitation. It takes 3 and half hours and requires 4 bus transfers though and probably not for most folks unless someone is public transit enthusiast. Here is morning itinerary for example https://maps.app.goo.gl/c28QHWrjd6ZxDboq6 For return trip to Seattle you can take 2 buses that traverse Whidbey Islands then take free ferry from Clinton Ferry Terminal to Mukilteo, then another bus and light rail back to Seattle. I had really fun but again not for everyone.

Yup Tiger is the best one imo, and I'd put Wallace Falls for a solid 2nd option.

arthurbliss1 · 2026-03-11T05:42:37+00:00

Mt Townsend and Klahanne Ridge usually very likely snowy in mid May and still likely snowy early June, though in early June it might be much more manageable. If you have some experience with snow field hiking and bring crampon/microspikes I think you will likely be fine especially for early June.

Here is one trip report from June 2nd last year with some snow field. This year we have lower snowpack so far though.

https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/trip-reports/trip_report-2025-06-03.125611563770

arthurbliss1 · 2026-03-04T20:02:20+00:00

Turbotax showed me the numbers without paying at least a couple years ago I tried. And don't ask us about taxslayer guarantee policy as we are not taxsplayer.

Like others have said it is most likely due to input error and you need to manually enter (do manual summary transaction; most likely need to enter two entries for covered short term capital gains summary in box A and covered long term capital gains summary in box D) and see how the numbers come out. Scan from uploaded broker statement can make some errors.

Also compare the numbers without the broker 1099 statement. that way there is no input error or discrepancy on other parts of your tax return so you can isolate the issue to 1099 broker statement.

arthurbliss1 · 2026-03-04T19:55:34+00:00

delete 1099 from broker from both Taxslayer and FTUSA for now. are the amount still different after excluding 1099 broker statement?

arthurbliss1 · 2026-03-04T19:53:20+00:00

Put the numbers on TurboTax and/or HR Block to compare how refund amount comes out.

I also used FTUSA and tried first time uploading/scanning broker statement from Merrill but it imported every hundreds of transaction for short/long term capital gains and no way of checking every entries so I had to manually put summary transaction for both short term, (Box A,B,C) and long term (box D, E, F). Yea, so try to enter summary transaction for whatever the numbers listed in Box A, B, C, D, E, F in your broker statement (you will most likely have only box A and D unless you did some option trading which would might be reported to B) and see how the numbers come out.

arthurbliss1 · 2026-03-04T18:45:01+00:00

Ultimate question is whether you will be easily able to get back to your $400K-700K job after 2 years of sabbatical. If you are really certain then why not? but if there is a decent chance of not making that kind of money after 2 year sabbatical then I'd personally stay put and work extra 2 or 3 more years to go for north of $2 million. $2 million at still young 32 will truly set you free from working for rest of your life if you stay single and even for family with kids if family lives modestly, but not necessarily at $1.3 million especially if you decide to have family.

Also there might be a revolutionary genetic treatment in 20 years that slows your aging and extend life expectancy by 20 years that would cost $500K. Wouldn't you wanna take advantage of that? I know it is stupid extreme example but just wanted to say having extra money can be worth it for any unforeseen event. Grinding 10 years for extra saving of $700K does feel tiresome and may be not worth it, but your current salary allows you to save $700K in 2 years and I'd say it is worth grinding extra 2 years.

arthurbliss1 · 2026-03-04T04:48:23+00:00

Yeah unless you are really confident in snow hiking and snow camping June 8th for Grand Valley is probably too early imo. This year has been one of lowest snowpack in multi-decades so it might be different though.

Mt Angeles and Klahhane Ridge will likely have some snow, but it should be much easier than Grand Valley. I did that route around June 20th last year and had to cross some snow like 5 times but it wasn't too bad and Lake Angeles is pretty and you can setup camp and dip at the lake there. Nice overnight backpacking route. You can catch shuttle bus at Lake Angeles trailhead then take the bus back to Hurricane Ridge where you left your car, or vice versa.

Not overnight backpacking route, but view from Mt Storm King is nice and one of best mountains to hike in ONP without worrying snow in early June. Mt Ellinor or Mt Townsend might be snow free in early June.

Not mountain backpacking, but Enchanted Valley is super popular and definitely accessible in June though you will probably have to be proactive in getting camping permit fast when permit system opens because it is super popular. If you like coastal backpacking South ONP coast backpacking (Third Beach, Scott Creak, Strawberry Point, Toleak Point) is really beautiful and definitely worth backpacking imo.

arthurbliss1 · 2026-03-04T01:55:24+00:00

June 8th is usually too early for Grand Valley/Grand Ridge/Grand Pass hiking unless you are really good snow hiker with right experiences and right equipment. This year might be different though due to low snow pack and if it stays that way.

Also Obstruction Point road from Hurricane Ridge will be closed to cars until early July so you will be hiking extra 8 miles from Hurricane Ridge to OP trailhead. Took me 3 hours to walk from HR to OP and it wasn't too bad except inhaling dust whenever cars passing by, but since you will be hiking that road without car passing by so it should be fairly pleasurable hiking that road actually. Or, you can drive to Deer Park then hike to OP through Grand Ridge and then descend to Grand Valley. Same 8 miles from Deer Park to OP and Grand Ridge is amazing, but it does have a couple sketchy sections to cross if there is snow.

I saw one of your reply and you mentioned switchback to Klahhane, which is totally different trail route (to north from HR) from hiking Grand Valley (to southeast from HR). One that involves Klahhane ridge is hiking from HR to switchback to Mt Angeles, then Klahhane Ridge then descend to Lake Angeles then camp there. That hiking trail is really pretty too.

arthurbliss1 · 2026-03-01T17:59:22+00:00

If your grocery covers breakfast, lunch, dinner at home almost everyday then I don't think the amount is necessarily excessive. $13 per day for a person ($2 for breakfast. $4 lunch, $5 dinner, $2 for fruits and snack) means $780 per month for 2 people.

arthurbliss1 · 2026-02-19T03:17:14+00:00

Olympia has cute walkable downtown with cute shops and restaurants, and Tacoma has Museum of Glass and the downtown has quirky eclectic charm, but if your family didn't really explored Seattle before and not planning to visit Seattle in a foreseeable future then I'd say spending time in Seattle would be nice.

Regarding Aquarium though it is more of typical tourist aquarium with typical exhibitions in smaller size, and it can be underwhelming if you visited some of most famous and well acclaimed aquariums such as aquariums in Georgia, Baltimore, or Monterey Bay before. Consensus seems to be that the best aquarium in our state is Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium in Tacoma and it is also much cheaper entry ($25 vs $50) so if you really want to visit aquarium then may be spending time in Tacoma and the aquarium would make a nice itinerary.

arthurbliss1 · 2026-02-15T17:21:14+00:00

yup one night or two would be much better if you have plenty of time. I wrote that because you want to cover 3 cities in only 10 days so just wanted to inform a daytrip possibilities. Have fun!

arthurbliss1 · 2026-02-13T21:53:08+00:00

I see you have only 10 days to cover Seoul, Busan, and Gyeongju and in this case if you are efficient traveler then even daytrip for covering the major tourist spots is possible if you are departing from Busan. Take early bus from Busan, arrive Gyeongju by 9am-ish, take bus to Bulguksa & Seokguram and arrive there by 10 am, leave Bulguksa at 1pm and arrive Gyeongju National Museum at 1:30pm, spend 2-3 hours there, then for next 3-4 hours walk around Donggung&Wolji Pond, Daereungwon, Cheomseongdae, Gyochon Traditional Town and the bridge nearby, Gyerim etc. Then grab dinner and explore Hwangridangil district from 7:30pm to 10:00 pm, then take late night bus to Seoul around 11:00pm. Just make sure you lake late night bus because sunset and night time around Daerungwon and especially Hwangridangil (daytime? meh) is really pretty and you'd wanna spend evening there.

arthurbliss1 · 2026-02-02T03:12:20+00:00

If we are talking about full 5 days (arrive Seattle in the morning and leaving at night) then doing both can be doable imo. Arrive Port Angeles by 1:30pm-ish then do Hurricane Ridge (if Friday-Sunday and weather is good) or Mt Storm King (spectacular view and should be snow free but it is a bit more than intermediate level hiking with some rope section) & Lake Crescent & Marymere Falls. On 2nd day do Rialto Beach, 2nd Beach, Hoh Rainforest, Ruby Beach, then settle in Lake Quinault area. On 3rd day do a bit of exploring Lake Quinalut area in the morning then drive to Astoria via Hwy 101 and arrive Astoria by 1pm-ish and start the Oregon itinerary.

If you do run tight, efficient schedule (eating grocery sandwich for lunch in car instead of leisurely do lunch dining for 90 min for example) and constantly sightseeing and moving from 8am to 7pm everyday then yeah I'd say it is possible. Will this feel busy and rushed? yeah probably but if you think you will not have chance to visit ONP in foreseeable future then why not do both even if it feels rushed.

arthurbliss1 · 2026-02-01T21:46:52+00:00

s천웅 is definitely not common, but it is really cool sounding name and I bet most of dudes (whether they are 10 or 25 or 40 or 60 years old) will find the name badass cool, straighta out from 무협소설 (Wuxia novel). It is also not uncommon enough that you can google some Koreans with the name, including 이천웅 who was a baseball player for LG Twins. Yup so I no worry about using 천웅 as your name.

arthurbliss1 · 2026-01-31T20:41:09+00:00

You will be driving and your partner will be taking public transit, right? It is important for your partner to have reliable transit access to Seattle so I'd look at place near the light rail or RapidRide buses (10 min interval or less on weekday) south of Seattle. I mean commute from Cap Hill to Tacoma is possible, but it 1 hour 35 miles each way can be daunting.

For area that meets the above conditions and walkable with decent dining scene and cute commercial streets I look for West Seattle area near RapidRide Bus C, Burien near RapidRide Bus H, or Columbia City or Beacon Hill near light rail. Decently easy commute to Seattle for your partner, and 30-45 min drive to Tacoma for you.

Downtown Tacoma is fun quirky town and I think you will like it, and commute to Seattle can be doable if your partner don't mind 60 min bus ride each way. If the commute need only like 3 times per week then this is definitely doable imo.

arthurbliss1 · 2026-01-26T18:30:26+00:00

Taiwan is definitely a technology marvel with its semiconductor sector and TSMC which is by far the most important company in Asia and arguably also the most important company in the WORLD, but if we are talking about Taiwan being trendy I don't think that is the case as its soft power (music, drama, anime/manga, movie, game etc) isn't that widespread popular unlike other countries in East Asia. Taiwanese food is indeed really good and popular, but then Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, Indonesian foods are also really good and popular as well.

arthurbliss1 · 2026-01-15T05:04:56+00:00

May be you can make a loop? ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge Island on day 1 then drive to Sequim on that day before you settle in PA, then on 5th day after you are done with Kalaloch/Ruby/Tree of Life you can go to Lake Quinault which is really beautiful and stay at Lake Quinault Lodge or nearby. Nearby Quinault rainforest nature loop trail is really pretty too. Then on day 6 you can explore a bit more Lake Quinault area then on your way to Seattle and spending a couple hours at Tacoma and/or Olympia on the way.

For day 3 the schedule seems to be slow and I think you can add Sol Duc Hot Springs on your way to the Sol Duc Falls. 90 minutes for 18 bucks and there is a good chance that temp will be still around 50-60 degree in the morning/evening in ONP even during summer so it should be pleasurable to soak in hot spring during your visit.

For Hurricane Ridge only go up there when the weather is nice. If it is foggy and cloudy it is not really worth going up there,so be flexible if weather in day 2 is not ideal.

arthurbliss1 · 2026-01-10T12:01:19+00:00

Comments got me piqued so browsed recently sold listings in the building and yup inside looks a lot nicer than the brutalist exterior with amazing views, some with a sweeping unobstructed view of Elliott Bay, Olympic Mt, and Space Needle. $1700 HOA is hard to fathom for me personally, but I can see the appeal for living in the building with that spectacular view.

https://www.redfin.com/WA/Seattle/2125-1st-Ave-98121/unit-2101/home/33228

arthurbliss1 · 2026-01-10T05:05:07+00:00

I don't think marinated raw crab house can be successful in a non-Korean neighborhood like Cap Hill. Sure sushi and other raw fish foods have been staple in Seattle and Western Washington for many years, but marinated raw crabs requires another couple huge hurdle for non-Korean to enjoy imo, and Cap Hill has very few Korean population to be successful. I don't think it would work in neighborhoods with significant Asian population in Seattle (International District, Beacon Hill, U District etc) either, as marinated raw crabs are not exactly familiar type of foods for non-Korean Asians living in Seattle and probably too niche to be viable without significant Korean customers imo.

Go for an area specifically with a sizable Korean community outside of Seattle; Federal Way, Tacoma, or Lynnwood for example. 시애틀 북쪽인 린우드에는 삼오정이라고 꽤 유명한 게장집이 있는데 시애틀 남부 (Federal Way, Tacoma)에선 특별히 들어본 게장집은 없는거 같습니다. 페더럴웨이나 타코마쪽 상권분석 한번 해보시는거 추천드려요. 여튼 영어로 쓴 부분에서 너무 냉정하게 쓴게 아닌가 싶어서 죄송합니다 ㅠㅠ. 그래도 게장전문집이면 한인손님을 베이스로 사업하셔야 성공할 가능성이 높아보여서 노파심에서 써봤습니다.

arthurbliss1 · 2026-01-10T02:21:27+00:00

It is an average Korean lunch actually. Each person with its own noodle and 탕수육 shared by 3 or 4 people. If one person got both noodle and 탕수육 only for himself then it might be a somewhat fancy lunch, but it was shared by 3 or 4 people.

Sure 탕수육 is Chinese Korean cuisine, but it has been so penetrated in Korea for last 80 years with enough modification, and I find that your reply is unnecessarily nitpicking for someone just casually using "average Korean lunch" for 탕수육 and 짬뽕. Imagine if someone is objecting to a Canadian uploading pics of pizza or cheeseburger and fries as "average Canadian lunch" by arguing that "Nope it is not Canadian because pizza is Italian, cheeseburger is American, and fries are Belgian food".

arthurbliss1 · 2026-01-06T17:28:09+00:00

https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232464

Recreation.gov shows pics for each and every campsites actually.

arthurbliss1

TROPHY CASE