New Book Releases

This book contains images of many of the mountains and views that are available to be climbed in Washington State. Washington's mountains have been used for many years as a training ground for major international mountain climbing expeditions. The very first Americans to climb Mount Everest trained on the mountains of Washington State. Many of these scenes have never been seen by the casual hiker or climber, merely because they cover such a large geographic area of the state and are otherwise very remote.

Surfing came to the central Oregon coast in the early 1960s. Mostly young boys from Newport and the Agate Beach area took to the waves, without wetsuits or leashes, and taught themselves how to surf in the forbidding cold waters. Eventually forming the Agate Beach Surf Club, they discovered other surfing communities along the Oregon coast. With no modern-day technology to help them, they traveled the rugged Oregon coast in search of good and accessible surf spots. Fifty years later, the surfing culture has grown and evolved, including both genders, kite, wind, stand-up-paddle, and big wave surfing. What hasn't changed is the unique and challenging environment of the Oregon coast. Geography, the weather, and the cold water still remain the biggest challenges. In the face of all this, the surfing community grows and continues to prosper.

On the heels of the coffee bean, Seattle is embracing the cocoa bean. There is a long chocolate history here, from the legendary melt-in-your-mouth Frango Mint originally found at the Frederick & Nelson department store to Dilettante's pioneering espresso mocha drinks and truffles and Fran's Chocolates. They paved the way for today's innovative chocolatiers. Seattle's chocolatiers are inventive and provocative, creating bold flavors and colors. They are responding to changing palates, and even changing dietary needs, while remaining dedicated to social justice, sustainability, and stewardship of the land and the people. Home to the nation's first bean-to-bar chocolate factory, Seattle is forever impacting the chocolate industry, educating people on chocolate quality and global responsibility.

Camp Lewis was established in 1917 as a training camp for the US Army in World War I. Made a permanent post in 1927, Fort Lewis became an important base for training and sending soldiers to combat in World War II and the Korean War. In 1956, the 4th Infantry Division arrived at Fort Lewis while America was deeply committed to protecting democracy around the world during the Cold War. From that time forward, Fort Lewis has been in the forefront of military reservations in the United States. The post played a crucial role in the Vietnam War, Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and the War on Terror. Soldiers based at Fort Lewis have deployed to conflicts throughout the world in defense of freedom. Today, Fort Lewis remains on the cutting edge of America's sword.