Blanchard Loop

Nice day today running around Blanchard. Skies threatened rain the whole time, and the trails had less than usual on them for when I ran, around mid-day. I actually ran a fair amount of the loop, and while my steps were slow, I was steady.

There was a wind storm this week, and so many trees were down. Below is a picture of one of them, which has sign on it. I wished I had a rock hammer, as the fallen trees leave many rocks uncovered.

I miss the days when the trail was rough, and the signs were few. Still, thankful to see a WTA trail party out there, making the tail smooth and promoting the ethic of trail care.

Midway through the run, Deb texted me to give me the sad news that Kobe and his daughter died in a helicopter crash. Tragic, sad, sad, so very sad.

Blanchard Mountain Loop

It has been a while since I've been up on Blanchard Mountain. Too long, for my own backyard run, as I think of it. Over the past few years, I've made it over there less and less, though still now and then. Each time, I'm moved by the little changes I see.

Starting out, I immediately noted that selective logging has taken place, sometimes very near the trail, and then sometimes over across the way. Sometimes this left for open views down towards the Skagit Valley, or of the logging road up to the scenic overlook. Then, the section between the overlook and Oyster Dome is remarkably more busy than it ever used to be. I passed many persons going either way on this section. Once upon a time, this was a pretty remote, rough trail. However, the fisherman trails have been turned into longer, gentle shortbacks, and many are out, even in the earlier AM weekend hours.

But once you get past Oyster Dome and head towards Lilly and Lizard Lake, the population thins. There is a new bridge crossing a creek I used to rock hop. The trail between Lilly and Lizard was peopleless, and full of mushrooms. Fall colors are still happening. The alt-incline too, empty, but for me.

I ran faster than I have in recent years, but not fast. My ankle did not turn, but the next day my right foot ached in ways that reminded me that I ran Blanchard the day before.

This was one of the good days.

Blanchard Mountain

Feeling really good. I got up early on the Saturday morning of a three day weekend and hiked and jogged around Blanchard Mountain. I threw in the British Army Trail, and looped back via the logging roads. Just an absolutely terrific morning on trail.

I have an old phone, and I'll replace it one of these days. It doesn't capture the best pics, but I'd rather throw these up here and have them then not. These pics are like rumors of the full view. The temps were in the 70s, not a cloud in the sky, and the trails were not too busy, because of the early start.

I've only taken the British Army Trail a couple times. It seems like t lot of work has been done on the trail in the last couple years, and the white scrapes suggest to me that it is part of the Pacific Northwest Trail. It's a less-traveled gem, and the logging roads back to the upper parking lot was a quiet, solitary experience--just how I like it.  On the logging roads, the view of Mount Baker was tres magnifique at one point. A "Well, hello there! Sweet view!" kind of moment.

Mount Rainier was out too. Sitting square in the middle of the view, from the Overlook, looking down across the Skagit Valley flats and Bow. I do this loop all the time, but don't typically see it. The white capped Olympics Range was also in full view, over Anacortes. All here, said the mountains.

The State Legislature is wrestling with whether or not to protect Blanchard Mountain from logging, and for recreational use. It's a ridiculous debate, but politics are that way sometimes, I guess. Frankly, it looks like a lot of logging has already occurred up there, selectively. The trail is quite a bit different from when I first started running and hiking up there, so many years ago.  Also, there is four to five times the foot traffic. The place is very much used and appreciated. Blanchard Mountain needs to be preserved as it is.

Off the mountain for now. Might go up again this weekend; the weather is good. Cueing up the barbq now, with some Bob Marley beats kicking. Might have to be a homebody, and garden, roof care, and all those sorts of things. Lively up yourself, says Bob.

Train rolling around the corner on the waterline

I promise--Mt. Rainier sits large in the middle of this photo, if you squint. Click to enlarge.

Bow, Chuckanut Drive and the Skagit Flats

Skagit Flats in the foreground, than March Point, and the Olympics Range beyond

Another shot of Bow/Chuckanut/Skagit Flats

Lilly Lake

Lizard Lake - fish were hopping

Here's a fail picture of Mt. Baker.  The lighting didn't work. But the view is special, from the logging roads retiring to the upper Blanchard parking lot.

Blanchard Mountain - April 2016

I've made it up to Blanchard Mountain to run and hike on the past two weekends. It had been a while, and I was struck by all the changes that have happened up on my local hero hill.

My usual routine is to park at the upper trailhead on the I-5 side.  I head up to the Larry Reed Trail, then the Samish Overlook, and then up to Lilly and Lizard Lake and finish on the Alt-Incline Trail. If you understand this, great. If not, basically I do a loop around the mountain.

The first surprise was the logging on the latter end of the Larry Reed Trail as you approach the Samish Overlook. Trees down, trees down! The trail seems different for a portion.  I saw a woodpecker on the lone tree in a field, which made me think of the Lorax.

The Overlook has more space.  This area has gradually changed over the years, with the addition of a restroom, a paved parking lot, railings for horses, etc. Most notably this time around is the overlook looking out towards Orcas has been improved upon, turned into a park like setting.

The hill formerly known as Kill Bill is now a series of switchbacks. It's still a climb, but the trail is much smoother, and a bit longer, with extended turns. This trail used to be somewhat technical, and a series of three miner's climbs. No more, though it is still a slog to get to the top junction for Oyster Dome-Lilly Lake. The Washington Trails Association, one of my favorite non-profits, has been busy working on the improvements.

I think the most pronounced change is there is an increase in use. Lots more people on the trail. Now, I went mid-day each weekend, which isn't really my M.O., and so perhaps that's why it seemed like more were on the trail. But I don't think so--I think the word is out about Blanchard Mountain. I'd say three to four times as many as I would've seen on a Saturday a few years ago.

It's a great place. The improvements are good, but are hard to embrace, as some of those old routes seem like friends. Change is slow, but the changes over time are significant.

Now, Blanchard is the subject of further conservation discussions and media reports, as the Department of Natural Resources will need to have the timber on the mountain cut unless Olympia acts to protect the area. Reports say $7.7 million is needed.

Hard to imagine that they would cut this area, with so many people using the land for recreation purposes, and in light of the ecological value of the sea to Cascades route here. Also, there's that Pacific Northwest Trail which goes through Blanchard, and is receiving increased attention and appreciation.

In other news, I volunteered at the Tulip Run this weekend. Spring has sprung, and the flowers are blooming. I'm making plans for summer activities. My "Sisyphean" effort to get in better shape continues. Happy to have opportunities to challenge myself.

Blanchard Mountain

I found my way on to Blanchard Mountain on Saturday. So out of shape. The weather was perfect--it felt like May up there.  There is new signage.  It seems like every year the trails get a bit more civilized. I noticed white blazes, probably for the Pacific NW Trail. The roads are improved, as the logging companies are doing their business up there right now. It seemed like some of the woods were thinned here and there too.

Sunday found us out in the Skagit valley, checking out the daffodils. Some tulips are even coming up.

A Frosty Morning on Blanchard Mountain

I got out to Blanchard this morning and did a loop, which is 9 or 10 miles.  I took a few photos and so I'm throwing them up here. Blanchard is pretty much my favorite place to run nearby.

Signage at the trailhead says they're closing the trail that connect the lookout trail (aka Larry Reed Trail) with the mid-level parking lot. Thanks to Dean for pointing this out. As this is a favorite stretch, I made a point to get up there.  I saw there are some new switchbacks too on the connector between the hang glider lookout and the climb to Oyster Dome.

It was pretty cold this morning. I'm not sure its fair to call what I was doing running. The picture above shows the work of a beaver on a tree. A few of these other pics show frost and a view over the Skagit in January, with little growing.  The birds are all over the valley, and I heard duck hunters shooting this morning.

Blanchard Mountain Loops

I got up at 5 AM today and ran two loops around Blanchard Mountain, on the old Blanchard Ultra loop.  22 miles.  The farthest I've gone in a while.

I wasn't quick, but pretty steady. Hike the hills, jog the flats, run the downhills.  I'm encouraged by the improvement.

Great weather today--hitting the mid-to high 80s  Saw a big frog.  The first huckleberries of the year.  A number of different types of flowers.

Physical Therapy

I’ve had a couple sessions of physical therapy in the past month.  This is a long time coming. The goal is to make me whole. The pessimist in me is reminded of that Greek story where the guy has to  push a rock up a hill, as a punishment, but the magic rock always slides back down. King Sisyphus.

Anyway, the goal is to figure out what’s going on with my left hip, hamstring, and knee, and then chart a course for improvement.  So far, the focus has been on lower back muscles, and well as abductor stretches.  I’m hopeful for improvement, and I think the sessions have been great. I need to show a bit more discipline in carrying out the prescribed stretches twice a day. Will do.

Always room for improvement.

On Saturday, I ran and hiked a circuit around Blanchard Mountain.  Spring is near here, with a limited amount of snow up by Lilly Lake.  Winter took it easy on the Northwest this year, I’d say.  Sunday I spent in the gym, with a mild workout.  I’m not sure if I should be upset or happy with the slight aches in my quads.  

Max's Shortcut

 

Usually June brings warmer days, but the rain makes everything in the wood glow in green.  My Achilles doesn’t really allow me to run, and with gas prices as they are, I didn’t feel like going too far.  So this weekend I wandered around my favorite mountain again.

Max’s Shortcut is a 2.6 mile trail connecting Lilly Lake and a connector trail to the Blanchard overlook.  I don’t get on this trail enough, as it is perfect for running.  Switchbacks, gradual ups and downs, soft trail.  The trail is part of the Pacific Northwest Trail, a West to East trail stretching from Washington to some part of Montana, I believe.  White blazes on trees mark the way.

As I said, I couldn’t really run, but I could kind of meander, and smell, listen, feel the outdoors.  Saturday was a wet day, with periodic rains, water dripping off ferns.  I took my time, looking at moss, watching a squirrel, snapping photos, most of which were fails.  I will not run forever.  But I will walk in the woods as long as this body permits.

Good to see so many volunteers on Blanchard Mountain, improving trail and road, for National Trails Day. Thank you.

Blanchard Mountain

Trotted around Blanchard Mountain this morning, as well as last Sunday. Blanchard is probably my favorite place to run locally. Can't say I ran hard or well, but there was some running.

Department of Natural Resources has invested some time and money on Blanchard. There's a lot of new signage, the road in has seen some maintenance, and the Samish Overlook got a full makeover. Paragliders were launching as I ran by.

The biggest surprise of the day was finding a new set of switchbacks on the second climb of Kill Bill Hill, otherwise known as the Oyster Dome trail. Basically, the second vertical pitch is no more. The new trail work looks great, and probably is a good idea in light of erosion concerns. However, I've come to appreciate that straight climb over the years, where you grab a root or two to make it up to the top.

The former climb was a great part of training for some high mountain ultras, as well as a tough part of the old Blanchard Mountain Ultra and near the end of the North Face 50 miler. Those who have ran it will probably know what I'm talking about. The last climb is still there, steep as ever.

Pic above of the new switchback, and right below of the filled in Kill Bill.

RIP.

National Trails Day

Great weather this weekend--the first days over 70 degrees in roughly 6 months. I probably should've went east early in the morning, but didn't find the motivation for the drive. Instead, I figured I'd work my way around Blanchard a couple times. Turns out I felt sort of sick, or maybe it was adjusting to the weather, but I did not make good time. Perhaps I need events on the schedule a bit more just to keep my miles up. Just going with the flow.

I didn't realize it, but Saturday was National Trails Day, and the Washington State Department of Natural Resources decided to focus its attention on Blanchard Mountain trails. There were more cars at Blanchard then I'd ever seen, and several horse trailers. It was awesome to see the trails filled with trail workers, helping out from several groups, including WIMPS, PNWT Association, Whatcom Backcountry Horsemen, and a hangglider group. Horses were packing gravel in, barbq at the lower parking lot, teams of trailworkers pretty far up in the trail system. I passed between 50 and 75 trail workers, and no fewer than 15 horses.

Thank you to all who volunteered their time, energy and resources to one of my favorite places to run! It means a lot. It also reminds me that I need to put in some time soon for CC.

Blanchard Mountain

Great day on Blanchard Mountain today. Friend Seth was looking for some miles, and I didn’t want to go too far due to rumors of dirty weather. To our good luck, our run morphed into an impromptu group of six runners—a true fun run---with clear skies and long views over the islands from the lookouts.

The run almost didn’t happen. Seth and I only confirmed around midnight the night before. Seth has had an absolutely amazing year, knocking off Western States and spending six weeks in Nepal, amongst plenty of other cool things. It was good to hang out.

He came up with his friend Kelly, and he managed to recruit Pablo for the run as well. Then, friend Bill just happened to show up at the trailhead, and so he joined in. And Then, we met up with Alex at the top of the Oyster Dome, someone I ran with briefly a few years ago on Blanchard.

18 miles total, and the hills took their toll. We ran the standard Blanchard ultra loop the first time, with an extra detour to the Oyster Dome lookout; and then ran/hiked the short loop up by the Lilly/Lizard trailheads.  I struggled starting out, feeling yesterday’s eats, but felt pretty normal by the end. I'm always a little shy about running in groups, since I never know how I'm going to feel or run. But nobody ran away from anyone--a very relaxed day. Just the same, I think we were all tuckered by the end.

Afterwards, Pablo, Seth, Kelly and I hit the Porterhouse. The after-the-after party consisted of a couch, the worst Husky game in a long time, and an ok World Series game.

Looking forward to running the Ron Herzog 50k next weekend in Granite Falls. Miles and good company.