Railroad Grade

Spectacular day today on Railroad Grade, which is the approach to the Easton Glacier for climbing Mount Baker.  Headed up with Dean, Ruth and the Dude, always great company and trail companions. 

The trail was full of climbers headed up and coming down. We noted the Washington Alpine Club, a recovery group, a class, and others.  We were hoping to spot our friend Dan and his crew which were running from Bellingham to Mt. Baker and back.  We counted 40 tents near the Sandy campsite, and throughout the hike we were spotting ants marching up and down the glacier towards the crater.

We had 80 degree temperatures and I've got a real good sunburn, despite wearing a long sleeve shirt and putting on the 50 SPF.  Visibility was great all around--as we neared the end of Railroad Grade, we were able to see the San Juan Islands and I believe Anacortes. Glacier Peak and Mount Rainier were on display to the south.

The wildflowers are out. Most notable was the phlox, hanging on the edges of the Grade. I saw asters, lupine, crimson heather, and others. The Grade itself is a knife edge trail, with a steep fall off on one side. The trail is snow free. Dean and I hiked up here amazingly in February, through snow. Nice to see the June version of this special trail.

Hooray for American Pharaoh. It was terrific to come down afterwards and watch history. The trails inspire, champions inspire, a beautiful day inspires. A good Saturday, for sure. The Mariners have got to win this one--the universe ordains it.

Olympic National Park

I visited the Olympic National Park this weekend. Good times, hanging out at the Sol Duc campground with great friends. Lots of laughs, and great to see BJ up from San Diego for the weekend.

Camping under old growth is something to be experienced. The Douglas Fir and Western Hemlock are thick and gnarly, with moss dripping off them. Birds and squirrels are flitting around all over the place.

In the morning, my friends headed up to the High Divide Trail, which is a classic that I'll have to make time for soon.  I opted for less strenuous activities in the valleys.

I visited Sol Duc Falls. This is a a short trail through mossy woods, with creeks and gnomes running around everywhere. One of these days I'll get a worthy camera, as this is one of those places where outdoor photographers create postcards and coffee table books. Beautiful. Going early is a good idea, while there are less people out.

I also checked out the Elwha River Valley.  This has been on my list for a while. In the early 1990s, Congress passed the Elwha River Ecosystem and Fisheries Restoration Act, which basically is a law that allowed dams to be removed on the Elwha River.  I visited the Glines Canyon Dam sometime way back then--maybe 1994--because I was interested in this and salmon restoration. Also, at the time, the timber wars were full on in this area, with the spotted owl making headlines. Many houses had signs in their windows saying "This family supported by timber."

Conservation seems to be winning on the Elwha River. Last August, the final 30 feet of the Glines Canyon Dam on the Elwha was removed. Salmon are already running back up the river.  This is a river that used to have 90 pound chinooks. Where once Lake Mills sat, there is now a new basin which will soon fill in again.  I hiked a trail through the side of the basin for a while, amidst stumps from before the dam went up, driftwood, and alder stands. Restoration efforts are in full swing, as I noted saplings planted here and there.  It's a pretty cool story.

Squires Lake

Sunshine hit this town today.  I was slow getting outside, with the morning focused on making breakfast, blending oranges, and sipping coffee. Filled the bird feeders too--hoping for hummingbirds this year, and I guess you're supposed to regularly change the sugar water. We have two baby squirrels running around the feeders. There are also robins chirping at daybreak. They are loud.

Eventually I headed up to Squires Lake and Alger Alp, for a walk around about the lake.  Is a nature walk a hike?  Is a hike a nature walk?  Whatever, this was a slow, quiet walk through the preserve. Its not a big area, but it is a gem, with the Pacific Northwest Trail cutting through.

I found a bog full of frogs, near the Beaver Pond. Lots of frogs, they all hopped as I walked near, and then I could spot them floating around. Eyes like alligator eyes, peeking out of the water.

I found a snake, but it got away.

Then I found a ledge to sit on that looked across the valley. Just sat there for a while, listening to the valley. It was that kind of day.

Little Mountain

I went up into Little Mountain Park in Mount Vernon today. This park has all sorts of new trails, due in large part to the work of Mount Vernon Parks and Recreation and the Mount Vernon Trail Builders.  The view this month includes Skagit Valley's tulip fields, which don't look as big from on top of the mountain. The fields can be made out in the picture above, if you squint.

Turtleback Mountain

I went up and over Turtleback Mountain on Orcas Island today. Nice to finally check this box, and get such great weather. The Turtleback Mountain Preserve is the product of conservation efforts by a number of preservation and land trust groups. It offers sometimes amazing views of all the San Juan Islands and Canada.

I did the point to point hike/run, which took me up and over the mountain. It wasn't too long--maybe six miles with detours, with over a 1000 feet of climb. There are various lookouts along the way, including a Waldron Island Overlook, Ship Peak, and others. Very runnable, with some steady climbing. I didn't make it to the Turtlehead, which reputedly has great views--save that for next time, I guess.

All the good things you'd expect on Orcas- expansive views, gnarled trees, paths of moss. Much of the trail is abandoned dirt roads. I only saw a couple people along the way, midday, on a Saturday. Very nice. Thanks to Deb for helping me manage the point to point. Thanks to Craig for his great description in his book Dayhiking the San Juans and Gulf Islands.

Breakfast at the New Leaf Cafe at the Outlook Inn. A late lunch at the Madrona. Home by evening. A very nice and needed day on Orcas.

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.

Railroad Grade-Park Butte Trail in February (or The Year It Forgot to Snow)

Dean, Dude and I hiked up to Railroad Grade on Saturday. This would usually be a long snowshoe hike this time of year, but this is the year it forgot to snow. The trail was bare or lightly snow-covered on the way up, until we reached the snow bowl area between Park Butte and Railroad Grade. We did fine in trail running shoes.

We hiked up on to the Railroad Grade, which is a long ridge that climbers take to begin the southern ascent of Mount Baker. The views were world class, with the volcano lightly steaming, and 360 degree views of Glacier Peak, Park Butte lookout, and numerous other lesser known peaks (though Dean knows their names). Truly a great day for hiking.

We were able to leave at 10:30 AM from Mount Vernon, and were home before dark. Love that. The Sno-Park is closed, and it doesn't appear that a sno-park pass ($20+) is needed. The area is closed to snowmobiles. Some folks were camping in the bowl, and we saw about 10 people coming off the summit, some 5000 feet above.

Down low, the daffodils are blooming in the Skagit, and I hear rumors that some tulips are already up too. I know ours in the yard are pushing up. Spring is coming early, it seems. Meanwhile, the east coast is snowed in. Weird weather this year.