tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16042060686985692772024-03-13T21:11:51.134-07:00My Northwest OutdoorsBrownsBayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03969021391279264412noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604206068698569277.post-23083987022721454742015-02-28T21:59:00.000-08:002015-02-28T21:59:01.417-08:00Renewal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The start of the year is a time of renewal. This was the year I had intended to kick start my blogs. But look, it's already, well almost March. And already this year I have been on a few adventures that I want to share. Adventures may be too strong a word. Anything that involves going somewhere and doing something outdoors classifies as an adventure for me. Your adrenalin level may vary.<br />
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In January I took a trip to southern Utah with my older son. We skied Brian Head and visited Bryce Canyon and Zion. I want to tell you what a great place Brian Head is and how smaller ski resorts like Brian Head are where you should be spending your time and money, because your money goes a lot farther there. These ski areas care about you and make skiing fun again and affordable for families.<br />
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I explored a little piece of Whidbey Island in late January, Ebey's Landing, a popular place. On a rare mild winter day you can get ahead of the crowd with an early start before the masses figure out the day's weather.<br />
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And lastly, I rode the Chilly Hilly bicycle ride this year (February 22). The annual ride circumnavigates Bainbridge Island and marks the opening of bicycling season in western Washington. It's been a mild winter and the weather was perfect on the ride. Next ride up, the McClinchy Mile, the OsoStrong version.<br />
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Stay with me my friends.BrownsBayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03969021391279264412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604206068698569277.post-49240316692277573602014-03-29T15:19:00.001-07:002014-03-29T15:19:56.036-07:00Skagit Wildlife Area - Headquarters (Skagit) Unit - March 27, 2014I was on the tail end of a nasty cold and cycling, skiing, or hiking didn't sound too good. I opted for an easy drive up to the Skagit Valley for some easy walking and birding. A stop at Pleasant Ridge Farm in Rexville and the Breadfarm in Edison would add a hunting and gathering element. Plus the daffodils would be at peak but still too early for tulips.<br />
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The Skagit Wildlife Area - Headquarters (Skagit) Unit is one of 16 separate units in the Skagit region owned and managed for the benefit of wildlife by the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW). The Skagit Unit includes 190 acres of mostly estuary and tidal wetland. This is also stop 64 on the Cascade Loop of the Great Washington State Birding Trail.<br />
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<a href="http://wa.audubon.org/sites/default/files/documents/cascade_booklet_8_7_2012.pdf" target="_blank">Great Washington State Birding Trail</a><br />
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I parked at the big parking lot at the eastern end. I checked out the boat ramp where an old barge was tied. I followed the only path here, which is the dike trail that is basically a gravel road on and next to a newly constructed dike. The path forks at the tide gate on Wylie Slough so you have two options. I took the left path, basically out and back, for a total of two miles for the day. It was a beautiful day of clearing weather with big clouds and blue skies. The trees had not yet leafed out but the salmonberry was in bloom as the harbinger of spring. An eagle's nest was already active.<br />
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I ran into a gentleman on a bicycle along the way who explained some of the controversy surrounding a recent restoration project in this area. He spoke with a Scottish brogue and had a beautiful and very friendly golden lab. So bicycles and dogs are probably allowed here.<br />
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The recent controversy is the Wiley Slough Restoration Project implemented in 2009 to restore 157 acres back to tidal estuarine habitat primarily to help with Chinook salmon recovery. The 157 acres had been formerly diked off from tidal and river influence and was readily accessible to walk-in hunters and wildlife watchers. The recovery operation involved the removal of the old dikes and the moving of the Wylie Slough tide gate to open the area to tidal and riverine flooding. New dikes were constructed further away from the river. The restoration project reduced the area of access that hunters formerly had. You can now see a lot of dead trees in the restoration area, trees that cannot tolerate wet feet or brackish water.<br />
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It was a great few hours here, added a new bird to my list (Greater yellowlegs), and I learned a little something.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entrance to Skagit Wildlife Area</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old barge at the boat launch</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_yz34PdC-ORXhZaF42V3378IXbc1SSEo7taRlomFXqbg_Eex2xDgqaNvTmUvdVd_2671eQokPt-QKCqDxzDhEc4oAOMm6O63WCYp7ot2LLjrgzB4E4tDIqMBZzFti1ytUGNJBOQFWxdc/s1600/Salmonberry_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_yz34PdC-ORXhZaF42V3378IXbc1SSEo7taRlomFXqbg_Eex2xDgqaNvTmUvdVd_2671eQokPt-QKCqDxzDhEc4oAOMm6O63WCYp7ot2LLjrgzB4E4tDIqMBZzFti1ytUGNJBOQFWxdc/s1600/Salmonberry_1.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Salmonberry</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dike trail</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjnYIlFgwhS0hX0gg6RJ08zDNeV_xp820GyjZ6yrI-eyoo3Dv9FnB5WGZj9Q0dQHLcPZCKJdgxB0IpYAF8-5f_vD_p23QlIfzfN-3kdiqLwIiVgzg_g1hHX_pHUcJnyL5nzhYW09mrISU/s1600/Cattail_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjnYIlFgwhS0hX0gg6RJ08zDNeV_xp820GyjZ6yrI-eyoo3Dv9FnB5WGZj9Q0dQHLcPZCKJdgxB0IpYAF8-5f_vD_p23QlIfzfN-3kdiqLwIiVgzg_g1hHX_pHUcJnyL5nzhYW09mrISU/s1600/Cattail_1.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cattails fading</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFf_06e84E4RTMl7WD-2r2Oall4pT-LYQoH_mVgQX7jjS784iILROL-ZVaqGVFa_VeUk71Wl9Fw08cknK8CkY6ESZA13A9oVeGEgLWiBlecb8bt9a1bkDpTtMkM2kWYg8iVg-TbJjYIa4/s1600/EaglesNest_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFf_06e84E4RTMl7WD-2r2Oall4pT-LYQoH_mVgQX7jjS784iILROL-ZVaqGVFa_VeUk71Wl9Fw08cknK8CkY6ESZA13A9oVeGEgLWiBlecb8bt9a1bkDpTtMkM2kWYg8iVg-TbJjYIa4/s1600/EaglesNest_1.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eagle's nest</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV1X2uA9oiwnjAavq89U7jL_bYDEinmbE_ZzoLd8_YpFO041rSu4vel9VZ_uIQtlzIQSMA1aFz8fQwOtqRryNh8HSdphAzahx5VBrhlf-2QEDtzYsuKsKx0GUbeOJtCeFY_NGCbc1yIjg/s1600/Marshland_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV1X2uA9oiwnjAavq89U7jL_bYDEinmbE_ZzoLd8_YpFO041rSu4vel9VZ_uIQtlzIQSMA1aFz8fQwOtqRryNh8HSdphAzahx5VBrhlf-2QEDtzYsuKsKx0GUbeOJtCeFY_NGCbc1yIjg/s1600/Marshland_1.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking out to Skagit Bay</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJYrgLvoS43-EC45DXJa3n8SinEgCOl0p5fuFHPz82SBN2TOWpkRM1b3pbpirmd1oHKLk4oxw8xZuvPWa066_J6fwShVdkNxwseqI3Z5ZV-3pNwnZCVU4gySOBQ4mqgFm9t0k98zNXxQ/s1600/Skagit+Wildlife+Map+3-27-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJYrgLvoS43-EC45DXJa3n8SinEgCOl0p5fuFHPz82SBN2TOWpkRM1b3pbpirmd1oHKLk4oxw8xZuvPWa066_J6fwShVdkNxwseqI3Z5ZV-3pNwnZCVU4gySOBQ4mqgFm9t0k98zNXxQ/s1600/Skagit+Wildlife+Map+3-27-14.jpg" height="272" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Satellite view and the route (adapted from http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Bird list for the day:<br />
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<br />
<br />BrownsBayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03969021391279264412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604206068698569277.post-41011929528533418782014-03-16T16:21:00.003-07:002014-03-16T16:21:45.669-07:00McClinchy Mile Bike Ride 2014I have always wanted to go for this bike ride but circumstances have never worked out. Ride day forecast was for the imminent rain to hold off until the afternoon. Stoked with a bowl of granola and a fruit smoothie, I hit the road for the ride start in Arlington. I landed a parking spot just steps from the registration desk. It goes without saying that early start/early arrival has advantages, though parking appeared ample. This ride is certainly not among the "big" rides. I had pre-registered on Active, which was an exercise in offer-avoidance (ugh!). No numbers were issued, just a green wrist band to wear. The route cues were well marked on the road surface.<br />
<br />
I opted for the shorter 34 mile semi-loop from Arlington to Stanwood out-and-back. This was my first "longer" ride of the season; a kind of shake-down cruise. It was the perfect distance for me at this time. The route is mostly flat with a little roll here and there. The vehicle traffic was light except through Arlington, Stanwood, and around SR530 and Interstate 5 where just a little additional caution was needed. Much of the route is on uncrowded rural roads where the occasional passing vehicle gave wide berth.<br />
<br />
The best thing about this route is that it traverses some gorgeous farm countryside in the lower Stillaguamish Valley with beautiful old barns, some well-kept, others crumbling in decay covered in blackberry brambles. I passed an occupied nest of bald eagles high up in a cottonwood tree right next to the road. In a few places the route hugged the Stillaguamish River for a short distance.<br />
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On the return back to Arlington, the wind had picked from the southeast making for a little extra effort. I could feel the last few small hill climbs into Arlington that told me the relatively flat 34 miles was just right. The rain held off. Satisfyingly, I was passed by no one. I did pass a number of riders myself. Perhaps the strong riders opted for the 48 miler. Maybe next year. Either way, I'd do the McClinchy Mile again.<br />
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The McClinchy Mile Bike Ride is a fund raiser for <a href="http://www.bikesclub.org/" target="_blank">B.I.K.E.S. Club of Snohomish County</a> <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwtmRheI0u5z4ugiHmHmTtCuXw-LlPbBWu6F4ElKpZvP0xhmhRnEcS5ThhfRrWWsc5Xn_Yj9P5pSMAVaKantfYYHWgsbZnt9AmVamTUs8TuvzjyP7J5Ey_TXpu2zxvN5CJhVW7I1ZzyAI/s1600/StartParkingLot_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwtmRheI0u5z4ugiHmHmTtCuXw-LlPbBWu6F4ElKpZvP0xhmhRnEcS5ThhfRrWWsc5Xn_Yj9P5pSMAVaKantfYYHWgsbZnt9AmVamTUs8TuvzjyP7J5Ey_TXpu2zxvN5CJhVW7I1ZzyAI/s1600/StartParkingLot_1.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parking ample at the start. Haller Middle School, Arlington, WA</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAPR2SfqadBrQV9YPLETMS-PnX7p19-BhdEhW24q9Eys_K5na7-q2mM4Xd-XpNPb-kd5nsEmeQEQZDr5ISiJBjUi034G-fEyGGGN-ILiWcL1hqrsjWc47kHJaoutk29bUBmOQxCZzYauw/s1600/StartRegistration_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAPR2SfqadBrQV9YPLETMS-PnX7p19-BhdEhW24q9Eys_K5na7-q2mM4Xd-XpNPb-kd5nsEmeQEQZDr5ISiJBjUi034G-fEyGGGN-ILiWcL1hqrsjWc47kHJaoutk29bUBmOQxCZzYauw/s1600/StartRegistration_1.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Registration uncrowded.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz75_6XbZ3_iQO3IevpWJ1uUQ-QEz8v4_vMG5ZU9e5GODvNsUYWZIo_ExGoGG_IE31m1LhPK_pcm-uS-2st2pBGSBqdjURAGWKz1XSBesE8vaynKYmEuAcgeco1IEvDOPfe9jEe72y5MI/s1600/DaffodilRoad_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz75_6XbZ3_iQO3IevpWJ1uUQ-QEz8v4_vMG5ZU9e5GODvNsUYWZIo_ExGoGG_IE31m1LhPK_pcm-uS-2st2pBGSBqdjURAGWKz1XSBesE8vaynKYmEuAcgeco1IEvDOPfe9jEe72y5MI/s1600/DaffodilRoad_1.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bucolic lower Stillaguamish Valley.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1z68CQQuZVbjEoy4678xC1A3CnJroTmGgo10msy7fAQu9k-OIk8E6K0JQOctq9YEGzWUR9r9pqTKJ5WpPHDiw5nlgE9ePamloJaVWrRMYABE3WK6XzVHDDWu8TfGKjiGPf_gLwbjXKds/s1600/RestStop_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1z68CQQuZVbjEoy4678xC1A3CnJroTmGgo10msy7fAQu9k-OIk8E6K0JQOctq9YEGzWUR9r9pqTKJ5WpPHDiw5nlgE9ePamloJaVWrRMYABE3WK6XzVHDDWu8TfGKjiGPf_gLwbjXKds/s1600/RestStop_1.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Midway rest stop at Stanwood Middle School, Stanwood, WA.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLrEHDkuVCiMt-fj1zJ0x0UNekaIamApM6kmpWvnJKLXDgElTAOYgi5AOEUBZj4wmaO7i_5URN2ytHwM1ComYQaGy9jrtNoAadhs8Jb5XCaZqKvmWm6uRQNo2ryMtG1sINSUxdg5YMXbE/s1600/River_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLrEHDkuVCiMt-fj1zJ0x0UNekaIamApM6kmpWvnJKLXDgElTAOYgi5AOEUBZj4wmaO7i_5URN2ytHwM1ComYQaGy9jrtNoAadhs8Jb5XCaZqKvmWm6uRQNo2ryMtG1sINSUxdg5YMXbE/s1600/River_1.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Stillaguamish River, high and turbid.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUUGEAp9TSsplvnf9F8a5FJk3-j0FvU97oaK8v4dnbAMB21ijvFfnSw6cZ5BT5Fy_pAGXhGcdW3xUAWxvaPGCFp7rajx1kocaQZ4qvBbLNoMta4vcvIUBUe6UZBbmpdFOO_F6S6UvV_NY/s1600/Farmhouse_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUUGEAp9TSsplvnf9F8a5FJk3-j0FvU97oaK8v4dnbAMB21ijvFfnSw6cZ5BT5Fy_pAGXhGcdW3xUAWxvaPGCFp7rajx1kocaQZ4qvBbLNoMta4vcvIUBUe6UZBbmpdFOO_F6S6UvV_NY/s1600/Farmhouse_1.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Well kept old farm house in the lower Stillaguamish Valley.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo2mEf0sK3bqY7WWn8uEXhoCvFobw0aqXtbjtpiKUwQ56FVwM52mSdzB_zXlxeZwBqGRRCubOOHZIUabBUNKHv6m1Zbf86k3UjsHcAKREq1X-bTSX8XaYhVFxhSEEbKKclBAuQ_Dkn9ak/s1600/Silvana_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo2mEf0sK3bqY7WWn8uEXhoCvFobw0aqXtbjtpiKUwQ56FVwM52mSdzB_zXlxeZwBqGRRCubOOHZIUabBUNKHv6m1Zbf86k3UjsHcAKREq1X-bTSX8XaYhVFxhSEEbKKclBAuQ_Dkn9ak/s1600/Silvana_1.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The grain mill in Silvana, WA.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDp1tRasqtAMREJB8c6ulckezEEVOVwRBCQPHLR_aS8yW0s8gvi6TvbHizOM6B6gNJcJ68TCbOsd8WAX9E2VkP_1EN6GFZ0EpE0Y5gkxhy9GMev79YBWgFn-Tsk56fznJvBBXAskRUSrY/s1600/McClinchy+Mile+Route+Map+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDp1tRasqtAMREJB8c6ulckezEEVOVwRBCQPHLR_aS8yW0s8gvi6TvbHizOM6B6gNJcJ68TCbOsd8WAX9E2VkP_1EN6GFZ0EpE0Y5gkxhy9GMev79YBWgFn-Tsk56fznJvBBXAskRUSrY/s1600/McClinchy+Mile+Route+Map+2014.jpg" height="184" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The route via http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6236929</td></tr>
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<br />BrownsBayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03969021391279264412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604206068698569277.post-11406365202358676012013-12-15T20:19:00.001-08:002013-12-15T20:33:15.953-08:00Kent Ponds - Killing TimeIt was a Sunday and I had to be in downtown Seattle at 9 am and then pick somebody up from the airport around 1 pm. This gave me a couple hours of tween time to kill. Kent Ponds was the perfect place, only 15 minutes from the airport. I had never been to the Kent Ponds which made it even more desirable a place to visit.<br />
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Kent Ponds is properly known as the Green River Natural Resources Area or GRNRA. The GRNRA is 304 acres of open space that was converted from an abandoned sewage lagoon system into largest man-made, multi-use wildlife refuges in the United States. It includes ponds, meadows, woods of alder and cottonwood, a trail system, and three observation towers. It is also one of the region's birding hotspots. More info on the GRNRA here:<br />
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<a href="http://kentwa.gov/GRNRA/" target="_blank">City of Kent - Green River Natural Resources Area</a><br />
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The morning was clear and crisp as I hit the trail from the western side of the GRNRA. The region had been under a cold spell for over a week of sub-freezing temperatures. I followed one of the paths toward the large lagoon, then rounded the lagoon to the outlet works. I saw no person except a jogger (btw, no jogging according to the sign). I did see a nice, fat coyote, about 200 yards away who kept an eye on me as a viewed him through my binoculars. The lagoon was almost entirely frozen over making for a safe resting pad for a number of ducks and one lone Trumpeter Swan.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0YyCNMcpZXhrJacXKk8kWlZkzW4q3K8vtGJSFZVtwhsiWTF8V3Jcmdc3oSjrgnSDTUn5p5YGmeGNYStSwflMozNB_a79QyyjVo_A2jxmyB_tyWoDI9mwmFZowi7ktFYco9btmfjUEWbA/s1600/GRNRA-sign_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0YyCNMcpZXhrJacXKk8kWlZkzW4q3K8vtGJSFZVtwhsiWTF8V3Jcmdc3oSjrgnSDTUn5p5YGmeGNYStSwflMozNB_a79QyyjVo_A2jxmyB_tyWoDI9mwmFZowi7ktFYco9btmfjUEWbA/s400/GRNRA-sign_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">West entry from Anderson Park off of Russell Road</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitFstHd-p6kAUILfhTzqnxO84oNLhZ9gZJcTYemL0eOMnb9AdM5hZj63hjgm9Aj7A2izVd63PXL1pauoMRYql7s1Q-urKjoKfqeAuAlnZWcpptVtjG7cRSemgbs_OjeTVLf596uwzwWLg/s1600/Tower-view-north_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitFstHd-p6kAUILfhTzqnxO84oNLhZ9gZJcTYemL0eOMnb9AdM5hZj63hjgm9Aj7A2izVd63PXL1pauoMRYql7s1Q-urKjoKfqeAuAlnZWcpptVtjG7cRSemgbs_OjeTVLf596uwzwWLg/s400/Tower-view-north_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Typical meadowland at GRNRA</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1RjUmc0jM1Z0ABRrmW1ZZbWdh2xXD92RAzL0bED5RjOur1h_5fiahXb-CNeavHcz4FwY-Ua8D6QynbbEH3erbfew4xCjIqBEgsK1sUd45ktmt4SqKC2GAzGwT3vzHjhCALPSY63fnLOc/s1600/Tower-view-Rainier_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1RjUmc0jM1Z0ABRrmW1ZZbWdh2xXD92RAzL0bED5RjOur1h_5fiahXb-CNeavHcz4FwY-Ua8D6QynbbEH3erbfew4xCjIqBEgsK1sUd45ktmt4SqKC2GAzGwT3vzHjhCALPSY63fnLOc/s400/Tower-view-Rainier_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the tower with Mount Rainier visible through the morning haze.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidJzFwz0S2vD9CY7QcZ0LO99MajSHewOrtAb9eJm3yOHm1zSDzKM6U4KXcgYSvgcRaBy8x00Ei0jVuQh6Yzz4YAKfHfSQPToyV2uEpch6Cy_MBzByTPPmXlDG5eWsZ2JjKptTuVWgiArY/s1600/Tower-sun_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidJzFwz0S2vD9CY7QcZ0LO99MajSHewOrtAb9eJm3yOHm1zSDzKM6U4KXcgYSvgcRaBy8x00Ei0jVuQh6Yzz4YAKfHfSQPToyV2uEpch6Cy_MBzByTPPmXlDG5eWsZ2JjKptTuVWgiArY/s400/Tower-sun_1.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Observation tower</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNGdkS9XzP_mWsvefHOw22KOseayt_fkbwvHruFr6Y8JGDLD5ngAS0r0eXS8XuCzjWZbvx7aDE0nVPi1xoHrpqELAEtn5BORwGjEMEAVKYJPMEFQPQqTx_ytYIsEFJy8h0bMtf-Ta6RCE/s1600/Pond-east_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNGdkS9XzP_mWsvefHOw22KOseayt_fkbwvHruFr6Y8JGDLD5ngAS0r0eXS8XuCzjWZbvx7aDE0nVPi1xoHrpqELAEtn5BORwGjEMEAVKYJPMEFQPQqTx_ytYIsEFJy8h0bMtf-Ta6RCE/s400/Pond-east_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lagoon with a lone Trumpeter Swan in the center.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUDNE4HOBZHS245Yjr-6moCq29WfFuoCNJKkfc6jSGXzCs3EEZsXn7BFQN-1O6hyiuQXDc47IQGwdULiMHP8P_awhAYIlBAWR3b42QXVwmQ6juZjGdiuniFC41vGxaHDEftFJ7pQzMl7k/s1600/ControlGate_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUDNE4HOBZHS245Yjr-6moCq29WfFuoCNJKkfc6jSGXzCs3EEZsXn7BFQN-1O6hyiuQXDc47IQGwdULiMHP8P_awhAYIlBAWR3b42QXVwmQ6juZjGdiuniFC41vGxaHDEftFJ7pQzMl7k/s400/ControlGate_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lagoon outlet.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiu1_K8voyhNzYdEdESFyMgRU76MJ0YT-TBKdfaPdf2qY0cSjuv1rpJZJEc2YJbwpSn5qaE_wS-flXVA85jMbYNoDzz6T5X0y5MAKWmk-w4PAl92zjLNQuSsjP0E4Ssm7e-t_ut1dKu58/s1600/Kent+Ponds+route12-8-13.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiu1_K8voyhNzYdEdESFyMgRU76MJ0YT-TBKdfaPdf2qY0cSjuv1rpJZJEc2YJbwpSn5qaE_wS-flXVA85jMbYNoDzz6T5X0y5MAKWmk-w4PAl92zjLNQuSsjP0E4Ssm7e-t_ut1dKu58/s400/Kent+Ponds+route12-8-13.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The route, 1.7 miles round trip.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0RHgnvz_iepZ3YK11NCS_0K7P807eoSbDTn9cqbIGmx_VMQ22a6OHGy9RX3sH5OD-njeBxDgIXslfRrHWWm1mWZIbDsUOguezO2JKbXbUk05O8bloePUwGVHSuuV_dGVFJ0qrf_DMKH4/s1600/Kent+Ponds+Audubon+Map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0RHgnvz_iepZ3YK11NCS_0K7P807eoSbDTn9cqbIGmx_VMQ22a6OHGy9RX3sH5OD-njeBxDgIXslfRrHWWm1mWZIbDsUOguezO2JKbXbUk05O8bloePUwGVHSuuV_dGVFJ0qrf_DMKH4/s400/Kent+Ponds+Audubon+Map.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GRNRA map (Rainier Audubon Society)</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.rainieraudubon.org/kentponds.htm" target="_blank">Rainier Audubon - Kent Ponds</a><br />
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<br />BrownsBayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03969021391279264412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604206068698569277.post-86293652215995069602013-06-09T16:35:00.000-07:002013-06-09T16:35:14.145-07:00Gear Up Expo - June 2, 2013With Comcast Arena maybe a 20 minute drive from my front door I could not miss this event - the GEAR up Expo 2013 at Comcast Arena in Everett. I pretty much showed up as soon as the doors opened at 10 am on Sunday, a gorgeous day as it turned out, one I could take advantage of if I sprinted around the exhibits. Sprinting through the exhibits was not in the cards; just too much cool stuff and interesting people. They had a passport booth crawl going on where you pick up a passport at the front entry, crawl around to the eight participating exhibitors to get your passport stamped, then drop it off at the show office to enter a drawing. Needless to say, I didn't win anything on anything I entered at the show.<br />
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The main attraction here was, of course, the legendary Jim Whittaker, the first American to summit Mount Everest back in nineteen hundred and sixty three. I made it a point to make Jim one of my first stops, to catch him while he was still fresh, before he was inundated by admirers. He was there sitting in a chair while his wife, Dianne Roberts, tended to managing the book and poster sales. Dianne rivals Jim in her own accomplishments but the star of the show today was Jim Whittaker. I found Jim to be a most gracious human who generously autographed a copy of his book, "A Life on the Edge." At the age of 84, Jim was still ramrod straight and appearing in fantastic shape. I told him a story about way back in the 1980s when I and a friend climbed Rainier with RMI. Our guides kind of took a liking to my friend and I because we were young then and the strongest of our group. After we came down off the mountain the guides invited us to a party at Lou Whittaker's house in Ashford, Lou being Jim's twin brother. At the party were several recognizable mountaineering luminaries including Nawang Gombu. Gombu summited Everest that day in 1963 with Jim. When I mentioned Gombu, Jim slowly said "Gombu" with a touch of far away sadness as Gombu had passed away a couple of years ago. Jim asked me if I had summited Rainier (indeed I had). He told me he still gets up to Camp Muir and hikes across the Ingraham glacier, but no longer goes for the summit. I asked Jim how it feels getting old after leading such as active life and he replied without hesitation and a little laugh "It sucks!" His advice, "Stay active." Indeed I will Jim and thanks for making my day, a day I'll remember for the rest of my life.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmesZuuOh6pEcRtDHcncFZ_wnnfvS1PxlivnjgADPq5Vs8hvwlCXdngMKgT9o-wk4m1Q4qpC1i4S18VNPUp7GTWr0VkkFC7lg-Vpek6iuj0_Cg2d-gg598-53VEQnqEkacjDybglaX8Js/s1600/Whittaker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmesZuuOh6pEcRtDHcncFZ_wnnfvS1PxlivnjgADPq5Vs8hvwlCXdngMKgT9o-wk4m1Q4qpC1i4S18VNPUp7GTWr0VkkFC7lg-Vpek6iuj0_Cg2d-gg598-53VEQnqEkacjDybglaX8Js/s400/Whittaker.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jim and me</td></tr>
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Now a round-robin tour through GEAR:</div>
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Adventure NW is a glossy magazine that comes out four times a year out of Bellingham. And it's free. It's mostly distributed freely in the Whatcom-Skagit territory. I haven't really seen it down my way in south Snoho/north King. I'll look out for it now. It is really a nicely done glossy magazine compared to the flimsy Outdoors NW. It has some really excellent photography and some interesting articles including one in this latest issue about the vanishing glaciers in the North Cascades. I chatted with John D'Onofrio, the publisher who hinted to me about a potentially upcoming history book about Mount Baker from Arcadia Publishing. John obviously loves what he's doing and he has a great magazine going. <a href="http://www.adventuresnw.com/" target="_blank">Adventures NW</a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh03rF08Jj8IheU3p37kJW7sh1AZWKomHtei0X_lx38ooLOhMnqp2d6UPGJFxQyhfk9ELXHr5ohLcyM4W5fIpgWYS6IpKzYj8M-EdvPWwMp0BIM67HgS8I5OZDV1vbJ4SoV8RKKiSA0NmM/s1600/Adventures-NW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh03rF08Jj8IheU3p37kJW7sh1AZWKomHtei0X_lx38ooLOhMnqp2d6UPGJFxQyhfk9ELXHr5ohLcyM4W5fIpgWYS6IpKzYj8M-EdvPWwMp0BIM67HgS8I5OZDV1vbJ4SoV8RKKiSA0NmM/s400/Adventures-NW.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adventures NW and Suzanne Lundberg, Advertising-Sales</td></tr>
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With a camera dangling from my neck, it would have been rude of me to pass by Ezee Camera Strap without stopping by for the obligatory booth chit chat. I tried it out and it was surprisingly functional, and available in a host of drably functional colors and not so functional pink. Sells for $49.95 and I could have purchased it online before midnight and received free shipping. It comes down from Canada so they couldn't sell directly at the show because of regulations. I liked the Ezee strap but I thought it best if I checked out other straps before I parted too hastily with my money. <a href="http://www.ezeecamerastraps.com/index.php" target="_blank">Ezee Strap</a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0jbqkPZa2hb2FzPg8y8SPpLw0I8t7o6NXvSpIxzTSxSLkfxRF78PdKZP9wl1zYPCl0e_MezO4iy9whLDmbdLOn1G12sWS0MTDi8gjBauQ0On9ba1b0uAfIkafbMDUTRuCGohRyfgLQh8/s1600/EzeeStrap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0jbqkPZa2hb2FzPg8y8SPpLw0I8t7o6NXvSpIxzTSxSLkfxRF78PdKZP9wl1zYPCl0e_MezO4iy9whLDmbdLOn1G12sWS0MTDi8gjBauQ0On9ba1b0uAfIkafbMDUTRuCGohRyfgLQh8/s400/EzeeStrap.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">EzeeStrap, and yes, these folks we real nice, very helpful, and not at all pushy</td></tr>
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Mazama Bar ... gosh these two were just the nicest kids you could imagine, and passionate about their Mazama Bars. I had visions of them being on Shark Tank and not wanting to see their faces as the sharks uttered those crushing two words ... "I'm out." It has to be a long row to hoe to compete with the likes of Cliff bars or Luna bars but I'm rooting for these two. I may even order some of their bars. Supposedly they stay soft, even when it's below freezing. This would be refreshing because my jaw aches even on a hot day chewing on the doggie rawhide-like Cliff Bar. <a href="http://www.mazamabar.com/" target="_blank">Mazama Bar</a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5yLIFjLvkaKhkGZFkfkjVw70mbgaMRqiGGUgbZQH8-Hkx5Q08GDRM5yvb-0tRQoOIuDGWZx3lYt_Vxc3gPHbLOyo0KUXlqfvYnCDm3E5FQmNRAaHmGGUMP_hEmitZvopyIJ0SScw7fRw/s1600/MazamaBar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5yLIFjLvkaKhkGZFkfkjVw70mbgaMRqiGGUgbZQH8-Hkx5Q08GDRM5yvb-0tRQoOIuDGWZx3lYt_Vxc3gPHbLOyo0KUXlqfvYnCDm3E5FQmNRAaHmGGUMP_hEmitZvopyIJ0SScw7fRw/s400/MazamaBar.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Truly a nice pair</td></tr>
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Dwayne Lane's (Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram) was a Platinum Sponsor of the show, but more importantly they were a passport booth crawl participant so I had to stop by and get stamped. Actually, I'm glad I did because they were plain nice folks and they had good swag. Dwayne's has been around since 1954, which says a lot. They had a number of vehicles parked strategically throughout the exhibit floor, including a colorful jinormous Ram pickup. I could almost hear Sam Elliott "Guts, glory, Ram ..." Event Platinum Sponsor. <a href="http://www.dwaynelane.com/" target="_blank">Dwayne Lane's</a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ96THGzp_vs2vGLoFGedsJlFgQ0wUu-Ey11823MRSyP5_RCI_3At1VLm32iGLQECA5_sbtxpPe-ZVoQx7IRHBaq7Cr_A6pscvMTXBDjWeGUumqX07xgMVFzNhL5rg8waABwzCDhxQIQs/s1600/DwayneLanes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ96THGzp_vs2vGLoFGedsJlFgQ0wUu-Ey11823MRSyP5_RCI_3At1VLm32iGLQECA5_sbtxpPe-ZVoQx7IRHBaq7Cr_A6pscvMTXBDjWeGUumqX07xgMVFzNhL5rg8waABwzCDhxQIQs/s400/DwayneLanes.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The good folks at Dwayne Lane's</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Cn0O3wsNpt-VgYOgasvt0Vr9Y-5pSK4kZbC0BPl7hjwQOkCOv3pes4BioKygHzh0RiGOK94pcVIhecsf4-CiJbtHHnDz6NomYmzjKanYNWlrgUDm2yWTLot3CL0PuxFnlHBNQk_dv0c/s1600/Ram.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Cn0O3wsNpt-VgYOgasvt0Vr9Y-5pSK4kZbC0BPl7hjwQOkCOv3pes4BioKygHzh0RiGOK94pcVIhecsf4-CiJbtHHnDz6NomYmzjKanYNWlrgUDm2yWTLot3CL0PuxFnlHBNQk_dv0c/s400/Ram.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">
Guts, glory, Ram ...</div>
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I love maps and back in college days we made our base maps using a Brunton compass and 100-foot tape later advancing to plane table and alidade map making. I imagine they no longer teach those skills in school. Green Trails Maps are the Gold Standard of hiking maps. I had a lot of fun yacking with the Green Trails guys. They were happy to know that I have purchased quite a few of their maps. They've expanded a lot geographically including the SF Bay Area and even Arizona. Event Gold Sponsor. <a href="http://www.greentrailsmaps.com/" target="_blank">Green Trails Maps</a><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuagGrl5xLIG42jgVzKKpyPz-pNGi9ja4BZuRPN2CXSzgPYiJaEBEbK08R7Ub4bNi7ZlOUOKx4gKopnVV-MWWI7hYoOR4oL79_NwSX5a4dPU7ZSJHSgKdlUojLDFt8oZuwP9Hrc7wSv3g/s1600/GreenTrails.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuagGrl5xLIG42jgVzKKpyPz-pNGi9ja4BZuRPN2CXSzgPYiJaEBEbK08R7Ub4bNi7ZlOUOKx4gKopnVV-MWWI7hYoOR4oL79_NwSX5a4dPU7ZSJHSgKdlUojLDFt8oZuwP9Hrc7wSv3g/s400/GreenTrails.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Green Trails Maps guys</td></tr>
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Sweet Spot Skirts, they don't make your butt look big. It was nice to chat for awhile, very nice, fun folks. <a href="http://www.sweetspotskirts.com/" target="_blank">Sweet Spot Skirts</a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiClJUoWxmX-vJs89W1524h4a1T0lBTZwqUUDwwgvQA3OwE4x_E8rinqLNH-UBKvep01yNEOWX74_UGpeBXOTz1smViLIN8QnYy6D56P5Gk7S-X8MYFt87T2AfiI3eF3yG2ehx08DwFkaw/s1600/SweetSpot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiClJUoWxmX-vJs89W1524h4a1T0lBTZwqUUDwwgvQA3OwE4x_E8rinqLNH-UBKvep01yNEOWX74_UGpeBXOTz1smViLIN8QnYy6D56P5Gk7S-X8MYFt87T2AfiI3eF3yG2ehx08DwFkaw/s400/SweetSpot.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spot and Sweet at Sweet Spot Skirt</td></tr>
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I checked out Tentipi, a maker of large, teepee style tents out of Sweden. The Tentipi rep I talked to said that this was their first entry here into the US market. Cowboys and Indians have an almost cult-like following in northern Europe, especially in Germany (<a href="http://www.utne.com/mind-body/Germans-weekends-Native-Americans-Indian-Culture.aspx#axzz2VkGv9oQ2" target="_blank">Der Indianer</a>). These look like roomy, rugged tents complete with a wood burning stove. They look good for a long term stay of several days or more somewhere in the deep woods of Minnesota with plenty of available firewood. I'm not sure these will replace the venerable tent trailer for practicality and ease of set-up. But you'll be a hit at the next dress-up event. I was told that they don't yet have a buffalo hide version. Event Gold Sponsor. <a href="http://www.tentipi.com/" target="_blank">Tentipi</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpebTiE30M16n3zmbiIRyPNkhxjsCAI8Efwh49kuImpYl0occxeUij7buShz_vD1B9kXIXmRLhK9nUK2wPU6TEkBmwVGCoRdSiaHWvvI8EhdfOYLhSDt7WtrQZ5ujB79u1BuU_bG1a1wg/s1600/Tentipi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpebTiE30M16n3zmbiIRyPNkhxjsCAI8Efwh49kuImpYl0occxeUij7buShz_vD1B9kXIXmRLhK9nUK2wPU6TEkBmwVGCoRdSiaHWvvI8EhdfOYLhSDt7WtrQZ5ujB79u1BuU_bG1a1wg/s400/Tentipi.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tentipi, it's warm inside</td></tr>
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Marysville Bike Shop was one of several bike shops exhibiting. They're located in downtown Marysville, not by the Tulalip retail extravaganza west of I-5. All of the bike shops exhibiting naturally had mountain bikes and BMX bikes on display as well as accessories. I'm happy with my vintage 1980s Gary Fisher Tassajara. I'm looking for a road bike to supplement the Gary Fisher and my Specialized Sirrus commuter bike. I could not find a website for Marysville Bike Shop.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg13rrqMKqNk8PJ-surgsnUmdeBvnikmlCmKDgrXbQZUbX5LT2IrWpUKUAtXOe59-95QXLQcRF9THghtSMTkx4F3XJlcNOAxROMi-GB_HzX3H7lwYWkwowerkJv5XVs5En3rjRZq63Ojoo/s1600/MarysvilleBikeShop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg13rrqMKqNk8PJ-surgsnUmdeBvnikmlCmKDgrXbQZUbX5LT2IrWpUKUAtXOe59-95QXLQcRF9THghtSMTkx4F3XJlcNOAxROMi-GB_HzX3H7lwYWkwowerkJv5XVs5En3rjRZq63Ojoo/s400/MarysvilleBikeShop.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marysville Bike Shop</td></tr>
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I stopped by Bubble Below because I needed their passport stamp. Scuba shops were very well represented at the show with a lot of floor real estate. My wife and I were certified years ago but never continued with it. Scuba diving is one of the seriously gear-intensive sports that will burn a hole faster through your wallet than a flaming map of the Ponderosa Ranch on the opening of <a href="http://youtu.be/gL5LBnPyClg" target="_blank">Bonanza</a>. Someday maybe I'll get back into it or just skin dive. I couldn't find a website for Bubble Below, I think their server was down. Event Gold Sponsor. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd6M5jBTlSYMrbmcdy2PjOIDMzMLxw2hnf1Kuhu7yy5xKkwFrKs7lqUGLl0yuI2MSkX3N_GZ55_l1DGMqHRivhTNGiJ1jVkLuk2UlO7p-rPtGnQzmpkwfjfbDjbVJoYWcplKshQR6DRHg/s1600/BubbleBelow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd6M5jBTlSYMrbmcdy2PjOIDMzMLxw2hnf1Kuhu7yy5xKkwFrKs7lqUGLl0yuI2MSkX3N_GZ55_l1DGMqHRivhTNGiJ1jVkLuk2UlO7p-rPtGnQzmpkwfjfbDjbVJoYWcplKshQR6DRHg/s400/BubbleBelow.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bubbles Below</td></tr>
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Eddie Bauer is legendary, a Seattle outdoor institution, right up there with REI. I had an enjoyable chat with the Eddie Bauer folks. They are planning to re-open a store in Alderwood Mall in Lynnwood that will feature mostly outdoor gear and not so much the clothing line of fashion wear. I really liked their First Ascent <a href="http://www.eddiebauer.com/catalog/product.jsp?ensembleId=44289" target="_blank">Bacon</a> pack that they had on display. The Bacon is a pound and a half, 28-liter technical summit pack that is light enough to pack into your backpack for excursions beyond your base. It rolls up on itself and would be perfect to pack into your luggage to have as a handy daypack on your next boondoggle business trip. They gave me a 50% discount coupon and the Bacon may be ordered soon. Event Gold Sponsor. <a href="http://www.eddiebauer.com/home.jsp" target="_blank">Eddie Bauer</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_XTqH5fenUsYL2vRFJW0eCDzHG8gqge7W1ZbW_cNFGI7JZ_EsYPvo3Jw1N4xUJ7WgBhhUkEA2n28ics6XM6Yyk_XAy7MGBQeGpCj8f_38ZQGT7av7dBDxVVp03a7goE_8vo9gfiHVim8/s1600/EddirBauer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_XTqH5fenUsYL2vRFJW0eCDzHG8gqge7W1ZbW_cNFGI7JZ_EsYPvo3Jw1N4xUJ7WgBhhUkEA2n28ics6XM6Yyk_XAy7MGBQeGpCj8f_38ZQGT7av7dBDxVVp03a7goE_8vo9gfiHVim8/s400/EddirBauer.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eddie Bauer</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHNq-0FiKugnglh44_0d4A4eShEI-b9TXUftgbzPVcBAsvGKNonBY_ifj2A-3CInE0mMZxwcxkVjyN3sNah4pf6gtcYkR6MlXdN9mueAhtUQn88qWtlqusvUpXzMx5IOj3S89jE3LQoRA/s1600/EddirBauer2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHNq-0FiKugnglh44_0d4A4eShEI-b9TXUftgbzPVcBAsvGKNonBY_ifj2A-3CInE0mMZxwcxkVjyN3sNah4pf6gtcYkR6MlXdN9mueAhtUQn88qWtlqusvUpXzMx5IOj3S89jE3LQoRA/s400/EddirBauer2.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eddie Bauer</td></tr>
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My family loves whitewater rafting and we've done a few runs (NF Nooksack, Wenatchee, Tieton, SF American, and the amazing Westwater Canyon). The White Salmon is on our list. Zoller's runs the White Salmon, Klickitat, and the Snake River Canyon. By all appearances, they look like a well established, family run operation. I liked that about them. <a href="http://www.zooraft.com/" target="_blank">Zoller's Outdoor Odyssey</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji1Jk2oCnXLBvVIcVVKz9CGUJI-qLzAeWWNfujFStBQKrOJUsLZ9gpoORG2QthqkewZ3BiSfv4AbPYhYhmYNJRkb5EEYBCbp9ftMDWAFifAEH73G9d6JeoHgSE28sTgVQAIgrAY8zhsok/s1600/Zollers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji1Jk2oCnXLBvVIcVVKz9CGUJI-qLzAeWWNfujFStBQKrOJUsLZ9gpoORG2QthqkewZ3BiSfv4AbPYhYhmYNJRkb5EEYBCbp9ftMDWAFifAEH73G9d6JeoHgSE28sTgVQAIgrAY8zhsok/s400/Zollers.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zoller's Outdoor Odyssey</td></tr>
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Outdoors NW is the free magazine you see at many outdoor stores (like REI) and likely your local library. It's an un-glossy tabloid-style publication that comes out monthly. The Annual Event Guide issue is your basic planning guide. I use it to mark my calendar for the main organized bicycle rides, like the Kitsap Color Classic, which I usually don't miss. The articles are locally-oriented, well written and helpful. The sister publications include Northwest Cyclist and Northwest Snowsports. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEu72jy6-C1QJhTTbDsX1UJgz507osK0wsMl21NLn6QcSKAT1kEwkEOSSI0BIivGlYlrbfLZwnL1HX0UuZWjYPs_kw-3p5WVz7kqz3RT3gsAUMzCAPqNbarLDmiNIjwo6Dp9wO1RuAdx4/s1600/Outdoors-NW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEu72jy6-C1QJhTTbDsX1UJgz507osK0wsMl21NLn6QcSKAT1kEwkEOSSI0BIivGlYlrbfLZwnL1HX0UuZWjYPs_kw-3p5WVz7kqz3RT3gsAUMzCAPqNbarLDmiNIjwo6Dp9wO1RuAdx4/s400/Outdoors-NW.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outdoors NW</td></tr>
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Cabela's opened their first store in the Pacific Northwest in Lacey. Now they have additional stores in Marysville and Post Falls. I've only been to the Post Falls store and it's huge. My impression is that Cabela's is more oriented to the hunting and shooting enthusiast, which seems to be where their quality gear is focused. The fishing and camping gear is pretty good. It's hard to be a master of all trades. Not to say that the quality of their gear is not good, it's just that if you need something like a rain jacket or a good climbing pack, you'd be better served going to REI or Marmot or Second Ascent. Same with footwear. Cabela's even sells cargo trailers (I've been to the factory that makes them in Winnemucca) but again, you can find plenty of local places that sell excellent trailers. Go to Cabela's if anything, for the experience. You'll likely find something you just have to have and more than likely it will be available in camo. Event Gold Sponsor. <a href="http://www.cabelas.com/" target="_blank">Cabela's</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Pl84BarENEKJLK_nbKFR5LtfLPHvrb7WOok7QISDBDKfYG0TCetI3KoVzjUQ3lManQkdIwerm-1CzAejAflr6YXbc_NyDym3T9TNirHtwm-MLm42rFI5CnRvfS-e80fpYlblk1aBlZ4/s1600/Cabelas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Pl84BarENEKJLK_nbKFR5LtfLPHvrb7WOok7QISDBDKfYG0TCetI3KoVzjUQ3lManQkdIwerm-1CzAejAflr6YXbc_NyDym3T9TNirHtwm-MLm42rFI5CnRvfS-e80fpYlblk1aBlZ4/s400/Cabelas.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cabela's</td></tr>
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I think our civil servants get a bad rap at times but most everyone I've met with the Forest Service is outstanding and truly love what they do. It was great to see Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest here; perhaps the most scenic Forest in the country. These are tough times for the Forest with budget cuts and maintenance backlog. I used to volunteer for the Angeles NF many years ago as wilderness patrol and thoroughly enjoyed it. Maybe when I retire I'll check into volunteering for the Forest Service again. Love your forest, take care of it, and be nice to your civil servants. They work for you. <a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/mbs" target="_blank">Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNg9f863H3xYDp_LU6pgTGM5ohE_7QapopOZapm2suNKIRQfcvemWS14eSh9nR5YoXkNjtroL-m82c4CgtwEebcNQIiPW3hv4vJxETxqTasQl9pVCz6VtMYqboi51Fa10hWkNWMEHOyjs/s1600/USFS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNg9f863H3xYDp_LU6pgTGM5ohE_7QapopOZapm2suNKIRQfcvemWS14eSh9nR5YoXkNjtroL-m82c4CgtwEebcNQIiPW3hv4vJxETxqTasQl9pVCz6VtMYqboi51Fa10hWkNWMEHOyjs/s400/USFS.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Your Forest at your service</td></tr>
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The Mountain Loop Tourism Bureau seeks to promote local tourism and access around the scenic Mountain Loop Highway and in so doing enhance local economic development. What could be better than that for this awesome area so close to home? <a href="http://www.ml-tb.org/home" target="_blank">Mountain Loop Tourism Bureau</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijmiZTPUqgvPVmFxH6KaFRQ7DircwNwpWFB7RcZ40CxmRilhyphenhyphenmexmMg6PpuT0Q06Cr-WtW_m65HJ6LuO25o6nVJ5vciUUW4LA39slYJ1THiTio7-VWW2a-NyXsOtQuK0PeYX_AFiwu9Gc/s1600/MtnLoop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijmiZTPUqgvPVmFxH6KaFRQ7DircwNwpWFB7RcZ40CxmRilhyphenhyphenmexmMg6PpuT0Q06Cr-WtW_m65HJ6LuO25o6nVJ5vciUUW4LA39slYJ1THiTio7-VWW2a-NyXsOtQuK0PeYX_AFiwu9Gc/s400/MtnLoop.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mountain Loop Tourism Bureau</td></tr>
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The Sunset Bay Beach Camp is located on a wharf off Norma Beach somewhere between Meadowdale Beach and Picnic Point. I know, because when the tide is right, it's a nice walk along the beach from my access point. It looks like a great thing for kids. Just check out the photos on the website. It's only available for kids 17 and under, which leaves out my kids. <a href="http://www.sunsetbaywharf.com/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank">Sunset Bay</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguAjCHQrPrGTSf6tkJ_zZtoTxeu_tJgKb7Fp4IoBtUSzdHNFtQp9O9LixUhwbCD2cDwSDF89XOeJkrn8nPwvkcS0gGfDCMs2ZvJqVwciK_8xSX8CJz9YXcoMn9sF5WjBoShpT4-g7nTFE/s1600/SunsetBay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguAjCHQrPrGTSf6tkJ_zZtoTxeu_tJgKb7Fp4IoBtUSzdHNFtQp9O9LixUhwbCD2cDwSDF89XOeJkrn8nPwvkcS0gGfDCMs2ZvJqVwciK_8xSX8CJz9YXcoMn9sF5WjBoShpT4-g7nTFE/s400/SunsetBay.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset Bay Beach Camp</td></tr>
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There are so many beautiful and fantastic places within a couple hours drive here in western Washington, and Whatcom County is one of my favorite destinations, especially the Mount Baker area. Make it your next destination. <a href="http://www.bellingham.org/" target="_blank">Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_uhbWUzVxlyvvCfKbH6522uEmiVV1KM-hJ5-IJs8X8unVwNVCKpfelFwwd4xOqgJikS7-GlO_CEkFicjLTkXRFLFszbK3rvbq-z2XoupwYibEMCYya2lNdT5b_CpZvyl7YsMLtyF0qjg/s1600/Whatcom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_uhbWUzVxlyvvCfKbH6522uEmiVV1KM-hJ5-IJs8X8unVwNVCKpfelFwwd4xOqgJikS7-GlO_CEkFicjLTkXRFLFszbK3rvbq-z2XoupwYibEMCYya2lNdT5b_CpZvyl7YsMLtyF0qjg/s400/Whatcom.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism</td></tr>
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Evergreen Escapes looks like the perfect thing for someone new to the area, tourists, or an out of town guest (maybe). From chatting here and reading the website, I may draw the analogy of a "Rick Steves" tour for the Pacific Northwest traveler. It seems very well rated from the reviews. <a href="http://evergreenescapes.com/" target="_blank">Evergreen Escapes</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizYV4j9P7HCU_1_vYSeVGkm9z_D_wGhWNIr6sO9FzdaBqnl827TU5iF7vNJihglHI4DCerCVyiHuvpgINfhGC1LfMqzO5gp85K90CYss-UWigNKS6WaYqpJr3bgXpfM6Xk0UNNaXEjZmk/s1600/EvergreenEscapes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizYV4j9P7HCU_1_vYSeVGkm9z_D_wGhWNIr6sO9FzdaBqnl827TU5iF7vNJihglHI4DCerCVyiHuvpgINfhGC1LfMqzO5gp85K90CYss-UWigNKS6WaYqpJr3bgXpfM6Xk0UNNaXEjZmk/s400/EvergreenEscapes.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Evergreen Escapes</td></tr>
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To prepare for the next Zombie Apocalypse, we have the Preppers Warehouse. Stock your hidden bunker now. I jest. Everyone should have a little stash of food and water ready for a few days because the reality is that we are due for a major Cascadia subduction zone earthquake of a magnitude 9 plus, no joke. But I am reminded of back during the Cuban Missile Crisis days when I was a very young lad and there were at least two families on our street who actually built bomb shelters. My Dad thought it was a waste of time because he knew if an atomic bomb hit, we were all toast anyway. <a href="http://www.prepperswarehouse.com/" target="_blank">Preppers Warehouse</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD7dsNXddjCvWgKrCUqipL1VBbo3Ale5uHFxxAU4mQwSVpOkak8voc4G7MaxotdzQThdq6RAu9HAQAHt79ya4UG5vjH9gEVf0ozLduDbKsRXKx1uOAQRxz4pmKC4ZwH4BGHEiAcw_GI10/s1600/Preppers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">Well<img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD7dsNXddjCvWgKrCUqipL1VBbo3Ale5uHFxxAU4mQwSVpOkak8voc4G7MaxotdzQThdq6RAu9HAQAHt79ya4UG5vjH9gEVf0ozLduDbKsRXKx1uOAQRxz4pmKC4ZwH4BGHEiAcw_GI10/s400/Preppers.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Preppers Warehouse</td></tr>
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The Washington Trails Association, without a doubt, is one of the best local outdoor organizations that we have. They advocate for trails access and more importantly, their volunteer network has maintained and enhanced miles and miles of trails, countless miles. I joined last year (finally) and someday, when I retire, I'll help on the trail crew. Super organization. Their excellent magazine is worth joining. So join, now. <a href="http://www.wta.org/" target="_blank">Washington Trails Association</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTWl7CAl_WoAQilWTxd-OfzFW46DcqQNfGonyuKy1J3DhBXVmIKaxbKP9Oe4v6kFwo6SbXnMugNv7stln0pIGrqka1jXRuMayxRC-eK7E18_7YtUdrUUoPm-cpTkErdWPQLVNUWMYWXdU/s1600/WTA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTWl7CAl_WoAQilWTxd-OfzFW46DcqQNfGonyuKy1J3DhBXVmIKaxbKP9Oe4v6kFwo6SbXnMugNv7stln0pIGrqka1jXRuMayxRC-eK7E18_7YtUdrUUoPm-cpTkErdWPQLVNUWMYWXdU/s400/WTA.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Washington Trails Association</td></tr>
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I have to say that I was liking the Swing at Innova Kayak, and for $599 seemed pretty reasonable. I liked the portability, just throw it in back with all your other gear. I am determined to get a kayak at some point. More shopping and Craigs List searching. <a href="http://innovakayak.com/" target="_blank">Innova Kayak</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyteyHn4tVFc5Y262nflJ6jrRT8O9TWT6fEZReY8M0Nd4Xb4B-ikVR3uYqexnBgWpsOt3VbL-GjtfpagH9Z0LWMVPakWrPHV2G3piy32YC9gWPsdv8joi0M8GDoJfDTrYr-nCyOHODhaw/s1600/Innova.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyteyHn4tVFc5Y262nflJ6jrRT8O9TWT6fEZReY8M0Nd4Xb4B-ikVR3uYqexnBgWpsOt3VbL-GjtfpagH9Z0LWMVPakWrPHV2G3piy32YC9gWPsdv8joi0M8GDoJfDTrYr-nCyOHODhaw/s400/Innova.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Innova Kayak</td></tr>
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I highly recommend Mountain Madness as a guide service. I went on a trip/climb of Mount Olympus a couple years ago with them, joined by my cousin out from Michigan. For someone like me, who has some mountaineering experience but doesn't do too much of it seriously these days, it was great to be with competent and fun guides. They do all the cooking, can't beat that. <a href="http://www.mountainmadness.com/" target="_blank">Mountain Madness</a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgEcM2c82MzFnGVUROwfxeimc0JxwxbLbFZxg4scoHN_09MJYBkgvcTvPllkToPnv9AHwsoAi7DmeFv81mIVlawWf-oJ6707DcdfehvcxDYLIn4C941c_d8fgLpDNotQGeAAIrlYrzP-M/s1600/MtnMadness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgEcM2c82MzFnGVUROwfxeimc0JxwxbLbFZxg4scoHN_09MJYBkgvcTvPllkToPnv9AHwsoAi7DmeFv81mIVlawWf-oJ6707DcdfehvcxDYLIn4C941c_d8fgLpDNotQGeAAIrlYrzP-M/s400/MtnMadness.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mountain Madness. Tino, on the right guided my cousin up Mount Shuksan last year.<u><br /></u></td></tr>
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The North Cascades Institute is one of the finest venues for engaging yourself in the study of all things North Cascades be it nature, science, or history. I've been on one trip with them to learn about the geology found along Ptarmigan Ridge on Mount Baker. I knew the instructor, Dave Tucker, very well from previous field trips with the Mount Baker Volcanic Research Center, of which Dave is one of the directors. Whatever your interest or focus, I'm sure the North Cascades Institute has something for you. <a href="http://ncascades.org/" target="_blank">North Cascades Institute</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKSqn9aut8hYzjwFD_kqO2AGOQeYp5A18veoTsR6iAFAlmaO8TPaHetE7XIYMngsVac9bI30TkuGg1_B6_t_fwrRCet884zleqzyERLbyDAMSTZXHrWz_tY4DdrMZVG8vs1xWOO_wbLRM/s1600/NCI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKSqn9aut8hYzjwFD_kqO2AGOQeYp5A18veoTsR6iAFAlmaO8TPaHetE7XIYMngsVac9bI30TkuGg1_B6_t_fwrRCet884zleqzyERLbyDAMSTZXHrWz_tY4DdrMZVG8vs1xWOO_wbLRM/s400/NCI.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">North Cascades Institute. These two were absolutely delightful.</td></tr>
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Well, that's not quite the whole show, but it's a pretty good snapshot, with some slant to my interests or to exhibitors that were engaging and good at chit chat (and didn't mind having their picture taken). I'm looking forward to next year. And a tip of the hat to Comcast Arena for being such a great venue for this event and having a super friendly and helpful staff.<br />
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<a href="http://www.gearupexpo.com/" target="_blank">Gear Up Expo</a><br />
<br />BrownsBayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03969021391279264412noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604206068698569277.post-31763957036943465902013-05-08T22:33:00.002-07:002013-05-10T21:30:55.835-07:00Tilden Regional Park and the Upper Big Springs Trail 4-25-2013In somewhat quick succession to my work trip to Reno in early April, late April had me down in the Bay Area. The work day went quickly and my host, who was originally from Pakistan, treated me to lunch at a Pakistani restaurant in Berkeley. He claimed it as the most authentic and delicious Pakistani restaurant in the area. And it was.<br />
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Fortified with the huge lunch and a little daylight left I went for a short hike. The Bay Area's eastern hills are blessed with a system of parks covering thousands of acres of open California hillsides traversed by miles of trails. These parks are managed for our benefit by the East Bay Regional Park District. I've always loved the Bay Area and these parks are a good reason why.<br />
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I only had a general idea of where I was going. I had narrowed it down to Tilden Regional Park. To get there, I drove around the backside on San Pablo Dam Road and then wound my way up and over San Pablo Ridge on Wildcat Canyon Road. I made a left onto South Park Drive and stopped at the first trailhead I found. I found it interesting that South Park Drive is closed from November 1 through March 31 to protect migrating newts.<br />
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The hike I did was a short one up the gentle climb of the Upper Big Springs Trail, which was more fire road than trail. Soon after starting up the trail I spotted a short side trail to the left that led to a small quarry or borrow pit where the underlying basalt rock of the Moraga Formation was extracted and likely used for fill and roadbed material for the network of local fire roads turned to trails. Soon I was at the crest of San Pablo Ridge with slit views of San Francisco Bay under the encroaching deck of evening low clouds, so typical a pattern of coastal California. It was time to turn around as darkness approached.<br />
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This photo was taken from the side of Wildcat Canyon Road looking back to San Pablo Reservoir, created in 1919 to store water fed to it by an aqueduct from the Mokelumne River located far across across the Central Valley in the Sierra Nevada.<br />
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Eucalyptus trees are found throughout the east hills. Originally brought over from their native Australia in the mid-1800s, they've gone wild, thriving in a similar climate as their homeland.<br />
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This is pretty much what the trail looks like. I spotted some wild turkeys just up the hill.<br />
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Bluedicks (OK laugh and get over it), <i>Dichelostemma capitatum</i>, at least I'm reasonably sure that's what this is. It's a favorite of mine because I had seen it so often in the Puente Hills of southern California, where I spent many days wandering and wondering as a youth. It arises from a corm, which the California Indians gathered with digging sticks and ate.<br />
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<strike>I have no clue what this is. I pored over my field guides, and I have a few but never enough and according to my wife, too many. I'm going to take a WAG and call it some kind of milkweed. Chime in if you know what it is.</strike><br />
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EDIT: On Twitter the kind folks at East Bay Regional Parks routed me to the folks at Regional Parks Botanic Garden who helped with this one. <span style="font-size: small;">As it turns out, this lovel<span style="font-size: small;">y plant is </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">o</span>blong spurge, <i>Euphorbia oblongata, </i>a California Department of Food and Agriculture class B<span style="font-size: small;"> noxio</span>us </span>weed. I did not recognize because it doesn't grow in <span style="font-size: small;">Washington, except for two locations in the San Juan Islands and it apparently has not been found in<span style="font-size: small;"> southern California. </span></span>More here: <a href="http://us1.campaign-archive1.com/?u=01091d83e4aa193c78a888704&id=edb6c62db9&e=cfa6174195" target="_blank">RPBG - February 2011 Newsletter</a></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxWqwyd0W6poeqCp8TMAzEcKU7IgARxoOUj34uaTjTGPu4rYk0WR39lvrArX3iJe5DOpeCK_0pEeXhgcYY0Rughoo9YysYEh1z5uGDHd8ePVUmio841O0x_MlnOjtYbfpC-rRoFD5Eq5c/s1600/06_WhiteSage_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxWqwyd0W6poeqCp8TMAzEcKU7IgARxoOUj34uaTjTGPu4rYk0WR39lvrArX3iJe5DOpeCK_0pEeXhgcYY0Rughoo9YysYEh1z5uGDHd8ePVUmio841O0x_MlnOjtYbfpC-rRoFD5Eq5c/s400/06_WhiteSage_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
White sage, <i>Salvia apiana</i>, found throughout coastal California. This plant was also a food source for the California Indians. The seed was a main ingredient of pinole, a staple food. The leaves and stems were eaten by the Chumash and other tribes.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixF0z1NY_pBiNmy8fp3OVQ02I5C-MPMo6AAWViJRLRGH5Ub70UDzmduoihBJaDm_Z35OgQS-M4Jaco_WdIf4NegrFvmrjnQ2v8q5CYTo3OnxH_FZurakgzqnzs8fXcdKXTm0BPMva_FGY/s1600/07-Basalt_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixF0z1NY_pBiNmy8fp3OVQ02I5C-MPMo6AAWViJRLRGH5Ub70UDzmduoihBJaDm_Z35OgQS-M4Jaco_WdIf4NegrFvmrjnQ2v8q5CYTo3OnxH_FZurakgzqnzs8fXcdKXTm0BPMva_FGY/s400/07-Basalt_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
This is the quarry face showing the massive basalt of the Moraga Formation. Basalt, as you know from Geology 101, is an extrusive igneous rock formed as lava erupts, flows, and cools into a solid rock we know as basalt. This particular basalt is about 10 million years old from a time period known as the Miocene epoch. When the San Andreas fault system cut northward it cut through a tectonic plate, one that was subducting. Basically the ass end of the plate was cut off but it kept moving. The plate continued subducting leaving behind an opening, a "slab window" that allowed magma to flow up from the mantle and erupting from volcanic centers located to the west. Tectonic forces later folded and uplifted these rocks. This Moraga basalt underlies most of Tilden Park.<br />
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More eucalyptus trees. They're everywhere.</div>
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At the crest of San Pablo Ridge where the Upper Big Springs Trail meets the Bay Area Ridge Trail.</div>
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Tempting</div>
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San Pablo Reservoir from San Pablo Ridge.</div>
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Under the cloud deck, San Francisco Bay and the Bay Bridge from San Pablo Ridge.</div>
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Tree skeletons left after a fire some several years ago.</div>
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The route, just a mile and half, round trip (adapted from <a href="http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/" target="_blank">gmap-pedometer.com</a>).</div>
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Satellite view (adapted from <a href="http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/" target="_blank">gmap-pedometer.com</a>).</div>
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Oblique view (adapted from Google Earth).</div>
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<br />BrownsBayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03969021391279264412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604206068698569277.post-73393520432205610772013-04-07T13:57:00.000-07:002013-04-07T13:57:45.002-07:00Deadman's Creek Trail - Washoe Valley, NV 4-4-2013A quick work trip had me flying down to Reno, one of my favorite work destinations. After nine hours straight of sitting in a conference room with no coffee served, this little hike served as a welcome respite. I had been on this trail many years ago when my folks lived in Gardnerville. I would fly down every spring break when my boys were young. It is a very kid friendly hike. With my Dad passing last year, my thoughts were on him during the hike to the point where I actually yelled out for him.<br />
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It had been a long day and I actually didn't didn't start hiking until about 5:30 pm. The weather was cool, cloudy, with a few light sprinkles thrown in to keep things interesting. The trailhead is on the southeastern side of Washoe Lake and is within Nevada's Washoe Lake State Park. The trail starts out gradually up a small ravine and soon follows alongside a well-vegetated area with a flowing little stream. This clearly is a birder's paradise with water and vegetation tucked into the dry, sage covered slopes at the southwestern edge of the Virginia Range. I immediately spied a Cooper's Hawk but was too slow to draw out my telephoto. He was gone as soon as he appeared.<br />
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The trail continues a gradual climb leaving the oasis behind. Stunning views were had looking across Washoe Lake to the Carson Range that marks the eastern rampart of the Sierra Nevada. The trail tops out at a gazebo shelter, bent somewhat sideways by the frequent strong winds that characterize the Washoe Valley.<br />
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I took a different trail down making this almost a loop trip. This alternate trail passes a spring that certainly is a major contributor of water to the downslope oasis. It was too early for spring flowers except for phlox growing among the volcanic rock outcrops. Soon enough, I was back at the car just as darkness was setting in. I had encountered no other hikers this day.<br />
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Streamside oasis and lair of the Cooper's Hawk. The trees have not yet leafed out. Washoe Lake and the Carson Range in the distance.</div>
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Dead branches along the way suggest a fire here perhaps just a few years ago.</div>
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Opening views of Washoe Lake, which is maybe 10 or 15 feet at its deepest.</div>
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Most of the trail traverses open slopes.</div>
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Higher up, better views of Washoe Lake.</div>
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Higher up the trail.</div>
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The gazebo was the high point of this hike. Mormon tea (Ephedra) in the foreground.</div>
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Strong winds over the years have caused a slight lean on the gazebo.</div>
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Route of travel on terrain map (adapted from <a href="http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/" target="_blank">gmap-pedomter.com</a>)</div>
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Trail view looking east (adapted from GoogleEarth).</div>
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Trail view looking west (adapted from GoogleEarth).</div>
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A portion of a geologic map. Most of the trail underfoot is tuff, a volcanic rock erupted back in the late Oligocene/Early Miocene some 20 to 30 million years ago from volcanic centers located to the east in Nevada and Utah. Full map here: <a href="ftp://ftp.nbmg.unr.edu/pub/geothermal/11_Documents/Trexler_CarsonCityGeolMap_1977.pdf" target="_blank">Geologic Map - Carson City Quadrangle</a><br />
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<br />BrownsBayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03969021391279264412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604206068698569277.post-42247700936360953442013-03-29T19:11:00.001-07:002013-03-29T19:11:06.417-07:00Crystal Mountain 3-17-13Nine inches of new snow overnight. I left the house at 0515 and made it to Crystal by 0730. I was in the third gondola up. The wind was blowing on top and the visibility was poor but the snow was deep. After a few turns down I was out of the wind. It was deep enough that every turn yielded full facial snow. I was finding untracked sections all morning. By about 1300 I was pooped and decided to call it a day.<br />
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Gondola lineup</div>
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It was blowing some, right to left.</div>
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I checked out the historic Silver Creek Guard Station on the way out. It turns into a visitor center in the summer. There's a nice campground close by.</div>
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No trip this way is complete without a stop at Wapiti Woolies in Greenwater. It's a nice little shop with a surprising amount of outdoor gear packed into it. And they have espresso. A 20-ounce iced mocha quenched my thirst and kept me awake for the long drive home.</div>
<br />BrownsBayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03969021391279264412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604206068698569277.post-55542656257778438822013-03-10T19:55:00.000-07:002013-03-10T20:12:29.149-07:00Centennial Trail- Snohomish to Arlington 3-9-13The weather forecast was for sun and mild temperatures in the 50s. I had my doubts when I looked out the front window and all I could see was pea soup fog. I figured, what the heck, might as well go for it. At lease it wasn't raining. As it turned out, the fog burned off and sun ruled the day. The sunshine was enhanced by the fact that the alders, maples and cottonwoods had not yet leafed out.<br />
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This was to be my first ride of the season and I chose the Centennial Trail for its bucolic rural scenery and its relative flatness. <span class="st">The Centennial Trail is constructed on the original railway right-of-way built north of Snohomish by the Seattle, Lake Shore and Eastern Railroad in 1889. The first section of the trail opened in 1989 from Snohomish. The trail now reaches the Skagit County line, a distance of about 30 miles.</span><br />
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<span class="st">I started my ride at the very beginning of the trail in Snohomish and rode to Arlington and back, a distance of about 37 miles. This trail is without a doubt, one of the prettiest trail rides anywhere. You ride through rural countryside, wooded areas, and past a beautiful little lake that makes a perfect rest stop. Just be aware that the trail gets crowded, especially in summer. Watch out for walkers, slower riders, and tykes on training wheels. </span><br />
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<span class="st">More info: <a href="http://www1.co.snohomish.wa.us/Departments/Parks/Park_Information/Park_Directory/Regional_Parks/Centennial_Trail.htm" target="_blank">Centennial Trail - Snohomish County Parks and Recreation</a></span><br />
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<span class="st">For refreshment at the end of the trail in Snohomish, try one of their smoothies or just a plain iced mocha: <a href="http://www.snohomishfitness.com/index.php?title=Beetle+Juice+and+Java&page=cafe" target="_blank">Beetle Juice & Java Cafe</a></span><br />
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<span class="st">Ride photos:</span><br />
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<span class="st">The first few miles are rural country side.</span></div>
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<span class="st">A gravel mining operation next to the trail. Our modern concrete world needs sand and gravel.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXxAaX6Bdq8gflEG9c9L7XS3zpikPR-PEqzbfm1WSKyqlfnwZ6JxiFb7q9vAg_uqvyTKvvKtdlVV1V5RX3LelCfEiFp3HEB_lowo8Y7LB3_Ifp1PnmR5XJ-aW7dyiHti2Qu-9lQhA6Tng/s1600/TrailSouthatLS_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXxAaX6Bdq8gflEG9c9L7XS3zpikPR-PEqzbfm1WSKyqlfnwZ6JxiFb7q9vAg_uqvyTKvvKtdlVV1V5RX3LelCfEiFp3HEB_lowo8Y7LB3_Ifp1PnmR5XJ-aW7dyiHti2Qu-9lQhA6Tng/s400/TrailSouthatLS_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="st">Through Lake Stevens.</span></div>
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<span class="st">Interesting houses along the way.</span></div>
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<span class="st">Much of the trail passes through wooded areas.</span></div>
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Big cottonwood's leafless branches let the sunlight through.</div>
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<span class="st">Lake Cassidy, a special treat.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE2Cw4RDZkadh2Ch7MYqPQ85_doS40jGUCO7-JiiecXFsMa_6LAhFB4tWxzWRceGzG0AUuLjxkHvuzB786kdD2VZf2jKO_vcLYqy08tTl5UY_rNrWJ3kPVYwnTd-8JHbhpoDxr8AcAco8/s1600/TrailNorthatStillyView_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE2Cw4RDZkadh2Ch7MYqPQ85_doS40jGUCO7-JiiecXFsMa_6LAhFB4tWxzWRceGzG0AUuLjxkHvuzB786kdD2VZf2jKO_vcLYqy08tTl5UY_rNrWJ3kPVYwnTd-8JHbhpoDxr8AcAco8/s400/TrailNorthatStillyView_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="st">Miles of carefree riding.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWqiEAsqDj5lUa0ZCMFR0Y1f3uYlxCFnR7MvcwRBFam7KtLjU-9QrbWbRShpsZQsjt7SLTxbR7D8c0GmzMprhqPH_UTihFJF6VuC40C2eAddyvCTv04lYKqEcb_Z6ra1Dmap4agTo9IyQ/s1600/StillyValley_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWqiEAsqDj5lUa0ZCMFR0Y1f3uYlxCFnR7MvcwRBFam7KtLjU-9QrbWbRShpsZQsjt7SLTxbR7D8c0GmzMprhqPH_UTihFJF6VuC40C2eAddyvCTv04lYKqEcb_Z6ra1Dmap4agTo9IyQ/s400/StillyValley_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="st">View over the Stilliguamish Valley around Arlington.</span></div>
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<span class="st"> Next time I'll do the whole trail, 60 miles round trip.</span>BrownsBayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03969021391279264412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604206068698569277.post-12577716179568446592013-03-03T12:02:00.002-08:002013-03-03T12:02:59.539-08:00Sandstone Peak 12-2-13Back in December I traveled to southern California for a work project in Calabasas, an affluent enclave tucked into a corner on the fringe of Los Angeles County between the placid Simi Hills and the more rugged Santa Monica Mountains. It's the home of the Kardashians among others.<br />
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This was going to be one of those work trips with benefits as sometimes happens when the moon is in the Seventh House and Jupiter aligns with Mars. I could fly into Bob Hope arriving Sunday morning, go for a hike, then be ready for my appointment in Calabasas first thing Monday morning. Staying with family in bucolic Simi Valley was the other benefit.<br />
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To thwart perfection, rain was in the forecast. Descending through misty skies, breaking into the clear, the pilot brought the sleek CRJ700 to a feather-light touchdown onto the wet runway. This was followed immediately by the lurching panic slow down as the reverse thrust powered up to stop the plane before the end of the all too short runway at Bob Hope. Bob Hope is one of the few remaining airports where you actually deplane to the outside on air stairs. It had obviously recently rained but looked to be clearing out. The air was warm compared to what I had just left in Seattle.<br />
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My plan was to hike the short 1.5 mile trail to the top of Sandstone Peak. At 3,111 feet (948 meters) it is the highest point in the Santa Monica Mountains. For all the first 35 years of my life that I lived in southern California, I had never explored the Santa Monicas. I lived way out on the eastern side of the LA Basin where my boyhood was spent roaming the Puente Hills and later hiking the San Gabriels and the Sierras. The Santa Monicas were never a convenient destination. I'd driven by the Santa Monicas by way of the the Ventura Freeway US 101 on many occasions over the years when I lived in California and so my curiosity was aroused for the future file. The future finally became convenient.<br />
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I had programmed trailhead coordinates into Mr. Tom Tom so the course was set. Getting to the trailhead required navigating several miles of narrow winding roads. The recent rains caused small rock falls onto the road surface that I slalomed around. Clouds shrouded and then revealed the higher ridges and mountaintops in a mystical fashion.
Occasional sprinkles prompted intermittent wiper action on the drive and
the threat of rain was in the air.<br />
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Arriving at the trailhead there was but one car parked in the lot. And this was a Sunday when you'd expect an overflowing trailhead parking lot. These southern Californians are weather weenies. The weather was overcast and a little breezy with some occasional sprinkles. But nothing to dissuade me after 22 years of living in western Washington.<br />
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Equipped with a Marmot Precip jacket as my only protection against the raging elements, I started up the trail. The trail up to Sandstone Peak is a wide fire road, closed to motor vehicles, and no longer really maintained as a fire road as far as I could tell; just a wide trail. The rains had left the trail muddy in places, caking my boot soles with raw adobe brick material. Adobe was a favored building material in the early days of Spanish California as seen in the string of missions they established along coastal California. <br />
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The trail gently climbed, contouring upward. Clouds drifted in and out with the wind. The sun found openings in the clouds and spotlighted cross-canyon hillsides. A tunnel view down Little Sycamore Canyon gave a distant peek-a-boo view of the Pacific Ocean, dark and gray under overcast skies. Some good views were had of the San Fernando Valley to the east. Otherwise, on this day, the clouds ruled.<br />
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The last little scramble to the Sandstone Peak summit involved a little guess work on my part because of the obscuring cloud cover and my unfamiliarity with the area. After the trail leveled out I had a sense that I was close to the summit. Several scramble trails branched off to my left through the brush. I figured one of those would get me to the top and so I followed one. It was just a short Class 2 scramble up and across the rocks that make up the summit. When I reached the summit, I was in the clouds. Visibility was limited to a few tens of feet. No views from the summit were had on this day.<br />
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Leaving the summit, I took a slightly different way back down to the main trail, a way that required a couple brush belays at steeper areas. At the main trail, I headed back down the way I came. Through the day, I only saw three people on the trail. It was a good day.<br />
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Notes on geology: Sandstone Peak is not really made of sandstone, though it looks somewhat like sandstone and affords good traction underfoot like sandstone. The rock of Sandstone Peak and the surrounding area is actually volcanic in origin, not sedimentary as sandstone is. The rock that makes up Sandstone Pea<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]--><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">k <span style="line-height: 115%;">(dacitic <span style="font-size: small;">and </span>andesitic breccias)</span>, are part of the Conejo Volcanics formation that erupted some 16.1 to 13.1 million years ago. </span></span>The Conejo Volcanics were formed as a result of colliding crustal plates, when an oceanic plate, the Farallon Plate, was subducted under the North American plate. The resulting friction and melting of the Farallon Plate caused the eruption and formation of volcanoes, similar to the Cascade volcanoes, and the accumulation of thousands of feet of volcanic rock; the Conejo Volcanics we see today in the Santa Monica Mountains and on the Channel Islands. The Santa Monica Mountains are part of the Transverse Ranges that include the other neighboring east-west trending mountain ranges, the San Gabriel Mountains and the San Bernardino Mountains. The plate collisions responsible for the eruption and formation of the Conejo Volcanics also wrenched the Transverse Ranges into their east-west trending position, which is different from the majority of California mountain ranges, which generally trend more northwest-southeast in parallel with the San Andreas fault.<br />
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Photos:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYYUIC_pisXSadyzDQjQ-664XCv4s4Ic87-SslJfeyidBbtC22Rj7mT8RE41tFf_-Y0zdj8P3n6qGQHX0MSCH81IrUyY1WFm-4ov97CjtLooC09pW9JEqgH7lfk7RnQKpf45iDEe7mblQ/s1600/THparking_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYYUIC_pisXSadyzDQjQ-664XCv4s4Ic87-SslJfeyidBbtC22Rj7mT8RE41tFf_-Y0zdj8P3n6qGQHX0MSCH81IrUyY1WFm-4ov97CjtLooC09pW9JEqgH7lfk7RnQKpf45iDEe7mblQ/s400/THparking_1.jpg" width="400" /></a> </div>
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The trailhead, my car (rental) and one other one.</div>
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The FYI</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
The roads traveled.</div>
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Clouds shroud the ridge tops.</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Cliffs of volcanic rock, layers like pages in a history book.</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Down Little Sycamore Canyon, the distant Pacific Ocean, cold and dark gray.</div>
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East to the San Fernando Valley.</div>
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Sun spotlight.</div>
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Summit plaque. Sandstone Peak is alternatively know as Mt. Allen. W. Herbert Allen was the benefactor of the Circle X Ranch, a former Boy Scout camp, now part of the Santa Monica <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mountains National Recreation Area administered by the National Park Service. </span></span><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">During
the 1960s, in an attempt to honor Circle X benefactor Herbert Allen, the Scouts
petitioned the United States Department of the Interior to rename Sandstone
Peak. The request for “Mt. Allen” was denied because of a long-standing policy
that prohibited naming geographical features after living persons. </span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGdxjp3Jx3EJ7_vAG4blU4MuuemLXxg3-p2nb8lCGD5B3_ze5UhkmcSxWYGA-f0l8rTgfXc5NdwFAYCWedQn-o5TZCoG-Y5VgURJd7VVNtGaEUC5inpEB8uq_pwRaQ2EusD7EcjBUSIV4/s1600/Yucca_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGdxjp3Jx3EJ7_vAG4blU4MuuemLXxg3-p2nb8lCGD5B3_ze5UhkmcSxWYGA-f0l8rTgfXc5NdwFAYCWedQn-o5TZCoG-Y5VgURJd7VVNtGaEUC5inpEB8uq_pwRaQ2EusD7EcjBUSIV4/s400/Yucca_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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</xml><![endif]--><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Many common names for it: c<span style="line-height: 115%;">haparral
yucca</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">, our
Lord's candle, Spanish bayonet, Quixote yucca, common
yucca, foothill yucca. Scientific name: Hesperoyucca whipplei. This is the common yucca native to southern California hillsides as part of the chapparal plant community. </span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]--></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">This plant
takes several years to reach maturity and flower and <span style="font-size: small;">thereafter </span>it usually dies. After the main plant dies after flowering, a cluster of clones are produced at the base and continue to grow and reproduce. The plant is pollinated exclusively by the California yucca moth (Tegeticula maculata). </span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;">Working at night, the female yucca moth collects up to a dozen sacks of pollen
grains and forms them into a ball. She then flies to another plant and lands
on the ovary of a flower. Standing with her head near the stigma,
she inserts her ovipositer into the ovary wall and lays a single egg.
She then rubs her pollen mass against the stigma to pollination. The pollinated ovary will now produce many
seeds, ensuring an ample food supply for the moth's larva.</span></span></span></div>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmBJxv1VGrJ1OKiSOLeGXWKcI4GpYsw6DirUPndla0ELLfRw8FZdQmGFDD-GQwtfsDfvgpOi_0hJXh3WMEU7rrqJapojindiwQ4O94hpIYpVbLy1vuJT9dqLgNtWfNhjpeifzWhTxipto/s1600/Succulent_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmBJxv1VGrJ1OKiSOLeGXWKcI4GpYsw6DirUPndla0ELLfRw8FZdQmGFDD-GQwtfsDfvgpOi_0hJXh3WMEU7rrqJapojindiwQ4O94hpIYpVbLy1vuJT9dqLgNtWfNhjpeifzWhTxipto/s400/Succulent_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Common names for this succulent are: chalk lettuce, chalk dudleya, and chalk liveforever. Scientific name: Dudleya pulverulenta. This plant is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. I found it growing well in the rocks at the Sandstone Peak summit. The plant is covered in a dusty looking "wax." Unlike the typical hydrophobic nature of wax, the wax coating of this plant is hydrophilic. When water drops land on this plant they become coated with the wax, increasing their surface tension and size and preventing their evaporation. <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]--><span style="line-height: 115%;">Wax that has washed off the leaves also coats the ground around the base of the
plant, preventing evaporation. Just one <span style="font-size: small;">adaptation</span> for <span style="font-size: small;">surviving</span> in a dry climate.</span></span></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The route.</span></span></div>
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BrownsBayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03969021391279264412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604206068698569277.post-68091087588605966292013-02-24T20:13:00.000-08:002013-02-25T06:20:02.522-08:00Cabin Creek Cross-Country Skiing 2-19-13Younger son had the day off school on a Tuesday and I had just come off a 60-hour work week. The weather didn't look too iffy, in fact it turned out rather nice. What could be better than a day of cross-country skiing?<br />
<br />
Off we went eastbound over Snoqualmie Pass to I-90 Exit 63, the Cabin Creek Sno-Park. This is a popular cross-country ski area that usually gets crowded on the weekends. Today, there were only a handful of cars in the lot.<br />
<br />
The Cabin Creek Nordic Ski Area has a network of groomed trails ranging from beginner to expert. The ski area is maintained by the Kongsberger Ski Club and the trails are groomed by Washington State Parks. Kongsberger Ski Club regularly holds races here.<br />
<br />
Today younger son and I did the easy road trail out and back for two laps for a total of six miles. We had clouds and peeks at blue skies. The weather was warm for this time of the year, maybe mid to high 30s. The snow varied from soft to crusty depending on where the sun hit or didn't hit.<br />
<br />
We also had taken the opportunity to outfit ourselves in new skis and boots from the big winter sale at REI. I had been skiing for over 20 years on a pair of Epoke 1000 skis with Rottefella three-pin bindings and a pair of made-in-Italy leather boots that were about a half-size too small. I plan to mount NNN-BC bindings on the Epokes because it's still a fantastic ski on and off track. <br />
<br />
I picked up a pair of Fischer Jupiter Control skis that for the price will make a pretty good track ski. In fact, they worked out just fine for in the tracks and I even was able to skate on them in the skating lane. The boots are Madshus CT100 and fit my EEEE foot comfortably the whole time. I'm set now for casual days in the tracks.<br />
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<br />BrownsBayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03969021391279264412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604206068698569277.post-5193654062946906202013-02-22T21:13:00.000-08:002013-02-25T07:55:13.073-08:00Bob Heirman Wildlife Preserve 2-18-13It was the last day of the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) over the long President's Day weekend. I was holding on to my third place in the Snohomish County bird count with a good chance for second place if I could score more species here at Bob Heirman Wildlife Preserve at Thomas' Eddy, maybe even a Trumpeter Swan. This is a gem of a Snohomish County park located on the flood plain of the Snohomish River set aside as a wildlife preserve.<br />
<br />
When I arrived here on a President's Day Monday, I was the second car in the lot. I had the whole 340 acres practically all to myself. The main trail, a wide gravel path, takes a straight shot down from the upland lot directly across the floodplain meadow to the Snohomish River. I veered left on a path leading to Shadow Lake, one of two oxbow lakes within the park. Returning back to the main trail, looking right to the other smaller oxbow lake, Robins Pond, I spotted a male Common Merganser, a beautiful duck, almost all white, with a dark green head and bright red bill that I often see on swift moving rivers, not quiet ponds. Duly noted and a new one to my GBBC list.<br />
<br />
Where the main trail encounters the river, the trail divides in two opposite directions, a lesser used trail following the levee upriver and the other more heavily used following the levee downriver. I followed the lesser trail for a short way then doubled back and took the trail leading downriver.<br />
<br />
All in all a nice day. I added a few more birds to my GBBC list, no Trumpeter Swans, but I did hold on to my third place Snohomish County bird count in the end.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
The main trail</div>
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Shadow Lake</div>
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Snohomish River</div>
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Map of Bob Heirman Wildlife Preserve</div>
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<br />BrownsBayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03969021391279264412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604206068698569277.post-42463303877476470582013-01-13T19:43:00.000-08:002013-01-13T19:53:00.285-08:00Stevens Pass 1-3-13<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I had planned to get in a few days of skiing during the Christmas break this year but work got in the way. It was a shame because during that time it was an epic powder dump, or so I heard. After the New Year, I managed to steal away one day at Stevens Pass, up with my two boys riding in older son's jeep. The sun was shining as we paused in Skykomish for refreshments. The day remained mostly sunshine but with temperatures never above 20F. Clouds occasionally shrouded the higher reaches creating foggy patches. It was a perfect dad and sons day full of the humor and guffaws that only happen when mom is not around.<br />
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<br />BrownsBayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03969021391279264412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604206068698569277.post-69849786309971654482012-12-30T15:14:00.000-08:002012-12-30T15:21:44.305-08:00Skagit Valley & Padilla Bay Day Trip 10-20-12Every fall, generally October, I make a day trip to the Skagit Valley with my Mom, who this year is 83 years young. The main purpose of these trips is to buy flower bulbs directly from the grower. But the Skagit Valley usually has additional plans for those inclined to wander and discover. And so it was with this Skagit Valley day trip. The one certainty is that these trips have bookends starting with a stop at The Donut House in Anacortes and ending at the Skagit River Brewery in Mount Vernon. My donut of choice is the blueberry fritter, which at The Donut House is about the size of a standard frisbee.<br />
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The Skagit Valley Bulb Farm (aka Tulip Town) is where we always buy the bulbs. These are fresh, fat bulbs, unlike any you find on the rack at Home Depot. Here you can also pick as many fresh, ripe apples as you can carry out from the rows of espaliered apple trees.<br />
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After our big bulb purchase, we decided to wander north. When you roll through the Skagit Valley it's best not to have a plan,
just drive along the roads and sooner or later something will pull you
in. And so it was with the Padilla Bay - Breazeale Interpretive Center.
The center has a small museum jam-packed with information about the ecology of
Padilla Bay and the Salish Sea. You get the feeling that eel grass is
pretty much the crux of the ecosystem here. The museum has several beautiful and impressive aquariums, well stocked with the local sea life. This is all part of the Padilla Bay National
Estuarine Research Reserve and so there's research going on here and a
laboratory (not open to the general public).<br />
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We decided to follow the loop trail that begins just outside of the center at the edge of the parking lot. The trail
is about a mile in length and gently ascends through the upland area behind the
center. It's aptly named the Upland Trail. It's an easy wide trail perfect for young kids and octogenarian mothers. There was nobody on this trail when we were there on a cool cloudy
wanting-to-rain fall day. <br />
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We also explored the short trail to the beach that dives through a tunnel under the road with a final plunge on a spiral staircase that gets you right down on
the beach. We were here at high tide so there wasn't much beach. At low tide
Padilla Bay is a huge tidal mud flat.<br />
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The final stop was the Skagit River Brewery in Mount Vernon for good grub chased down with a glass of their Highwater Porter. <br />
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In the Skagit Valley, go with the flow. You'll never know where you'll end up.<br />
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It all starts at the Donut House in Anacortes.</div>
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Skagit Valley Bulb Farm</div>
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Skagit Valley barn.</div>
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Skagit Valley autumn colors on a row of old buckeye trees.</div>
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Padilla Bay - Breazeale Interpretive Center.</div>
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Amazing sea creatures ... found locally.</div>
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Red sea urchin</div>
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The Upland Trail at Padilla Bay - Breazeale Interpretive Center.<br />
(derived from http://www.gmap-pedometer.com) </div>
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On the Upland Trail, looking back to the Padilla Bay - Breazeale Interpretive Center.</div>
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On the Upland Trail, looking out over Padilla Bay, the March Point refineries, and Mount Erie.</div>
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On the Upland Trail.</div>
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Friends you'll see on the Upland Trail.</div>
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The woods along the Upland Trail</div>
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Fall rose hips along the Upland Trail.</div>
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Dangers along the Upland Trail.</div>
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Take a rest on the Upland Trail.</div>
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Lummi Island from the beach access.</div>
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Great way to end the day.</div>
BrownsBayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03969021391279264412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604206068698569277.post-31936123684634814502012-12-23T11:51:00.000-08:002012-12-25T08:46:04.922-08:00Ptarmigan Ridge - A Geology Field Trip 9-30-12The Ptarmigan Ridge Trail begins Artist Point at the end of the paved Mount Baker Highway. I had signed up for a field trip with North Cascades Institute to study the geology along the trail, with a focus on the Kulshan Caldera, a volcanic subsidence structure similar in origin to Crater Lake, but older, with the Crater Lake eruption at 7,200 years compared to 1.15 million years for the Kulshan Caldera. The existing Mount Baker stratovolcano is a mere 40,000 years old.<br />
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The field trip was led by Dave Tucker, a director of the nonprofit Mount Baker Volcano Research Center and long time researcher of volcanic stratigraphy in the North Cascades with an obvious focus on the Mount Baker area. I had been on several field trips with Dave, adding more to my knowledge base of North Cascades geology while discovering new places. The field trip group consisted of a couple family groups and a few interested individuals like me. We all met at the Glacier Public Service Center in Glacier, then bussed up from there to the trailhead at Artist Point.<br />
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The Ptarmigan Ridge trail is fairly level with a few gentle ups and downs. For the first mile, the trail skirts the southern side of Table Mountain, offering unending views of Mount Shuksan, the subject of countless picture calendars. Laid out below was virtually the entire scope of the Kulshan caldera, evidenced most by the white-colored ignimbrite exposed in gullies cut by the various streams that eventually coalesce into Swift Creek. The ignimbrite is the lithified volcanic ash that filled the caldera to over a 1,000 meters deep.<br />
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We made several stops along the hike to learn new things. Rocks of the Chilliwack Group at 200 million years old were the oldest rocks we would see. The Chilliwack Group represents oceanic island volcanic and sedimentary rocks brought in by plate movement as the Pacific Plate and North American plates collided, with the more dense Pacific plate diving underneath the North American plate, leaving behind and attaching the Chilliwack Group rocks onto the margin of the North American plate. Picture a conveyor belt and you get the idea. The Chilliwack Group rocks viewed here were a volcanic breccia of a beautiful shade of butterscotch cut with quartz crystal-filled fractures.<br />
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Most of the trail is on two andesite lava flows, the Table Mountain andesite lava (301 to 309 thousand years old) that sandwiches the Coleman Pinnacle andesite lava flow (305 thousand years old). The the Coleman Pinnacle andesite differentiates itself with black hornblende crystals encased in the gray aphanitic matrix. Along the way we observed polished and striated surfaces left from the passage of glaciers since melted away.<br />
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It was an absolute gorgeous day with barely a cloud in the sky, except a few wispy clouds on Baker's summit that later in the day developed into a full double-lenticular hat. A faunal highlight was a mountain goat laying on a distant snowfield enjoying the sun.<br />
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Now a few photos.<br />
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The morning start offered full, in-your-face views of Mount Baker. </div>
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Detail of a volcanic breccia of the 200-million year old Chilliwack Group.</div>
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The Swift Creek ignimbrite (white), a lithified volcanic ash that filled the post-eruption Kulshan caldera 1.15 million years ago.</div>
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Glacial polish and striations on an andesite lava flow.</div>
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At 3 miles in, this is as close as we got to glacier-shrouded Mount Baker. Coleman Pinnacle is the closer peak. Backcountry skiers were making a few short runs on the sun-cupped tongues of snow below Coleman Pinnacle.</div>
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Mountain goat chillax.</div>
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Looking the way we came, into the North Cascades all the way into British Columbia.</div>
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The Mount Shuksan calendar shot. Note the exposures of Swift Creek ignimbrite in the gulleys below the mountain. Kulshan caldera includes just about the entire area seen below tree line.</div>
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On the way out looking back, Mount Baker grew a lenticular cloud hat.</div>
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Near the end of the road at Artist Point is this incredible contorted columnar andesite.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0XtKswoJS7qY4YOEr2zS3QiM2hAR-IfWbI15_KY5mKbHNfjpBSCwyCxCsV3yCJv1TujH9f842BINzK-g8ztag3VrLs5rs-_nI3XXjQjz2vTtNR-BIeQoW2BWRmq5ebZe6j7RmoYPIBns/s1600/Ptarmigan+Ridge+9-30-12.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0XtKswoJS7qY4YOEr2zS3QiM2hAR-IfWbI15_KY5mKbHNfjpBSCwyCxCsV3yCJv1TujH9f842BINzK-g8ztag3VrLs5rs-_nI3XXjQjz2vTtNR-BIeQoW2BWRmq5ebZe6j7RmoYPIBns/s400/Ptarmigan+Ridge+9-30-12.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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The route (adapted from http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/).</div>
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BrownsBayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03969021391279264412noreply@blogger.com0Artist Point, Mt. Baker National Forest, State Highway 542, WA 98244, USA48.8464316 -121.6924453000000323.324397100000002 -163.00103930000003 74.3684661 -80.383851300000032tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604206068698569277.post-25839815200303377662012-10-27T23:32:00.000-07:002012-10-28T08:52:53.950-07:00Watson Lakes - September 16, 2012The Noisy-Diobsud Wilderness at 14,133 acres is a comparatively small wilderness area as wilderness areas go. What it lacks in size, it makes up by proximity to Mount Baker and North Cascades National Park, but more so in the shear impenetrability of its dense forests and steep slopes. One single trail enters the Noisy-Diobsud and it is actually a pretty easy trail that ends at Watson Lakes, a pair of just beautiful classic North Cascades lakes. A couple side trails lead off, one to Anderson Butte and the other to Anderson Lakes.<br />
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I decided to do this hike after perusing maps and wondering about potential hikes. Watson Lakes stood out as being a little isolated from other potential hikes. A little googling and searching of trip reports sealed the deal. A perfect weather weekend was in store and that's all I needed for the go decision.<br />
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Getting to the trailhead involves driving up the Baker Lake Road off of Highway 20, the North Cascades Highway. Off Baker Lake Road, right turn on Road 1106 to Kulshan Campground, and cross over the Baker Lake Dam. After crossing Baker Lake Dam, which is pretty cool, pavement ends and you continue relentlessly uphill on a well-graded unpaved forest road (Road 1107). The road is narrow so I was strategically and mentally logging potential pullouts for negotiating any opposite downhill traffic with some comfort knowing that uphill traffic has the right of way obligating downhill traffic to backup hill. That's the theory anyway.<br />
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I finally reached the trailhead at 11 am, two hours after pulling out of my driveway, excluding the Starbucks stop at Cooks Road. Plenty of parking at the trailhead, even on a sunny Saturday, maybe a dozen cars parked or less.<br />
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The trail starts out meandering through some shady old growth forest eventually breaking out into open meadow. Here you hit the junction to Anderson Butte. I stopped to take photos of the last of the season's meadow flowers. My dog Ranger, as he always does, took the opportunity to gently squat down in the meadow streams to cool down.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW1cCWX3_PvGns6GuarDlFw8q5eA083gWyJ_eNT4GmM5Zb_KnUOtQ9-eDb_MrhhZycVSqxJXp0EXyFnLzCG_nROzVTBXsj27Zs0btRxWY0uTau6972f7Znzc6KdJTJF3vRdkn2dU6g564/s1600/Meadow1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW1cCWX3_PvGns6GuarDlFw8q5eA083gWyJ_eNT4GmM5Zb_KnUOtQ9-eDb_MrhhZycVSqxJXp0EXyFnLzCG_nROzVTBXsj27Zs0btRxWY0uTau6972f7Znzc6KdJTJF3vRdkn2dU6g564/s400/Meadow1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjccZD7Ws8kOaapYVk9CGok7v97u9Ky1O98GcPzoZBRdmLSTm9MKdhmvVG_0WrEZYoLXS4RsdjBapQAtG_WNNrIgLonsCn2chLKsKoFSYWxBvEAMHC9cbPDqOBoYIVRAi19uy2K8cQlTyA/s1600/Ranger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjccZD7Ws8kOaapYVk9CGok7v97u9Ky1O98GcPzoZBRdmLSTm9MKdhmvVG_0WrEZYoLXS4RsdjBapQAtG_WNNrIgLonsCn2chLKsKoFSYWxBvEAMHC9cbPDqOBoYIVRAi19uy2K8cQlTyA/s400/Ranger.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Climbing out of the first meadow, I turned around and was rewarded with stunning views of Mount Baker, the sleeping volcano. At the other end of the first meadow, the trail again entered forest, crossed over a saddle and dropped down into another meadow. The junction to Anderson Lake bore right here but I continued on toward Watson Lakes.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLW8_WUiqnzSkQdbpW3z_VPFjExnR2DycbLjjIHrDkyWZ3Un_rZIxm1Pq4w3zK3owkQLaKnhAjCV9Zi8toJ5CZ-GdfPhCIcK8ZwZW_9vHZ3b-hjFkxSdHA1sVre6UKGmCl3ZL0TatxNdE/s1600/Baker1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLW8_WUiqnzSkQdbpW3z_VPFjExnR2DycbLjjIHrDkyWZ3Un_rZIxm1Pq4w3zK3owkQLaKnhAjCV9Zi8toJ5CZ-GdfPhCIcK8ZwZW_9vHZ3b-hjFkxSdHA1sVre6UKGmCl3ZL0TatxNdE/s400/Baker1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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After crossing the meadow the trail entered forest again and climbed more steeply to another saddle. The trail then dropped down into the Watson Lakes basin crossing the official Noisy-Diobsud Wilderness boundary. The forest eventually opened at some large boulders offering a breathtaking view of the Watson Lakes pair and beyond to glacier-draped Bacon Peak in the North Cascades National Park.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqTWYd4av3k92kvNgYEH7q8UX91ayhJ1DHJ2AMD67JYeMmASsgkw0p-f9gTSkEU4pUTASKV-LJBRQYFLg_vSZ4i_Xg3uNcDu6iw3cz3KasB5vm9D7zvxyOgVbASbIhAUIC6RZe4pCl_e0/s1600/WildernessSign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqTWYd4av3k92kvNgYEH7q8UX91ayhJ1DHJ2AMD67JYeMmASsgkw0p-f9gTSkEU4pUTASKV-LJBRQYFLg_vSZ4i_Xg3uNcDu6iw3cz3KasB5vm9D7zvxyOgVbASbIhAUIC6RZe4pCl_e0/s400/WildernessSign.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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I followed the trail around the northern side of the upper Watson Lake. I paused and watched a gentleman fly fish from a float tube. At the far end of the upper lake, I crossed its outlet stream and came to the lower lake. This is as far as I went. I turned around here stopping for lunch at a viewpoint overlooking the lower lake. From here I retraced my steps back to the trailhead. Approximate mileage was about 4.2 miles roundtrip.<br />
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<br />BrownsBayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03969021391279264412noreply@blogger.com0Watson Lakes, Mt. Baker National Forest, Washington 98237, USA48.6674243 -121.580951848.6621808 -121.5908223 48.6726678 -121.57108129999999