Kent Ponds - Killing Time

It 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.

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:

City of Kent - Green River Natural Resources Area

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.

West entry from Anderson Park off of Russell Road

Typical meadowland at GRNRA

View from the tower with Mount Rainier visible through the morning haze.

Observation tower

The lagoon with a lone Trumpeter Swan in the center.

The lagoon outlet.

The route, 1.7 miles round trip.

GRNRA map (Rainier Audubon Society)

Rainier Audubon - Kent Ponds

Gear Up Expo - June 2, 2013

With 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.

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.

Jim and me

Now a round-robin tour through GEAR:

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.  Adventures NW

Adventures NW and Suzanne Lundberg, Advertising-Sales

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.  Ezee Strap

EzeeStrap, and yes, these folks we real nice, very helpful, and not at all pushy

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.  Mazama Bar

Truly a nice pair

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.  Dwayne Lane's

The good folks at Dwayne Lane's

Guts, glory, Ram ...

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.  Green Trails Maps

The Green Trails Maps guys

Sweet Spot Skirts, they don't make your butt look big.  It was nice to chat for awhile, very nice, fun folks.  Sweet Spot Skirts

Spot and Sweet at Sweet Spot Skirt

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 (Der Indianer).  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.  Tentipi

Tentipi, it's warm inside

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.

Marysville Bike Shop

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 Bonanza.  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.

Bubbles Below

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 Bacon 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.  Eddie Bauer

Eddie Bauer

Eddie Bauer

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.  Zoller's Outdoor Odyssey

Zoller's Outdoor Odyssey

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. 

Outdoors NW

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.  Cabela's

Cabela's

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.  Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest

Your Forest at your service

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?  Mountain Loop Tourism Bureau

Mountain Loop Tourism Bureau

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.  Sunset Bay

Sunset Bay Beach Camp

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.  Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism

Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism

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.  Evergreen Escapes

Evergreen Escapes

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.  Preppers Warehouse

Well

Preppers Warehouse

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.  Washington Trails Association

Washington Trails Association

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.  Innova Kayak

Innova Kayak

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.  Mountain Madness

Mountain Madness.  Tino, on the right guided my cousin up Mount Shuksan last year.

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.  North Cascades Institute

North Cascades Institute.  These two were absolutely delightful.

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.

Gear Up Expo

Tilden Regional Park and the Upper Big Springs Trail 4-25-2013

In 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

This is pretty much what the trail looks like.  I spotted some wild turkeys just up the hill.

Bluedicks (OK laugh and get over it), Dichelostemma capitatum, 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.

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.

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.  As it turns out, this lovely plant is oblong spurge, Euphorbia oblongata, a California Department of Food and Agriculture class B noxious weed.  I did not recognize because it doesn't grow in Washington, except for two locations in the San Juan Islands and it apparently has not been found in southern California.  More here: RPBG - February 2011 Newsletter

White sage, Salvia apiana, 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.

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.

More eucalyptus trees.  They're everywhere.

At the crest of San Pablo Ridge where the Upper Big Springs Trail meets the Bay Area Ridge Trail.

Tempting

San Pablo Reservoir from San Pablo Ridge.

Under the cloud deck, San Francisco Bay and the Bay Bridge from San Pablo Ridge.

Tree skeletons left after a fire some several years ago.

The route, just a mile and half, round trip (adapted from gmap-pedometer.com).

Satellite view (adapted from gmap-pedometer.com).

Oblique view (adapted from Google Earth).