Today's Relaxed Trailblazers |
Heart Lake through the trees |
Signs well camouflaged |
Magnificent old cedar tree |
The view from Sugarloaf |
Me on Sugarloaf |
Today's Relaxed Trailblazers |
Heart Lake through the trees |
Signs well camouflaged |
Magnificent old cedar tree |
The view from Sugarloaf |
Me on Sugarloaf |
Today's walk started out wet |
Yes, it was soggy but we still had fun |
Pretty daffodils |
Taco Tuesday |
Huckleberry viewpoint |
Persis and Kim on the trail |
As usual, Persis was hiking in her skirt, with long woolies underneath to help keep her warm. We hiked the entire length of the Huckleberry trail, and then joined the Salal trail that would take us to Madrone Crest.
On our way, enjoying the white stuff |
As we climbed, it got snowier and more slow going, but the main trail was pretty clear, as you can see here. We meandered upwards until we got to the Crest.
Our lunch spot |
We were happy to sit for awhile and have a nice lunch, considering that there was no wind and plenty of places to sit and enjoy a break from hiking. We had a little sun now and then, but with all the snow it was never exactly warm. In that container in John's hand, he had chocolate-covered blueberries and tasty cookies, which I availed myself of. Most of us tried the blueberries, which are incredibly addictive!
Sterling and rider |
Snow decorations |
We do live in a beautiful part of the country, and we are so lucky to have places within a short distance to hike in during the winter months. We go up to the High Country during the summer, but there's something awfully nice about just getting in our cars and being a short drive away from home, rather than more than an hour's drive each way.
Beth at trail junctions |
Our leader today, Beth, took us up the Huckleberry trail and back down via the Salal and Lower Salal to our parking lot. We covered somewhere around seven and eight miles in total, and around 1,700 feet up and down. Not an easy hike, but certainly doable for all of us today. Since I was hurting last Tuesday from an easier hike, I took some ibuprofen before starting today, and it turned out just fine. I feel like I could go even farther if necessary. But I'm certainly glad to be sitting in a comfy chair right now, with my feet up, with nowhere I need to go. Satisfied and happy for the moment, with a smile and a glass of wine to enjoy.
:-)
Pat on the Interurban trail |
Hair ice |
Someone spied a bit of hair ice on a piece of wood. I've seen this before and know it's pretty rare and only appears after it's been really wet, saturating the forest and then turning cold. It's apparently caused by a fungus, which allows the moisture to extrude from the wood and stay in hair-like form for an extended period. It's also called ice wool or frost beard. The link will tell you all you might want to know about this pretty ice form.
Bridge opened once again |
This bridge was felled by a tree falling across it three years ago, and it took them that long to rebuild it and open it once again to hikers. We went up the trail on the other side until we reached the Interurban trail again. From there, we made our way to Teddy Bear Cove. We crossed the Chuckanut Highway to reach it. The Cove was once known as a nude beach, but never formally acknowledged. I found this information online:
Historically, Teddy Bear Cove was once known as the area’s nude beach. Although never officially designated as such, you are now more likely to see families and college students appreciating the calm waters and spectacular views.
Michael, one of the hikers |
This sign is at the beginning of the short trip to the beach. Although it's not far, under a quarter of a mile, it's steep and I found it intimidating. Michael was very helpful to me and allowed me to hold onto his arm as I went down steps that had no railing. I only whined a little.
At the beach |
Nobody was willing to take off their clothes and brave the cold water, but we would not have been the first to do so, according to the folklore that surrounds the Cove.
Teddy Bear Cove |
It was quite a wonderful way to spend a sunny day in the winter. We ended up going somewhere around six miles in total, with an elevation gain around 1,000 feet in all. (I'm just guessing at the total, but from the way my hips felt, I'd guess that was about right.) I am quite happy to be home, looking out at the sunshine, and glad to have been part of the day's Senior Trailblazers excursion.
:-)
Today's group of six (I took the picture) |
Indian plum beginning to bloom! |
Can you find the heron? |
Wonder if it still works |
Lake Padden |
Little Squalicum Beach |
Graupel are soft, small pellets formed when supercooled water droplets (at a temperature below 32°F) freeze onto a snow crystal, a process called riming. If the riming is particularly intense, the rimed snow crystal can grow to an appreciable size, but remain less than 0.2 inches.
It looks like little pellets of ice and vaguely like hail, but smaller. When I set out of the house this morning, I was unsure whether it was safe to drive, because it was pretty thick. So, I took the bus to the coffee shop and walked to the Senior Center to join the others and carpooled.
The sun came out in full force, however, and the skies (as you can see in the picture) were mostly clear, nothing like I thought we'd have today. Nobody was unhappy about having chosen to stay local, though. We covered somewhere around five miles, I think, but I left a little early and made my way back home before they re-entered the park. I saw plenty of fat buds on bushes and the occasional tree coming into early blossom, but my pictures weren't all that good; it seems many of them had my shadow right in the middle, ruining the scene. I should pay more attention to things like that.
At least I remembered to post something today. Now that I've gotten my exercise and a good lunch, I think I'll rummage around in some of the books I've downloaded and find something to enjoy. It's also my guy's birthday today, but he doesn't want anything special, he tells me. We all have those inconvenient reminders of the continuing passage of time, whether we do anything to commemorate the event or not. I am wishing him a very happy birthday and fabulous year ahead!
:-)
The Six (and me who took the picture) |
"We'll go this way up and another way down" |
A mile-long loop from the main trail |
Plenty of good signage |
Sunshine peeking through the trees |
Not much of a view any more |