Thursday, June 30, 2011

Rainy Middle Fork road hike

Today twelve Senior Trailblazers met at the Senior Center with only a vague idea of where we would be going. Our scheduled hike, Hannegan Pass, is still not passable because of snow. In fact, the Bellingham Herald printed an article today that confirmed our fears: Artist Point, which we use to access many of our favorite hikes in the Mt. Baker area, will not be cleared of snow this year. So, today we chose to drive from our mostly blue skies in Bellingham up to the Middle Fork logging road, hoping for a view and determined to get some exercise, no matter what. We actually had a wonderful day last November when we previously visited this area. I wrote about it here (and you can see the views we missed today).
As we drove our three cars almost thirty miles up to our starting point, it began to rain. And rain. Hoping the sky was just getting the moisture out of its system and then it would be nice, we donned our rain gear and started up the road. It didn't let up, and by the time we had hiked over two miles, some were talking about going back. But we wanted to get a least the exercise we have grown accustomed to having, so we kept going until we got to the junction you see below. Some wanted to hike until 11:00 am on the lower road, which didn't climb so steeply, and others wanted to go up. Since we had our walkie-talkies with us, we split into two groups, with one group going up and the other going down. We agreed to turn around at 11 and head back down to the cars, which is what we did, meeting up again at this junction without any problem.
Sometimes the rain would let up and we would get hopeful for some views and the possibility that we might even dry out a little. At least it wasn't cold, with temperatures somewhere in the low 50s. But it didn't happen. Not knowing WHAT I would write about for this blog, and what pictures I might have to share, I took some pictures of the flowers, and this is the best I got.
I thought the green leaves (if you enlarge the picture you can see they are weighed down with rain), the rock and the flowers all made a nice little scene on an otherwise wet and rainy day. All in all, we covered more than seven miles and those of us who took the high road got somewhere around 2,000 feet elevation gain and loss, making it an acceptable hike. We are pretty hardy to spend five hours walking in the rain, making it back to the cars before even considering stopping for lunch. Some decided to take off and head back to the center, others (like us) got back to the highway and stopped by the side of the road for lunch.
Peggy has missed the last three hikes, since she went off on an adventure to Scotland and just returned late last week. She bought this plastic raincoat for that trip and never used it, but she certainly got a chance to see how it worked today. It's great to have her back! Better luck to all of us, weather wise, next week.
:-)

24 comments:

  1. You're very brave trailblazers. Does the group ever cross the paths of other hikers in the areas where you hike? Rain or not, it's still a beautiful area.

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  2. Yes, you are very brave, although I guess you have enough experience to know if it is a 'go' or 'not go' hike.
    I find walking or hiking in the rain very soothing, just as long as I have rain gear.
    Glad you had a nice hike, and got to enjoy those gorgeous views.
    ~Jo

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  3. Wow. It is amazing how much you NEED exercise when you have got used to it isn't it? Though many of your walks would be waaaay too much for me, I am so grateful to share them vicariously.

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  4. nice...a trip to scotland...how cool is that...a slog in the rain...sounds like you made of it what you could...

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  5. We have had a lot of clouds the last two days but no rain, sounds like you got the rain before the clouds moved this direction.

    You and your group are a hardy bunch. Sorry to hear about all that snow at Artist Point.

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  6. Even a hike in the rain sounds good to me at this point, my calf is still not healing at all. I'm anxious to get back with you all. If I get back to you before September I'd be surprised.

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  7. The word 'intrepid' came to mind for you hikers, so I looked it up. Intrepid = fearlessness, fortitude and endurance. That's you!

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  8. I had to chuckle at your last paragraph, DJan. The irony of buying a raincoat for Scotland and using it in the PNW, instead! Hubby wants to visit Scotland someday, since he is 1/4 Scottish.

    Congrats on hiking for FIVE HOURS. Unblievable!

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  9. You know, I just don't think it looks like fun to walk in the mud. I'm wishing for you that you will finally get some sunshine up in that part of the world.

    We are SO dry here. Please have the rain head this way. Thanks.

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  10. I always admire hardy people who will complete their hike in the rain. I love walking in the rain but I have to be careful with rain gear. I couldn't wear the plastic rain gear. I would be much wetter inside than outside.

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  11. Nice rain, nice flowers and it's gonna be 96 with a heat index of 105 here tomorrow. Today was o0nly 90. *grin

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  12. You people astonish me. Love sharing this all vicariously with you. You're a resilient bunch, for sure.

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  13. I agree with Linda--intrepid!! :)

    Since I can't go on hikes, I appreciate going with vicariously--rain or shine--hehe! ;)

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  14. Hmmmm... walking in the rain is not my cup of tea, but seeing those purple flowers would have risen my spirits. You are amazing!

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  15. Love to walk in a gentle rain here, but that's nothing like hiking a trail in gentle rain there. It's keeping you young!

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  16. My wish for you is a dry 4th of July!

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  17. "Rain Rain Go Away....." But the Intrepid Hikers will go about anyway...

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  18. The rain doesn't keep you from getting out and moving. You are so amazing. The pictures show what it was like, and you made it through with no lost hikers and no slippery sliders.

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  19. That chap in shorts, holding up a brolly, how did he get on?

    Hats off to all of you. I am strictly a fair weather walker - not hiker.

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  20. What pot of gold do you kids find at the ends of the rainbows you climb? It has to be special.

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  21. What pretty flowers on the mountain..just gorgeous.
    I would DIE with as much rain as you deal with. I would be depressed the entire year! Of course, you would probably HATE the amount of snow we get every winter and the cold, cold winters we have here too. Luckily our summers, spring and fall here makes up for it. It was almost 90 and sunny here today...quite hot for us.

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  22. Hi DJan, I hope you have beautiful weather this weekend for all the daring things you want to do.:)

    Have a Happy 4TH!

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  23. I'm fine with walking in the rain. The distances you cover? Not so much.

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  24. Your dedication is awesome. I don't even like to take the dog out when it's raining. Of course, he doesn't like to go out in the rain either...

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