Thursday, November 17, 2011

Chuckanut Falls and fun guys

I couldn't resist the play on words in the title. This is a picture of Chuckanut Falls, my first time seeing it, with a great fun guy in the foreground. That's what we kept calling all the fungi we saw on our hike today. Ten Senior Trailblazers set out on a one-way trip using a shuttle system. We left one car at one place, drove to another and then shuttled back after we were done. It worked out quite well, and the best part is that it never really rained today! Although we didn't have any sun and it was quite cold (below 40 deg F, 4.5 C), we hiked on some parts of the Chuckanut trail system that were new to most of us. The trail going to the falls is relatively new, and we knew we were headed in the right direction when we saw this sign.
Notice all the leaves on the trail, too. Yesterday it was windy enough to get all the rest of them off the trees and onto the ground. It rained and blew all day long, so we suspected we would have a not-so-nice day, but it was more than adequate. Peggy found this one leaf that amazed me with its size. The leaf is from a large-leaf maple tree (no kidding)!
Steve led our group today, as Al had a family illness going on. I must say that, although we missed Al, Steve was a very capable leader. I could never have found my own way through all the twists and turns we went on to end up back at our single car, but he never missed a beat. He has a very droll sense of humor, so there were times when he was pulling my leg and I didn't know it. Here's a picture of our lunch stop, with Fred behind the camera.
That's Steve on the right in the blue hat, with me, Peggy and Amy having our lunch. Behind the tree on the extreme right are Marjan and Frank, and four others are not pictured. As you can see, we weren't all that warm, but believe me: any day when we are ready for rain and we get just a few sprinkles is a good one! We took a side trail to Raptor Ridge and intended to have lunch there, but there was no view and a very brisk, cold wind greeted us instead. Along the trail, Amy had the gumption to stick her hand in this hole. Who knows what animals could have been lurking in there! She actually stuck her entire head inside, looked around and declared, "it's hollow." Good thing!
All in all, it was a really good day. I would have gone even if it had been storming and raining when I left the house, because next Thursday is Thanksgiving and we will not be hiking. The dark, overcast days leave me in need of time spent outdoors, and it's always hard to make myself go unless I know I'll be in good company. Today we covered more than nine miles and almost 1,800 feet of elevation, so it was a moderate hike when we were expecting a hard one. Steve isn't nearly the slave driver that Al is!
:-)

18 comments:

  1. Hey, your traffic feed is wrong. I am from Honolulu, not Kaneohe!!!

    Anyway, this is a great post. I agree that Amy should not have stuck her head and hand in that hollow. Don't know if she was being brave or just plain foolish...

    Glad the weather cooperated for you, DJan, though the temperature would have given me pause.

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  2. Wow. That is a really big leaf. I am glad we don't have any that gigantic around here. Fall leaf clean up is hard enough with just our small sized leaves.

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  3. haha...she stuck her head in the hole...that is awesome...glad it was empty...my those are big leaves....very cool!

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  4. The leaf is truly huge. This is a great picture of it. I would like to see a tree that has leave this size. Looks like you had a great time on the hike with your hiking buddies. For you this was a moderate hike, for the rest of us this would be tough.

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  5. Your last comment is so true! We sit in the house and the outside looks so cold. When you get out and active it's really very pleasant.

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  6. I guess that's why they call them 'big leaf maples'. I was surprised at how nice it was here this morning, but then we got rain starting about noon and it has gotten colder as the day went on.
    I worked out on my stationary bike today. I had been putting it off, opting to go outside and walk, but I knew I'd have to use it as an alternative sooner or later, so I forced myself. At least I can read while I'm doing my ten miles.
    I really wanted to be outside though. I'm glad you got out.

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  7. Moderate hike she says. For some of us well nigh impossible. Thank you for taking us along. That leaf was incredible. And I too would not have had the nerve to put any bit of me into that hole.

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  8. The hike, and Amy's adventurous spirit are very impressive but that leaf just blew me away. Imagine the size of the book you'd need to press that leaf between its pages!

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  9. That is the biggest maple leaf I have ever seen! I had no clue they could get that large. Learned something new.

    I'd be very leery about sticking my hand and head in that hole...but I would have been very curious. I might have taken a long stick and poked it all around in there first. ;)

    Sounds like a good hike and a pleasant day, despite it being chilly. Good company, anyways. And now you won't be hiking next week. I'm sure you'll think of something to do instead. ;)

    Have a great weekend, dear lady! :)

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  10. Wow! That's the biggest maple leaf I've ever seen! I'm surprised she stuck her head in. I sure wouldn't.

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  11. Goodness, that is one big maple leaf. I wonder about the size of that tree.

    I thought about you and your group today DJan. I'm glad the weather let you get in a hike today. It was overcast here but it sounds like we are all going to get colder, wetter weather this weekend.

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  12. When we're active the lower temps feel fine, although we don't have temps that low yet. Went running yesterday and it was 50- felt cool for a bit and then just right for the rest. It makes a body feel good! Great photos to put us there with you.

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  13. Gotta watch those fungi. I think I read a previous post that you entered about that trail. If that maple leaf was as large as a platter, how big was the tree? As always, I enjoy your photos and your hikes in the the forest.

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  14. I do so love your trail blazin' adventures. That does look like one ginormous maple leaf!

    Your pictures are always so beautifully amazin' sweetie.

    God bless and have a delightful weekend.

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  15. I could almost have done this one with you.

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  16. That is a beautiful leaf!! Amy must live on the edge..I would have stuck a stick in there..but thats all! Great hike! Thanks for taking us along:)

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  17. Chuckanut. Now that a cool name but I wonder where it come from. And the size of those these...fantastic. Years ago we came back from Vancouver Island and did the Olympic peninsula. I did recall the giant trees, leaves and slugs that were humungous... :)

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  18. Yikes! That leaf looks like something out of the dinosaur era!
    On the other hand all those leaves on the trail left me worried about you guys slipping...
    Glad you had another good hike! :o)

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