Thursday, April 11, 2013

Hoypus Hill and Ala Spit

Welcome back, Ross
Only six Senior Trailblazers met at the Senior Center to head south into the Deception Pass area, to hike Hoypus Hill starting at Cornet Bay. The day was gloomy to begin with, low clouds and rather chilly, but as we drove the 30-some miles, the clouds began to lift a little. Ross has been gone for several months, but today he joined us, and it was nice to have him back after a family loss and a move of residence.
The many trails are well marked, and I saw fields and fields filled with this little gem, stinging nettles. They are just perfect for harvesting right now, but you can't do it with your bare hands. I was careful not to let them brush against me, because I remember that sting stays with me for awhile. Last year Peggy harvested some and steamed them; she said they were simply delicious.
We left the hill area briefly to walk over to the Ala Spit, a little piece of land that juts out into Skagit Bay. I provided a link to show anyone who might be interested a map and a bit of information about it. It made a nice place for us to have lunch, and by the time we settled in, we had almost full sunshine. The tide was out, as low as I've ever seen it. That green algae in the middle is usually under water.
After lunch we headed back to the Hoypus Hill area and reveled in the brilliant sunshine coming through the trees. The second half of our hike was simply perfect: right temperature, lots of sun, and  magnificent old growth trees. We oooh-d and aaaah-d at many of these giants. They are not easy to capture in a picture, but I gave it a try here.
They just seem to go on and on up into the forest canopy. This beauty was just one among many, and many times we would just stop and gaze upwards. But, finally, we reached Cornet Bay, where we had started our hike. I got this picture of the Deception Pass Bridge peeking at us from amongst the forest trees.
The tide has started to come back in. I didn't know before I moved here that there are tide tables and there are two low tides and two high tides every day, one each for the sun and the moon. Tides are fascinating to me. The currents under the bridge roil and churn constantly, with the tides bringing in or moving out all that water.
Al, me, Rita, Ross, Amy (Mike behind the camera)
Just before we were done, I asked Mike if he would take a picture of us with my camera. This is the third attempt; in the first one Rita closed her eyes, then Amy closed hers in the second. Mike ordered us all to close our eyes when he told us, and then open them on his command. Here is the result! We had covered exactly nine miles and almost 1,000 feet of elevation up and down by this point. It was a perfect day (in case any of our usual hikers are reading this, you missed out!).

Tomorrow I catch a plane (two of them, actually) south to Lake Elsinore for my skydiving adventure, which I will write about here. Three days of wearing myself to a frazzle, but I think I'm ready. After today I should sleep well tonight.
:-)

23 comments:

  1. Great sunny weather you had. Beautiful photos. Looking forward to reading about your weekend. Take care!

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  2. My goodness, those are delightful, huge trees. And I enjoyed the picture of the driftwood and bay.

    Take care while jumping out of planes!

    Blessings and Bear hugs!
    Bears Noting

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  3. oh, good luck on your NEXT adventure! i'd need two days off just from your hike today. :) glad you had such a pretty day!

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  4. i am loving all the green on hoypus hill...that trail looks so alive...and my what amazing trees as well....

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  5. I love the glowing green in that fourth photo! And oh, do I love big trees! This is a part of Deception Pass State Park that I don't know about. I might need to go exploring.

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  6. I find tides extremely fascinating, too. Those trees are fantastic - like no others! We have big trees in northern MN, but they were mostly logged a hundred or more years ago. There are a select parks & places where the virgin pine still stands tall.
    I had noticed you always take photos of your fellow hikers, but aren't in any, yourself. (I noticed, because I relate. On our trip to Texas in March, there was not ONE photo of me. Always behind the camera!) Nice to see you pictured today! Looks like another great day.

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  7. You live in a place with such dramatic landscapes...I love it. I love that I can hike with you vicariously for this visual feast.

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  8. This looks like a very beautiful. Three days of skydiving, wow? I'll be waiting in my easy chair to hear about it. Have fun.

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  9. Such a stunning hike. Stinging nettles don't sting if you grab them - it is only if you are tentative that they bite.
    Have a wonderful, wonderful three days - and come back to tell us all about it.

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  10. DJan, I love your pictures... and always enlarge them. I especially like the deserted beach one (Ala Spit?)and the giant tree one is pretty impressive too.

    Have a wonderful safe skydiving adventure!

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  11. Hikes like these where the weather is perfect are unforgettable. So are the ones with the worst weather.
    Your photo of the bridge is a winner. It's very nicely framed.
    Have some great sky diving!

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  12. Hikes like these where the weather is perfect are unforgettable. So are the ones with the worst weather.
    Your photo of the bridge is a winner. It's very nicely framed.
    Have some great sky diving!

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  13. What a wonderland you have in which to hike ... beautiful.

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  14. What a beautiful spot. It's not often you get to say that the sun came out on one of your hikes.

    Good luck with your jumps. Looking forward to reading about it.

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  15. So green there..it looks wonderful! Be safe..I am anxious to hear about your world famous attempt:)

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  16. Good to see those scenes of green instead of the snow and ice. Have a good jump.

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  17. Stinging nettles are not my favorite plant along the edge of a stream... Good luck on your adventure. :)

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  18. It is almost impossible to catch the wonder of those giant trees; you have captured it, my friend.
    I remember the first (and only) time I saw giant trees in California. I was speechless for the longest time. It is a wonder that can't be explained....only felt.
    Have you ever thought of compiling your photos for publishing in a book or magazine. They are lovely
    Hugs,
    J.

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  19. Olde Forest trees are so beautiful DJan - I really like that photo. They are all beautiful photos, however I love the greens n trees. Nettle, never heard of it - must check that out. Have a wonderful few days of jumping out of planes and will look forward to hearing about that. We have a very olde pine tree - largest in the county I am told - somewhere in the vicinity of 300 or more years. It is the most photographed tree and is out at the campground, where we walk sometimes by the Bay.

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  20. Nice hike DJan!! I especially like the 3rd photo from the top and the scenic view of the bridge!

    Oh and your tulips post below is fantastic and ever so colorful.

    Been busy here in Texas, sorry for the delay in paying you a visit. Hope your weekend is going well for you.

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  21. I do always love seeing photos with you in them, DJan. I remember getting "stung" by those nettles. I could really see WHY they call them that. I would never have imagined being able to eat them. Wow!

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  22. I always enjoy your photos of the Douglas Firs, they are so magnificent. The spit looks like a great place for lunch. Glad to see you had some sunshine.

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  23. Those are some gorgeous photos DJan, you guys definitely had a beautiful day for a hike! Loved the sun shining through the trees, gave it all a lovely glow! :o)

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