Thursday, May 16, 2013

Mud Lake 2013

Getting to Mud Lake starts at Pine & Cedar trailhead
Seven Senior Trailblazers started our hike today under gloomy skies. It had rained off and on all night, but the forecast was for the rain to diminish and possibly give us some sunshine by midday. We hiked to Mud Lake for the first time last year, and I wrote about it here. Usually we would just head up to Pine and Cedar Lakes. We start this hike at the Old Samish Highway trailhead to those lakes, and it has a very steep first mile or so. It is my least favorite part of this beautiful hike, not because going up is so hard, but because coming down is a killer on my knees. Without the poles I simply could not do it.
The trail is very pretty, though. It's at its most lush and green right now, and we didn't have any rain at all during our hike. The best we had for sunshine for most of the day, though, was filtered light, and it was very humid. When we stopped for any time at all, we got cold. We passed the turnoff to Pine Lake and continued down an old logging road to get to Mud Lake.
There is an old fishing boat at the end of this old log in Mud Lake. Since it was still early, we decided to hike back to Pine Lake for lunch and get the uphill part behind us. The hardest part of this hike is the steepness at the beginning, and the fact that you need to lose at least 700 feet of altitude before getting to the lake. It was pretty, though, and I took this kind of artsy shot of a lily in the midst of some lily pads.
Lily in Mud Lake
As we were hiking back to the Pine and Cedar trail, I saw these two old trees with chinks in them that made them look to me like two old beings who were watching our progress. You can also see the filtered sunlight on and around them.
"And who are YOU?"
We reached Pine Lake a little after noon and settled down for lunch. Afterwards, Peggy and I walked onto the boardwalk that covers part of the area around the lake, which is very boggy and perfect for skunk cabbage. I thought it looked a bit like she was a traveler from another planet, checking out the aliens.
Big cabbages in a foot of water
As we walked carefully on the boardwalk, not wanting to have a misstep and fall in (it would not have been much fun), I saw that the skunk cabbages have grown to an enormous size. Looking down into one, however, was very rewarding, as it curls inwards very prettily. The cabbages were covered with raindrops from earlier in the day, and I was happy to capture this scene next to an old log.
By the time we reached our starting point, my knees were complaining mightily but have since recovered. We traveled up and down more than 2,600 feet in elevation and hiked more than nine miles in total. And yes, by 2:30pm, the skies had cleared and we were in full sunshine. It was simply a fine day: good company, good hike, and no rain!
:-)

21 comments:

  1. yay for good weather for a strenuous hike! i like that log out into the water and the peeping trees. :)

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  2. You keep that up and you're going to be looking at knee replacement surgery. At least you'll be able to say you had a wonderful time earning those new knees.

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  3. those tight little bridges are way cool...and sounds like a rather beautiful walk...ha...i like the old log used as a pier of sorts as well...glad you had good weather..

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  4. I love those 2 trees with the eyes. Amazing that nature did that. Hope your knees hold up for the rest of the year. Lots more hiking to be done.

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  5. It looks like all the steep climbing was worth it. Mud Lake is a lovely looking place. I love your shot of the water lily.

    Nice that your knees have recovered. Enjoy that glass of wine tonight, you earned it DJan.

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  6. PS, I'm g;ad you enjoyed the book.

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  7. I just wonder if you know what those chinks in the stumps are. Maybe you have heard this already, but those are spring board holes, for the original logging of old growth on these NW forests. Before motorized chain saws, big old trees were cut with crosscut saws, manned by two cutters,one on each end of the saw. The would cut above the flare of the stump where the diameter was smaller. To get up that high, they would notch a hole, place the metal end of a spring board in the hole, and then stand on the board to cut.
    These old "guys" are indeed old, remnants of another era.

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  8. Good eye on the old log ends. they really do look as if someone is watching you...rather haunting.

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  9. Everything is so green, Jan...and lovely. The ferns along the trail, the lilies in the lake, the skunk cabbages...all so pretty and green.
    It was interesting to read this blog and also your friends' comments. Linda's explanation about the spring board holes was fascinating. To think how old those stumps are and to know that loggers were there before motorized chain saws is so interesting to me.
    Take care of your knees; I know that you do...just a gentle reminder to always take care of you.
    Hugs,
    Jackie

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  10. Wow, the skunk cabbage looks like it belongs in the Florida Everglades! Sounds like a great hike, overall, and without rain!

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  11. Love the trees, the lily and the skunk cabbage. Another wonderful outing - and my knees don't hurt at all thanks to your effort.

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  12. I especially like the last photo DJan and also the one with the tree trunks. They are all beautiful, but those two stood out for me. Take care of those knees kiddo, its early in the season and I'm thinking you need good knees for jumping outta planes, I think?

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  13. They look like prehistoric cabbages!

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  14. Ah, are you sure those were just old trees? Don't think I would have poked one to be sure.
    Those cabbages are awesome. I need to Google them.

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  15. Dear DJan, that last photograph with the rain droplets is lovely. I so enjoy reading about your hiking and I also take delight in the photographs that accompany the text. So many bloggers--like Vagabonde--show us photographs that seem exceptional to me for their clarity. Someone gave me a very early digital camera but I seldom use it and when I do I haven't been able to take pictures like these in your blog. Perhaps I need to invest in a newer camera and take a class. Thanks for inspiring me. Peace.

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  16. Oh what a lush and gorgeous place. Our skunks cabbages are just popping up now. I do remember those steep hills down effects on my bad knees. I ended up slaloming in those days till I finally got a replacements...:)

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  17. I love all your pictures. Whenever I have been hiking I am always checking out all the little things--like trunk people and lilies. ;) Glad your knees can recover from such a trek so quickly.

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  18. Those cabbages are just amazing. The scenery is magnificent as always. Do you dream about your walks D-Jan? If so you have plenty of pictures stored up in your memory banks, don't you.

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  19. Everything is so lush...what a great time of year, and you really get out to see it in all its glory.

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  20. The Skunk Cabbages are so pretty and large too! :)

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  21. It was feeling so hot and muggy, but looking at your photos cooled me down. Sigh... Now I really need to go and get some work done around here.

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