Ridley Creek to Mazama Park

Crossing the Middle Fork of the Nooksack River

Seventeen Senior Trailblazers met on a rather overcast day to hike the Ridley Creek trailhead. Since we were limited to a group of twelve, as we were heading into the wilderness, several of our group decided to hike all the way up to Park Butte, while the rest of us would stop at Mazama Park. We did expect more sun today than we received, but it didn't really matter, since it kept us from getting too hot.

One of the nicer parts of the trail

I had never hiked this particular trail before, and I knew only that it would have quite a lot of ups and downs, and that we would probably have some nice views once we got to Mazama Park. I had seen the park before, from above, when we hiked up to Park Butte from the other side. This trail has had some recent work done on it, but it's still really challenging in places. I'd do it again, but I sure wouldn't want to be on it in bad weather.

Lupine in bloom

Today there were plenty of flowers and greenery to enjoy, although it's easy to see that in another month, with the weather we've been having, it will dry out completely and not be nearly as lush. By the time we got to the Mazama Park meadow, I was plenty tired and ready to stop.

Junction of Mazama Park and Ridley Creek trails

Yes, we did finally make it, after three hours of trudging up one side and down the other of what seemed endless elevation gains and losses (actually a total of about 2,400 feet up and down in a mere four miles or so, one way). We reached our lunch spot around 12:30pm.

Manama Camp area

This was our destination, and we stopped here to enjoy a lovely lunch and rest. Notice the sign on the left to the toilet? It was an actual outhouse, a nice one-seater in the outdoors, surrounded by trees but otherwise quite exposed. In the above picture you can also see the mountain behind us, to the right, that our other hikers climbed up to gain access to the Park Butte ranger cabin. I know they had great views, but Mt. Baker was hiding from us most of the day.

Carol, clouds and mountains

This was about the most sun we got all day long, and on the way back to the cars we even had a few raindrops. We passed through several areas of wonderful old growth trees and snags, and Bob went over to this fabulous old tree to give us a bit of perspective.

Bob hugging the tree and giving it love

This was one of the largest that we saw, and the picture hardly does justice to its magnificence. We stopped every now and then to admire the old growth that somehow escaped the loggers. Sometimes the old trees and their surroundings would also show us some of their jewelry, such as the lichen in this picture.

Scalloped lichen and moss

All in all, it was a really lovely day, but I have to say I was just about as worn out at the end as I am when we've gone much longer distances. It's hard to say whether I'm just not quite in shape for the season, or whether all the ups and downs did me in. I'm always glad I went, but sometimes I wonder how many more years of these hikes I'll be able keep up.

Me crossing the stream on my way home, picture by Carol

Carol caught this picture of me on the return journey across the river. She wanted me to look up, but I was much too concentrated on getting across without losing my footing. I could NOT have done it without the rope to hold onto. No jaunty showing off for this old lady, not any more.

Now that I am home with my well-earned wine, and once I finish this and can take a shower, I'll be feeling MUCH better and glad to have been out there again today with my friends, in a beautiful wilderness area that just couldn't get much more beautiful.
:-)