New Year's Eve delight

New hiker Belinda on Blanchard Mountain

erers, twenty of us, drove from the Senior Center to Blanchard Mountain, to enjoy a six-plus-mile hike from the Upper Trailhead to Samish Overlook and back. One of the reasons we had so many hikers was the incredible break in the weather! Although it rained on and off for most of the day yesterday, this lovely day broke clear and cold, with rain not projected to come back until this evening. Of course, this might mean some people won't ring in the new year outdoors, but then again, wonders never cease in this part of the world. It's possible we might see some auroras, if the sky is visible tonight, but the mild and dry weather we had today was just spectacular.

Emerging from the forest 

We walked the trailhead in two groups, to help keep everybody together, and took the trail toward Lily Lake until we got to the turnoff to Samish Overlook. We expected some mud on the trail, but it wasn't awful at all, and we had to keep taking off layers as the day progressed. It was perfect weather, not too cold, not too muddy, with lots and lots of sunshine.

Chatting at the Overlook

Once we got to Samish Overlook, we joined the other group for extended visiting and taking the chance for a snack before continuing back the way we came. After last week's slog, this couldn't have been more different. And the view from the Overlook is not to be missed. I took this picture of Belinda, showing off her amazing hair.

Looking out at Samish Bay

There were still low clouds in the bay, but it just added to the beauty. I know you have seen a few shots of me lately (on my other blog), but Don took this one of me and I am going to share it anyway. I was definitely in my happy place, feeling good about the hike and the weather and... well, just about everything.

Just the best day

On the way back, I hiked with the other group and had a chance to visit with some other dear friends on the final hike of the year. Starting next week, we will have two hikes to choose from on Tuesdays, to help keep the numbers manageable, with one longer and one less challenging. What could be better than to have more hikes?

Waterfall

I didn't have a chanced to take a picture of the waterfall on the way out, so I decided I'd better show you what it looks like today. I've seen it completely dry, and other times when there was even more water. We've had a lot of rain lately, but not any sort of record, I guess. 

I feel so incredibly fortunate to have had the chance to end the year with a very memorable hike. Here's to many more ahead in the coming year! Wishing everyone a very Happy, Safe, and Hopeful new year. 

:-)

Christmas Eve slog

Dark clouds look threatening

We started out at the Racine trailhead, thinking we would cross the Samish Bay Open Space and head towards Lake Padden and return. It was cloudy, but the seven of us started in dry conditions, and Barb (our leader and one who knows this area very well) commented that she had never seen the trail as muddy and wet as it was today. At least it's warm, and we could turn around if the weather deteriorated.

Before we had gone more than a couple miles, however, it began to sprinkle. We put on our rain gear, and before we went much further, it was becoming a definite downpour. We slogged on for another bit before deciding it was becoming much less fun than it had been just a short while ago.

Barb took us back via the trail she calls the "Hobbit Trail" because of all the twists and turns and giving us the feeling we might run into a hobbit around the next turn. She found this lovely little area before long.

A sign showing us Fairyopolis

A sweet little break in the trees led us to Fairyopolis, and inside there were lots of cute little gnomes and ornaments gracing the trees all around us. I did get a bit of a flavor of the area in the next picture. You do have to look carefully at all the little creatures tucked here and there.

A Christmas tree, fairies, and fun

While we were in the little haven, we were also spared from the direct rain, which was still continuing. Reluctantly we left, and at this point we decided to go ahead and return via a loop trail, and forget about getting to the lake. By this time, I was really drenched, even with good rain gear and (supposedly) waterproof shoes. Nope, I was feeling the water sloshing around inside my shoes, and the trail had become a river.

I didn't take many pictures, for obvious reasons, but Barb used her "Relive" app to take some good shots. I snagged this from the batch she sent around to us. She is behind the camera, but you might be able to tell how wet all the rest of us were. Or maybe not.

Are we having fun yet?

We kept up a good pace as we headed back to the cars, but the really interesting part of the adventure was that it stopped raining (leaving plenty of rain behind) and then we saw bits of blue sky that became full sunlight! By the time we returned to the trailhead, it was a different universe. We had covered around four miles by the time we finished, and started on our journeys back to civilization and warm, dry homes.

It was an adventure, and a lot more interesting to write about from my perch at home. At least I kept upright, once again, and in retrospect, I almost had fun! I am not in any hurry to go back there when it's raining like it was, though. But I'll be back, for sure!

 Merry Christmas!

:-)

Pretty but dark and gloomy

Our small group today

This was the smallest Happy Wanderers group of hikers I've experienced so far. This group is usually quite large, well over twenty, but today nobody wanted to venture out in the projected weather. We are expecting to have well over two inches of rain, and before too long, even some wind. I am not in this picture, so it surprises me to see eight people and a dog! Then I remember we ran into a couple of fellow hikers who were being accompanied by their furry companions and probably why they were already out and about.

Friend John on the bridge

We didn't have any canine companions, but it was our regular hiking day, so our leader Joe took us to Whatcom Falls park where we walked around five miles. At first it wasn't raining, but it wasn't long before sprinkles joined us. The water in Whatcom Falls was pretty impressive.

Whatcom Falls today

I didn't take many pictures in the gloomy atmosphere, but it was a very nice easy walk, except for the short section where I couldn't find my footing. It was a rather deep muddy place, and I needed the help of several people to keep from hurtling face-first into the the mud. Fortunately I managed to stay upright. Otherwise, it was an uneventful hike in a familiar place.

Ferns and water

I watched Barb angle her cellphone over the bridge, and when I checked out what she saw, it was this rather interesting juxtaposition of ferns and fast-moving water. I know you wouldn't be able to tell what it was unless I told you, so there you go. 

And then we headed back to the Senior Center and I went inside to see what the place looks like with lots of people getting ready to have lunch. I briefly considered staying myself, but since the rain was still rather light, I figured I should probably walk to the bus and get myself home.

And it's raining quite hard out there at the moment, but the wind hasn't made itself known, but it's coming. I rather like being inside when its frightful out there!

:-)

Lookout Mountain Forest Preserve

Today's leader, Joe

Joe is a regular leader on our Happy Wanderers hike, and today he brought fourteen of us to the Lookout Mountain Forest Preserve, a lovely 4,400-acre area on the west side of Lake Whatcom. He has several versions of today's hike, but this one is his shorter version, which took us about five miles up and down 1,100 feet of elevation. His much longer version, with additions at the beginning and end, covers more territory and is on his list for the near future. I hope to be on it. I sure enjoyed today's adventure, but I was not really ready for a long hike, just a good one that would give me a reasonable workout, and this just fit the bill.

Some Happy Wanderers

It was quite cold when we started out, well below freezing, and it took quite a bit of time before I felt really warm, but once we started upwards, I got warm quickly. Although it was at least a few miles before I could take off my gloves, I did finally feel exhilarated by the cold and not uncomfortable at all. We had little to no wind and kept seeing signs of hair ice, the thin strands of ice protruding from dead branches along the trail. I've written about it before, but I didn't see any that were worth removing my gloves from my cold hands.

Viewpoint and Mt Baker

We ascended to this point, where we got to see a little bit of Mt Baker along the horizon, and in a few places we saw low-lying fog that came and went for most of the day.

The viewpoint bench and time for a snack

We had climbed enough so that most of us could remove some clothing and pull out a bit of lunch. After a short break, we descended on a different trail that we went up, which is a bit steeper (but it was mostly downhill).

These signs were placed at all the junctions

It was truly a lovely way to spend our Tuesday Happy Wanderers hike, and we were all feeing pretty good by the time we returned to the starting point. We covered right around five miles, maybe a touch more, and 1,200 feet. It made for a wonderful way to get exercise with my fellow seniors. I look forward to the longer version next time.

:-)

British Columbia hike

Fort Langley hike starting point

Today seventeen Happy Wanderers set out from the Senior Center for an adventure to another country: Canada. We gathered in several cars, with the idea of driving across the border and to a very nice trail along the Fraser River which ends at the Fort Langley National Historic Site.  It was about 6 miles total with negligible elevation gain, with almost all of the walk on wide, flat, level park trails. The Fort Langley National Historic Site is a reconstruction of the old Hudson's Bay Company fort and trading post, the first British settlement in what is now British Columbia. 

Nice wide, easy trails

It was cold and foggy when we began our hike, but it was really pretty and easy hiking, other than the cold. We kept warm by continuing to move and not stopping much. John, our leader, helped us understand the significance of this area.

The site of the first trading post

The trading post was moved to another site, but this was the first place that the British built their trading post along the Fraser River. These days, you must pay a separate entrance fee to visit the present site, and John assured us it is well worth the price, but much too long for us to visit today.

Bog in the fog

We then visited the overlook showing the Langley bog, which wasn't much to look at, since we were looking at it through quite a bit of fog. It must be quite the sight when you can see all those wonderful critters.

Our first view of the mountains

As we left the bog behind, we got our first view of the wonderful mountains that had been hidden from us by the fog. From this point on, we had more sunshine and happy hiking as we made our way back to our starting point.

Walking alongside the river

We continued to hike along the river's edge, and as the fog lifted, we began finally to get warm enough to begin to take off gloves and hats. Once we got to the town of Fort Langley, and to where we had left half of our cars, the drivers made their way back to the starting point, where others of us were forced to enjoy a really nice repast. I had wild mushroom quiche and a fantastic hot soup. 

Don, me, Persis, and Bill

It was a really full and enjoyable day, with some of my favorite people. I am so happy to have discovered the Happy Wanderers segment of the Senior Trailblazers, and I continue to visit places that I previously didn't know anything about. And now I am home and ready to relax.

:-)