Ebey's Landing and Deception Pass 1-28-12

This Saturday found me getting on the Mukilteo ferry with Dave and Cedar and heading to Whidbey Island.  Despite the weather forecasts' claims that this would be a nice day, we got some cold breeze blowing cold rain into our faces.  Ebey's Landing trail was just as lovely and fun as always though, with the exhilerating trail along the top of the bluff and the satisfyingly strenuous hike back along the beach.

Dave started to climb this old tree.

After Ebey's Landing we came back through Deception Pass.  I didn't remember being there before and loved the churning swirling turqoise waters.  Another nice day in the Pacific Northwest!

Bridal Veil Falls-Wallace Falls 1-25-12

On my birthday, I took the day off, and Dave and I grabbed Cedar and his brother's dog, Junior, and headed out Hwy 2.  I thought with all the snow and the warmer temperatures it would be a great time to see Bridal Veil Falls on the Lake Serene trail at full force.  Unfortunately the trail head was snowed in.  I parked a quarter mile away and we hiked in.  It just got worse from there.  The snow was deep, and where it had drifter- deeper.  The trail was buried under newly fallen trees, branches, and bowed over bushes.  It looked like a couple people had tried to hike it, and following in their footsteps where the snow was compacted was a bit easier.  Once we passed where they stopped though, we were post-holing with every step and it was exhausting.  A bridge was out too, so we forded the icy stream.  I only took a few pictures on this trail. 

So we gave up and drove back to Wallace Falls State Park.  There was just a tiny bit of ice and snow on the trail in places so we were able to easily reach Lower Falls.  It was beautiful out, and the attentive rangers had cleared all the fallen trees and branches from this popular trail. 

Small Falls, usually unimpressive, was quite pretty with all the snow melt.

Lower Falls was pretty as usual with a view of one of the upper falls as well. 

It was a really great birthday, and hiking was just the beginning of it!

Robe Canyon 1-15-12

On the 15th, I ventured out into the snowy countryside with Dave, Cedar and Dan and Clark Kent.  It was a stunningly beautiful winter world.  We drove out onto the Mountain Loop Hwy and hiked the Robe Canyon trail in about a foot of snow.  It was fluffy, hushed, loud, bright, exciting and soothing.  The dogs ran around like little kids, and it was easy to catch on to their enthusiasm.  As snow loaded up on the branches it would reach maximum capacity and shower down all around. 

One rather surprising thing happened on this hike.  Nearing the end of the snow-covered trail, we had just past a point by just moments and maybe gone another 100 ft when we heard a sound like a gunshot and a tree came flying down the hillside and crashed dramatically onto the trail.  If you look above at the little waterfall section of the river, note that the tree fell where I was standing to take that picture. 

Just before returning to the car, we found a little side trail that led to an old wrecked car.  There were no skeletons or bags of lost money, but it was still interesting.

 Lastly, here is a picture of Dave and I, courtesy of Dan.  Don't let the winter stop you!  Get out there and enjoy!

Old Logging Road- Mt Loop Hwy 1-7-12

Last weekend, I went with Dave and Adventure Dog out onto a trail that was not a particular trail.  We just followed an old closed-off logging road into the woods and then went off-trail a bit, scrambling through the woods and across a pretty river. We met up with Dave's brother Ron there too, which was nice.  It had been snowing in the night and the hillsides above were frosted.

The old road had grown over with brush and trees had fallen across it, making it too narrow to be a road anymore, but quite a nice size for a trail. 

The pictures do it no justice, but this ancient stump was covered with the plushiest greenest moss!  It seemed like another world on top. 

There were numerous lovely streams babbling along through the woods. 

This was the pretty river we crossed!  First on this bridge, which was made with huge logs and once held logging trucks no doubt.

On the last crossing though, we went down the bank and over a log or two to the other side.  It was a lot of fun, and Cedar was happy to be off-trail. 

Get out there and explore!