Lime Kiln Trail 07-21-2019

Cedar, Luna and I were only going to hike in to the Lime Kiln and do 5 mi RT today, but it was so nice and cool that both dogs seemed energetic and up to going all the way to the river shore, so we did.
Apple Watch stats: 7.01 mi RT, 692 ft of elevation gain

We got to the trailhead just a few minutes after 7am and were only the 4th car there, which is fantastic.  We had the whole way in nearly to ourselves.  The day is supposed to get up into the 80's so I wanted to do this not only while it was quiet, but also while it was still cool. 

Today's focus seemed to be the trail itself.  Although I've done this trail more than almost any other, I love it just as much each time I get out there. 

There were ripe huckleberries and thimbleberries along the trail today, which was nice.  Not a lot of flowers, but a few fox gloves, some tiny white ones I can't recall the name of, and little purple ones like the one contrasted against the moss here.

The Lime Kiln never fails to amaze me at how it blends in now, all clad in moss and foliage.  Around it people have gathered old saw blades, bricks, and various other historical doodads.  I tried to get a photo of Cedar, Luna and I in the kiln, but my iPhone very unhelpfully focused on the dirt in front of us instead.  I'll put it at the end as an outtake.

After the Lime Kiln you start getting a few better views of the green Stillaguamish below.  At the end of the trail, I shared a sausage with the pups and relaxed on the boulders, listening to the rush of the river.  I noticed this artistic boulder, an impressionistic face carved out by the Stilly. 

Also across the river from our snack spot I saw this little spotted sand piper!  Cute!

Our blurry selfie:

Lime Kiln Trail 1-20-2019

AppleWatch Stats:  6.92 miles RT, 690 ft of elevation gain.

Although this is a fairly busy trail, it is always a good one - especially in the winter when the high country is too snowy.  I have liked doing this trail on the weekends, ever since I took a day off a few years ago to hike it on a less populated weekday and my car window was smashed in.  I had nothing valuable in the car.  Apparently there is just no guarantees, because despite the business of the trail two nice girls that I had met on the trail had their vehicle broken into while hiking.  Someone needs to put a camera up out there or something!

Now for the good stuff... even with its mud, its close-to-townness, its popularity, this trail never fails to fill me with peace and joy.  The birds sing in the trees, the trail wends around turning from a road, to a trail, to a road and back to a trail again.  It winds along the beautiful green of the Stillaguamish River and takes you through history.  The trees themselves are covered with such thick moss, it looks like they have bright green fur.

I wish there was more structurally left here in the Cutoff Junction area than the lime kiln itself, but at least there is that!  I hope its moss covered rocks remain standing for a long time.

People have found artifacts and gathered them around the kiln - interesting bricks, rusty saw blades, etc.  I feel like there are less artifacts than there used to be - I hope they are just tucked behind trees and not stolen.  I remember an iron wood stove top from years ago and an enameled tin bowl.  Those things are no more to be seen.

If you can, I highly recommend going past the Lime Kiln to the little loop at the end of the trail and getting down onto the rocky edge of the Stilly.  The sound and movement of the water makes for an inspiring and soothing place to have a trailside snack.

Happy hiking!

Lime Kiln and Tulips 4-20-13

The day was dark and rainy, but you can't wait for a sunny day here in the Northwest, so I grabbed my backpack and Adventure Dog, and we went out to a nearby old favorite, the Lime Kiln Hike.  I was delighted to find some of the first wildflowers I've seen of the season... yellow violets, soggy trillium and rain-covered bleeding hearts could be found along the muddy trail.

Skunk cabbage was also blooming and fern fiddleheads were opening.  I love fiddleheads, and I'm not sure if it's because I enjoy spirals or if I just love being the witness to life unfurling.

There was water everywhere this morning, the sky, the air, the trees, the trail.  All the streams were full and rushing down to meet the Stillaguamish which was impressively huge and beautiful.

I like to watch where I'm walking so that I don't tread upon anyone crossing my path at a lower plane and slower speed.  ; )

Cedar and I checked out the rusty saw blades as usual.  He always seems interested in these things and runs ahead to check things out.

We only went as far as the Lime Kiln itself today.  With the Stilly that full, I was pretty sure our rocky beach was under water.  We instead ducked under the more open lime kiln on the side, and ate under the shelter of the mossy stones.

After our wet hike, we headed home, where I enjoyed a hot shower and left Cedar curled up in the recliner.  I decided to go check out the Skagit Tulip Festival.  Dogs aren't allowed in most of the fields, so I didn't feel bad about leaving him behind.  The rain had mostly stopped, so although it was cloudy, the tulips were stunning.  Look!