Nice run, lots of beautiful wildlife. Fun to challenge yourself on the hills. Andy (leader) is super knowledgeable about the area and history of the park; a great bonus.
As a bonus feature to a great morning run, we saw a flicker, several cormorants, a bald eagle, a piliated woodpecker, and four tundra swans.
if you want to feel a little spooked while getting some exercise, just head to Sedro-Woolley and hike the Northern State Recreation Area Loop. The trail takes you to an abandoned mental hospital… and while you can’t go inside, it just might put you in a spooky state of mind.
![IMG_5244[1]grp.JPG](https://www.mountaineers.org/activities/routes-places/paradise-area-review/mazama-ridge-mount-rainier/images/img_5244-1-grp.jpg/@@images/91a9d9f4-9845-446f-8514-4f948ff99aa7.jpeg "IMG_5244[1]grp.JPG")
A fun day in the snow and a view of Mt. Rainier.
Enjoying the peace nature brings can create a harmonious, calming balance when unknown winter trail conditions arise. This trip was loaded with the element of surprise given the weekly park closures and no trip reports but, quite possibly made my mentored snowshoe trip even better in my mind. Having the tools to stay safe the element of potential adventure and having to problem solve on the trail, is why I give this trip a 5.
Gorgeous, lightly trafficked, low-elevation wilderness route along the Boulder River with waterfalls in an old-growth forest.
Excellent walk with interesting facts along the way. I particularly liked the cemetery information and the overlook section. Thanks Lee!
Wonderful ascending the hills of Fremont, mixed with a stop in a great neighborhood park and some great history of the area. This was one of my favorite urban walks so far.
Pleasant afternoon hike up to Poo Poo Point.
A fall trip to a close in beautiful waterfall.
We kayaked and sailed from Keystone terminal to West shore in a SSW wind, establishing a new fastest known time of 6 hours 5 minutes.
This morning I enjoyed a wonderful snowy, healing outing from Pratt Lake Trailhead to Olallie and Talapus Lakes with beautiful fresh snow. Balm for the soul. Quiet, muffled, pristine, and lovely. And nobody at Exit 47 (2 ladies and their dog came up from Exit 45).
A fun evening ski up Hyak Face and down the back side and out.
starting at the north end of the Chuckanuts through Arroyo Park and then cross Old Samish Road onto the Interurban Trail. Wander on and off of the Interurban on a couple of side trails, eventually through the Hundred Acre Woods, Fairhaven Park and landing in Fairhaven. Then returned on the Interurban.
The WTA trail description says: ALL SQUAK TRAILS ARE CLOSED DUE TO STORM DAMAGE. That was enough for me to cancel this rescheduled outing. It looks like WTA is trying to discourage people from hiking on Squak while they get the other routes cleaned up. My co-leader did it in nice weather on Sunday and said the trail was clear to Debbie's View. So... use your discretion. I'm moving to another mountain.
Clouds and wind and fun on the last day at Lewis Butte for the season.
Good outing to alternate location due to conditions
While it turned into more of a challenge than expected it was still a great day to be on the water! Special kudos to the intrepid newbies Spencer and especially Whitaker who was confident enough to communicate her concerns quickly and accurately to the group. This is invaluable to a trip leader and given in enough time that might have avoided an incident that could have made for an adventure of a very different kind on this blustery day!
Great little hidden gem of a hike in Enumclaw with lots of trails and spurs for variety. Ample parking, pit toilets, and signage.