Mckenzie Campbell Davies
If there’s one thing that Mountaineers had in common in February, it was wishing for a lot more snow and a little more waterproofing. Despite less-than-ideal winter conditions, members still got out to hike, ski, paddle, scramble, and more together throughout the month of February.
Cross-Country Ski – Lake Wenatchee – 1/31
“We became very proficient in taking our skis off and on.” – Logan DeGrand
This honorable mention from the end of January just goes to show that you don’t have to have a great trip to write a great trip report. And you also don’t need to have great conditions to have a great time!
Snowshoe – Wenatchee Crest - 2/3-2/4
“We collected snow for melting but used a very non-winter camp kitchen” – Colin Chapman
Although most of this overnight snowshoe trip was done sans-snowshoes, there was enough of the white stuff to show off some bobcat and cougar tracks on Old Pass Hill.
Urban Walk – Seattle Olmstead Circuit Sections 11 & 12 – 2/5
“It’s a beautiful day, let’s play two.” – Chuck Harwood (quoting Ernie Banks of the Chicago Cubs)
Inspired by the prospect of a doubleheader, Mountaineers completed two sections of the Seattle Olmsted Circuit from the Seattle Ferry Terminal to the Ballard Locks. This grand slam of an urban walk was the perfect blend of art, food, geology, bird watching, and tidepooling.
Stewardship – Shadow Lake Nature Preserve - 2/7
“One of the most beautiful, lush, green, quiet, and peaceful landscapes I think I've ever seen.” – Courtenay Schurman
Did you know that SHADOW stands for Save Habitat and Diversity of Wetlands? You need a reservation to hike in the upper meadows, or you can hop on a work party like Courtenay did. A drenched-yet-cheerful group of Mountaineers helped to remove blackberry bushes and build new trails.
Sea Kayak – Maury Island Circumnavigation – 2/7
“We found a spot at the north end of the beach where the logs were less thick for our launch.” – Will Greenough
These intrepid paddlers didn’t let the rain and wind stop them, but it did shorten their snack breaks.
Naturalist Trip – Juanita Bay Park – 2/10
“Eleven of us enjoyed sunny, windless conditions and 42 bird species this morning.” – Courtenay Schurman
What more is there to say? The list for the day included trumpeter swans, buffleheads, bald eagles, common mergansers, flickers, and downy woodpeckers.
Cross-country Ski – Amabilis Mountain – 2/11
“Great day despite the lack of recent snow!” – Barbara Motteler
Bare patches and icy conditions made this route especially difficult on classic skis, but the skiers regrouped and reevaluated frequently to make sure everyone felt comfortable.
Winter Scramble – Aurora Peak - 2/14
“The low snow conditions led to more brush work than the usual snowshoe travel.” – Dave Morgan
A relatively thin layer of snowfall made this scramble feel winter…ish. After nine miles and 5000’ of vertical, scramblers were rewarded with blue skies and a rainbow over Lake Crescent.
Winter Scramble – Bootalicious Peak – 2/15
“On with the rain jackets in preparation to battle the snow laden trees and brush.” – Susan Shih
A mix of mountain bike trails, forest service roads, and good ‘ole bushwacking brought our intrepid scramblers to a lackluster peak along with a reminder that the adventure is in the journey. Everyone had a good time on this dubiously-named winter destination close to North Bend.
Day Hike – Cedar Butte – 2/19
“We used our imagination to supply the view.” – Linda Shewey
When the low, snowy clouds compromised the landscape views, these hikers just looked a little closer, enjoying the details of the trip such as the delicate snowy outlines of ferns and the first salmonberry flowers starting to emerge.
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