Shelby Olson
The daylight is waning, but The Mountaineers spirit certainly isn't! Read on, dear friends, for salmon runs, fungi, and even a rainbow that brightened our day during this dreary season.
Wildflowers of the West: Drawing and Painting with Molly Hashimoto - 11/1
“Twenty members enjoyed a drawing and painting workshop with artist and Mountaineers Books author, Molly Hashimoto, to celebrate the release of her latest book, Wildflowers of the West.” -Danielle Graham
Friendships and artistic techniques blossomed in this special salute to the end of wildflower season. If you’ve ever wondered about painting paintbrush, read on for a meadowful of stunning creations from Mountaineers members and author Molly Hashimoto.
Sea Kayak - Lummi Island Circumnavigation - 11/3
“Full-day, clockwise circumnavigation of Lummi Island by seven Mountaineers kayakers.” -Dave Brown
No obstacles, a slight current assist, and even some daylight - not bad for a November kayak. Read on for 17.4 nautical miles of views, seals, and kingfishers.
Day Hike - Middle Fork Snoqualmie River - 11/4
“Beautiful morning hike between weather systems with gorgeous views of the river, Garfield Mountain under a sprinkling of snow, and craggy Stegosaurus Butte. Not to mention OMG the MUSHROOMS.” -Courtenay Schurman
The downside of so much rain is lots of mud, but the upside is shelf fungi bigger than your head. Nine hikers enjoyed the fruits of the season at the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River.
Basic Snowshoe - Cutthroat Lake - 11/8
“Great day to snowshoe, great day to be alive!” -Louise Suhr
A wonderful time of year for snowshoers to experience some of the first powder, as well as the newly constructed bridge provided by Methow Valley Trails Collaborative. If nothing else, this trip report makes one thing clear: you are never too old to play in the snow!
Winter Scramble - McClellan Butte - 11/9
“A beautiful November day for some rock scrambling.” -Paul Kallman
The weather was blessedly kind to these scramblers on McClellan Butte, which made for a challenging but achievable summit, and a relaxing lunch.
Day Hike - Grand Prospect - 11/11
“What a glorious Veteran's Day adventure to Grand Prospect with 10 bird species, a fleeting rainbow, super cool spider webs, and VIEWS between storms. Couldn't have asked for better.” -Courtenay Schurman
What it says on the tin: read on for some truly stunning sights on this picture perfect day.
Intro to Drytooling - Baker Crags - 11/15
"We even had the luck of encountering the first layer of snow on the upper mountain turning everything into a winter wonderland." - Tobias Bajwa
In true Pacific Northwest fashion, these climbers flexed on us with some not-so-dry dry-tooling. Read on for a deliciously dynamic skills practice session at Baker Crags.
Sea Kayak - Central Hood Canal - 11/15
“What we lacked in scenery was more than made up for in wildlife sightings!” -Lisa Johnson
Sight was low but spirits remained high for these paddlers. Despite the fog (or perhaps because of it), the locals were certainly not shy on the Central Hood Canal.
GoHike - Alumni Day Hike - Carkeek Park - 11/16
“The salmon are RUNNING!” -Pam Jorgensen
If you’ve never seen the salmon running upstream at Carkeek, it is truly an event of gladiatorial stakes—take it from one who has! Beavers also inhabit this park, so following these hikers’ footsteps may get you two birds with one stone.
Sea Kayak - Cowlitz Gorge - 11/22
“Calm conditions made for a very pleasant late fall trip up the scenic Tilton and Cowlitz Gorges.” -Will Greenough
A gorgeous day on the gorges with only one capsize and a rescue more rapid than the Cowlitz.
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