January 4, 2016

Tuesday Trekker plans for January 5, 2016

Good Morning Trekkers –

Last week we enjoyed a nice change of pace with a lovely beach hike at Double Point on Whidbey Island. Although a crispy day, the sun was out and we had some company on the beach – a few other folks, two eagles, an islet full of sunbathing seals, and lots of waterfowl. I just wish we’d had a geologist with us, as the enormous bluffs along this stretch of beach are an ever-changing mystery with a wide variety of the forces of nature present!

This week we’ll head in the opposite direction for a very different experience. We’ll strap on our X-C skis and play at the Cabin Creek area on Snoqualmie Pass. This lovely area has varied terrain with something for everybody – 10+ miles of groomed trails for beginner through expert, and no avalanche danger. We’ll depart from 35th Ave. N.E. & N.E. 50th St. at 7:30 a.m. Please let Barbara know by 5 p.m. Monday if you plan to go and whether you can drive. Note that Sno-Park permit is needed for the cars. If you use a daily permit ($20) you don’t need any other pass. If you have a seasonal Sno-Park pass ($40), you’ll need to also have a groomed trails permit (another $40 for the season). You can get a day Sno-Park pass online or at the Snoqualmie Pass Visitor’s Center.

As for drivers, all-wheel drive and a ski rack are helpful.  I just heard that snow is falling at very low Puget Sound locations as I write this, so we may have to alter our location, but plan on a X-C ski trip in the I-90 locale.

An alternative: The Gold Group is planning a 4 to 5 mile walk through the Lake Hills Greenbelt in Bellevue, including the Larson Lake Blueberry Farm. Level terrain, mostly bark lined. Today, Larson Lake hosted buffleheads, gulls, widgeons and mallards. On the trail, we met a Bewick’s wren and a rufous sided towhee. A red tailed hawk hunted overhead. The blueberry fields in winter are glowing red.

Meet at  35th N.E. & N.E. 50th at 9 a.m. DIRECTIONS: Cross the 520 bridge, and take the 148th Ave. exit South. Go South about 2.5 miles (past Main Street) to the Larson Lake Blueberry Farm parking lot on your Left. Sue’s cell phone is 425-417-0087.