Getting the Balance Right

Cama Beach State Park, Camano Island

2012-02-04T16:51:00.000-08:00

A view from the Bluff Trail.

Someone had found a nest and left it on the bench for others to enjoy.

Kitschy Cama Beach sign.

Near the Cabins.

To get here: take exit 212 off I-5 North. Head west on SR 532 and drive about 6 miles to Stanwood. Once in Stanwood, continue driving west 4.5 miles to the “Y” (East Camano and North Camano Dr.). Stay left (East Camano Dr.). This becomes Elger Bay Road. Take a right onto Mountain View Dr. (at the cafe/grocery/gas). The road curves to the right and becomes West Camano Dr. The park entrance is about a 1/2 mile beyond the curve on the left. We parked by the drop-off shelter. There is a toilet available there and in a couple of other spots in the park.

Finally a hike! We haven't been able to hike for a couple of weekends so it was nice to get out today. Even better, the weather was fabulous!

From the drop-off shelter we took the Bluff Trail. As the name implies it follows along the bluff. There are a couple of nice viewing platforms early on. We were told there was an eagle's nest visible along the trail but we weren't able to find it. About 1/4 mile in (I'm guessing) the Bluff Trail is blocked off due to trail maintenance. You can continue on a trail that heads away from the water but we chose to turn around at that point and go down to the beach. From the drop-off shelter you can take the trail down to the beach.

We spent some time looking around at all they have to offer here (rental cabins, a "lodge" with a cafe, the Center for Wooden Boats, horseshoe pit, kids play area) and took a stroll along the beach.

There are more hiking trails at this park and a trail that connects it to the Camano Island State Park (see my post from September 2011 to see more about this park).

It was a fun and relaxing day. Happy Hiking!

Snowpocalypse - Western Washington Style

2012-01-18T12:29:00.000-08:00

Sunday's snow fall.

A bit more on Monday.

Quite a bit more on Tuesday.

And still more today, Wednesday.

And still more snow on Thursday.

We haven't had this much snow in awhile. I'm guessing at least 10". I'm using my time wisely though and purging stuff from my house. As soon as the snow melts I'll have one big haul to take to the Goodwill.

Updated for Thursday. We have even more snow. It's been snowing steadily all morning. We have a foot of snow here now. Thankfully we aren't getting any of the ice rain that they're getting to the East and South of us. There was a layer of ice under about an inch of snow. That must have happened over night or early morning.

I can't wait for this to be gone and life to get back to normal. We have at least 3 days of school to make up in June. We'll see what they say about tomorrow.

Lund's Gulch - Meadowdale Beach County Park - Lynnwood

2012-01-16T11:51:00.000-08:00

At the trailhead.

A light dusting of snow at the beach.

Sunday January 15, 2012

Since we had about 2 or 3 inches of snow at our house we opted not to go any further than Meadowdale for our hike this week. Although we've hiked this trail many times we've never hiked it in the snow so it was a nice change of scenery for us.

The trail was muddy in spots but no standing water. Part of the trail was covered in a light dusting of snow, most of it was clear though. The forest canopy helped keep the snow cover down to a minimum. The forecast is for more snow so that may change as the week goes on.

The only issue that may arise if we get more snow is the small hill that descends to the park's parking lot. Given enough snow, it may be tricky to navigate. As it was there was minimal snow so it wasn't a problem for us. Worse case you could park your car in the surrounding neighborhood and walk down to the park. If you choose this option be aware there are "No Parking" signs in a number of spots so you'll have to drive a bit further to find an acceptable parking area.

There is a small hill at the parking lot area that is great for sledding. We saw a couple of families having fun there.

Take care and happy hiking!

Saint Edward State Park, Kenmore, Lake Washington

2012-01-08T16:00:00.000-08:00

North Trail

Beach Trail

The small "Hobbit House".

Lake Washington shore.

The Seminary.

Someone has a sense of humour.

To get here: from 405 north take exit #20-A (116th St. N.E.) and turn west (left). Travel 4.5 miles. (At 98th Ave., the road name changes to Juanita Dr.) Park entrance is on left. From 405 south exit at Hwy. 522 (exit #23-B). Drive through Bothell to Kenmore. Turn left at 68th Ave. (68th turns into Juanita Dr.) Park is 1.5 miles on the right. There are toilets available over by the playground and over by the information kiosk. There are also toilets down at the lakeside. This is a state park so you will need a Discover Pass here.

This hike was our 21st hike. We only have 24 more to go before the end of July 2012 to reach our family goal of 45 hikes in a year.

If you haven't ever been to this park, you should go check it out. It's a great park for children. They have a fantastic play area that younger kids will love. There are hiking and biking trails, a swimming pool (which I believe is no longer in service), picnic areas, a metal detecting area, and the Seminary, all along the shore of Lake Washington. Download a park map here: http://www.parks.wa.gov/parks/thumbnailAndmaps/8700042.pdf

Since we aren't equipped for hiking in the snow or adverse weather we are always looking for good urban hikes in the Puget Sound area. We had been here before but hadn't done any hiking around the park. We thought we'd give it a try again and we were pleasantly surprised at the hiking trails. As expected, the trails were muddy in spots, but they are well maintained and there are no washouts or blowdowns to deal with.

We chose the North Trail down to the Beach Trail. From the parking lot the North Trail drops down to lake level in about .6 miles (I believe). It's rated "most difficult" on the park map. It's not really a problem for most kids going down, but you will have to hike one of the trails back up and some kids may have difficulty. The trails rated "most difficult" would likely be a good workout for many adults as well.

The Beach Trail runs along side of Lake Washington and is rated as "easiest". There are many areas along the trail where you can stop and dip your feet in the lake and a few flat, sandy areas where you could spread out a picnic blanket on a nice day. There were a couple of hollowed out tree stumps we found along the trail - we call them Hobbit Houses. One that was large enough for me to go into without having to crawl.

After we were done exploring lakeside, we took the Seminary Trail (rated "more difficult"/moderate) back up the hill. I believe it was about .6 miles in length. We walked around the Seminary grounds and the kids played on the play equipment before we headed home.

Take care and happy hiking!

Lund's Gulch - Meadowdale Beach County Park - Lynnwood

2012-01-01T19:14:00.000-08:00

The picnic shelter and open space.

The stream at the end of the trail.

The number "9" (or "6" if you prefer) washed ashore from somewhere.

Saturday, December 31, 2011

We gave the kids a break from hiking today. My husband and I went for a morning hike at Lund's Gulch/Meadowdale Beach today. The weather was nice and calm, a perfect day for a winter hike.

The trail was muddy in spots but no standing water. The log steps were slippery though so do be careful on them. There was evidence of a recent blowdown (probably overnight). The tree was cleared to the side but the small debris still covered the trail. That's one of the great things about this urban hike, there is a ranger on site, and it looks like the trail gets daily maintenance (thank you!).

The tide was in so there wasn't much of a beach to explore, but we did have it all to ourselves for about 15 minutes. Nice and peaceful.

Take care and happy hiking!

More Kitschmas!

2011-12-21T18:37:00.000-08:00

Vintage glass (and a few misc.) ornaments and frosted light bulbs. I found them in thrift stores.

These little gentlemen are a favorite of mine. Another thrift store score.

My "Made in Japan" chalkware nativity. This was my husband's grandmother's.

Love this one. She was my grandmother's.

I found a few of these in different colors this week at the thrift store. I believe they are Shiny Brites.

I found this and some that are pink with silver glitter at the thrift store this week too. I believe they are also Shiny Brites.

Lund's Gulch - Meadowdale Beach County Park - Lynnwood

2011-12-20T13:25:00.000-08:00

A memorial tree that was decorated for Christmas.

I really can't recommend this hike enough. It's such a fantastic urban hike that you can enjoy year round. While there is an elevation gain of 425 ft going back to the parking lot, it should be hikeable for most people and great for families with young children.

Take care and happy hiking!

Merry Kitschmas!

2011-12-17T11:20:00.000-08:00

I love Christmas time, it's my favorite time of year. One of my favorite things to do is decorate. I am really drawn to kitschy Christmas decor from the 50's and 60's. If it's "Made in Japan" I'm all over it. I have been lucky enough to get some of my mom's and grandma's old decorations. But the majority of my vintage decor I found for a steal at thrift stores. I try to go a couple times before Christmas and hit all the stores in Everett and Lynnwood. I've gotten some pretty good stuff over the years. Below are just some of the things I have.

This tree has my handmade, reproduction, and vintage ornaments.

This is the kids tree with all of their ornaments and my misc. ornaments.

This one is my pink and aqua blue tree with repro and vintage ornaments.

My Holiday dishes and some of my vintage decor.

Some of my Santa face mugs. I have about 40 total (small ones too).

Reproduction Christmas village with my mom's old bottle brush tree (center), vintage and reproduction bottle brush trees, and vintage figurines.

River Meadows Park, Arlington, Snohomish County Parks

2011-12-10T16:30:00.000-08:00

South Fork Stillaguamish River

Ice crystals (hair ice) on a twig. Looks like spun glass angel hair from the 70's.

To get here: From I-5 north take exit 208, SR 530 east and follow to the town of Arlington. Turn left at the stop light onto SR 530/SR 9 north. Turn right onto SR 530/W. Burke Ave. Take another right onto Arlington Heights Rd. At about a mile, you will come to a Y in the road, stay to the right onto Jordan Rd. The park entrance is about 3 miles. You can park over by the Ranger Station and take up the trails there. Or you can park over by the picnic shelters/Day Use parking and take up the trails there. There are toilets at both parking areas.

I'm finding it increasingly difficult to plan hikes these days. The family has lost all enthusiasm for hiking because of the cold and wet weather this time of year. We aren't able to do any hikes in snowy conditions because we lack snowshoes and other winter gear and our cars are not equipped for driving in the snow. That leaves us with hikes around the more urban areas that are easily accessible. So today we ended up doing a short hike at River Meadows Park outside of Arlington.

We parked over by the picnic shelters and followed the short trail that loops around Funnel and Terrace Meadows. I'd guess it's no more than a 3/4 mile long loop, if even that, and no elevation gain at all. We took a quick detour into a lovely grove of trees and stumps and took some pictures there. Some of the trail follows along the South Fork Stillaguamish River. It was quiet and peaceful. It looked like there were a few good spots down along the bank that would be great for a picnic on a nice sunny day. This would be a great, short hike for those with young children.

There are a few other trails in the park that we didn't explore today. You can get a map here http://www.co.snohomish.wa.us/documents/Departments/Parks/Maps/RiverMeadowsParkMap2.pdf .

I'm looking forward to next week's hike, even if the family isn't. Take care and happy hiking!

Discovery Park, Seattle Parks, Magnolia Neighborhood

2011-12-04T13:20:00.000-08:00

Cool looking trees.

Stairs down to the beach.

A view from the trail above.

The beach "fort".

The Lighthouse.

Saturday, December 3, 2011

To get here: take the 45th Street exit off I-5 and head west to Ballard. 45th becomes 46th in Wallingford and then becomes Market Street in Ballard. Take a left on 15th Ave. NW and head over the Ballard Bridge. Take the first right after the bridge onto Emerson St. At the 4-way flashing light take a right onto Gilman Ave. W which will turn into W Government Way. Take W Government Way to the East Parking Lot (the Visitor Center is located here). Or you can take a right onto Texas Way and park in the North Parking Lot (Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center is located here). Or from W Government Way you can take a left onto 36th Ave W, take a right onto W Emerson St. and enter at the South Parking Lot. We chose the South Parking Lot. There is a toilet available here.

From the South Parking Lot we took the Loop Trail down to the South Beach Trail. The trail is well maintained and well traveled. There were quite a few joggers and other hikers out today. The trail is 1.5 miles down to the beach from the parking lot. There are a number of stairs that you go down to get to the beach. Those were a bit slippery so take care with little ones. On your return trip you will have to climb back up all of those stairs, but there are plenty of benches for weary hikers to rest. I was a little disappointed that some of the viewpoints along the trail were overgrown with vegetation that sometimes obstructed the views.

This is a great urban hike for those not wanting to drive too far, but wanting to get out and enjoy nature anyway. It's a great hike for all ages and young children should do just fine (although you may want to allot more time for the hike back up the hill). There is plenty of beach to explore and even a beach "fort" for kids to play in. The lighthouse, however, was closed so we were not able to explore it. And of course fantastic scenery of the Sound. I would love to come back on a sunny day. I bet the views of the Sound (and the Olympics) would be fantastic.

According to the Park information, from any of the 3 parking lots, it's a 1.5 mile hike down to the beach. At the South Parking Lot (where we parked) a kiosk offered a map of the park. There are several trails throughout the park (and several side trails not marked on the map) for you to explore. For more information about the park visit http://www.seattle.gov/Parks/Environment/discovparkindex.htm .

Take Care and Happy Hiking!

Lord Hill Regional Park, Snohomish County Parks

2011-11-26T16:34:00.000-08:00

Lovely moss covered trees.

I believe this is Marsh Pond.

Climbing up the big hill. It's a lot steeper in person.

I like lichen!

To get here: From I-5, take the Snohomish-Wenatchee exit (US Highway 2 eastbound), also known as the trestle. Take the second Snohomish exit off of US 2 (it's not the Highway 9 exit). Turn right onto 2nd Ave. Turn left onto Lincoln Ave. S. which will become the Old Snohomish-Monroe Highway. Turn right onto 127th Ave. SE. and head south for about 2 1/4 miles. Turn left onto 150th St. SE, the entrance will be on the left. There is a toilet available here.

Well this is clearly not a hike for the directionally challenged, as we apparently are. Despite having a map (and using the maps provided for us along the way) we ended up taking 2 (or maybe 3) wrong turns. We intended to hike the Temple Pond Loop, but got way off track. We ended up on the Main Trail down to the Quarry Trail, up the Pipeline Trail (that was a large hill to climb), followed the Main Trail Cutoff until we met up with the Main Trail again and followed that back to the parking lot. Whew. I think we must have hiked 5 or 6 miles when all was said and done. None of the trails we hiked today were particularly scenic. Other than the lovely moss covered trees, there weren't any picturesque streams or mountain vistas to look at.

The trail is wide (most of the trails) and well maintained but there were muddy areas to trudge through. The trail is also used by horses so there is the occasional horse poop to navigate around. We passed a few groups on horses, a couple groups of joggers, and some hikers (a few families were out too). I imagine that when the weather is nice it's probably quite popular.

This would be a good hike(s) for people of all ages. Younger children should have no problem on the trails at this park. Make sure you print out a map though (even though it didn't help us much) to help you navigate the myriad of trails here. The Lord Hill Regional Park website is http://www1.co.snohomish.wa.us/Departments/Parks/Park_Information/Park_Directory/Regional_Parks/Lord_Hill.htm . And you can click on the link to the park map from there.

I think this would be a good year round hike except there is a very steep hill you have to drive up (and back down) to get here. I could see having a great deal of difficulty navigating the hill in the snow and ice. I wonder if the county keeps that road snow free?

Happy Hiking!

Wallace Falls State Park - US Highway 2 - Central Cascades

2011-11-20T20:30:00.000-08:00

Cool looking tree root formation.

The view from the Lower Falls lookout.

Close-up of the Middle Falls (I believe). You can see the snow dusted trees behind it.

A side trail from the Lower Falls to a view of the pool below.

A nice place to sit back and enjoy the river.

A beautiful sunny day.

To get here: head east on Highway 2 to the town of Gold Bar. Just before milepost 28, turn left onto 1st Street (there is a sign for Wallace Falls State Park). Go .4 mile to a four-way stop and turn right onto May Creek Road. Drive 1.5 miles to Wallace Falls State Park and the parking area. There are toilets available.

This hike is a state park and uses a Discover Pass, not the Northwest Forest Pass. This is a fact that I overlooked and as a result we drove the wrong car (we have a Discover Pass for our other car) and had to pay an additional $10 for a day pass.

It's been years since I've been on this trail. I'd forgotten just how picturesque it is. The weather was clear and sunny, albeit cold, but you couldn't have asked for a better day. There was no snow on the trail.

This is a very popular hike. As we hiked up to the falls we passed only a couple hikers. Going down, however, there were several groups that we passed including a Boy Scout troop.

At .4 miles there is a junction. You can take the old railroad grade trail for an easier hike, but it will add about a mile. Or you can take the more strenuous Woody trail. We chose the Woody trail. It follows along the river for a short while, then as you begin to climb you lose sight of the river.

At 1.4 miles there is another junction. Head left to the old railrod trail or on to Wallace Lake (Greg Ball trail). Head straight ahead if the falls are your destination. You will cross the North Fork Wallace River and begin a steep climb to the lower falls. At the Lower Falls there is a picnic shelter and lookout. This is where we ended our hike as the kids were too tired to forge ahead.

You can continue on to the Middle Falls at 2.2 miles and the Upper Falls at another .5 miles beyond that.

The trail is well maintained but it is rocky making footing difficult at times. There are many stairs to climb and bridges to cross that can be a bit slippery. Because there are some areas of elevation gain this trail can be strenous at times. Older children should be fine on this trail. Younger ones may have difficulty with the footing and the elevation gain and you may need extra time to get to your destination. There are several benches along the way for weary hikers and many places to take a great picture.

Enjoy your trip. I can't wait for next weekend's hike!

Archie McPhee! and a little IBD humor.

2011-11-18T09:33:00.000-08:00

I got the Archie McPhee catalogue today, yeah! If you aren't familiar with it check out their website http://www.mcphee.com/shop/ . They are located in Wallingford (Seattle).

We love this store. I take the kids there a couple times a year and let them get stuff. And what stuff they have! Everything from bacon flavored candy to squirrel underpants to an assortment of faux moustaches. Who could ask for anything more?

One of my favorite items is this http://www.mcphee.com/shop/products/Emergency-Underpants-Dispenser.html , the Emergency Underpants Dispenser. As someone with Inflammatory Bowel Disease, I love the humor in it. For me, humor is a major part of helping me deal with this disease. Poop jokes, fart jokes, I love it all. A well placed sh*t pun, is priceless indeed!

But enough of that. If you like goofy, cheesy, kitschy stuff head to Archie McPhee, you won't be disappointed. And the staff is super friendly.

Bridal Veil Falls #1068 - US Highway 2 - Central Cascades

2011-11-13T19:28:00.000-08:00

The rickety looking bridge across the first stream.

Another stream crossing.

To get here: from Monroe, head east on US highway 2 for about 20 miles. At milepost 35, turn right on Mt. Index Road (FS 6020). Drive .3 miles, keep to the right to the trailhead parking. There are toilets available here.

Even in the rain, this was a popular hike. There were several cars in the parking area and we passed several groups of hikers along the way.

The trail climbs gradually for most of the way to the falls. There are some parts that are steeper, but overall it wasn't an exhausting climb, by any means. It's pretty well maintained, no overgrowth or blowdowns to deal with. But it's quite a rocky path and in the rain, slippery.

There are several streams that have to be crossed. The first one has a rickety looking bridge that was a little scary to cross over. Younger children may find it difficult. The other streams had rocks or tree limbs as "bridges". I use the term "bridges" pretty loosely here. One stream in particular was difficult to cross without getting your feet wet. If you have short legs, there really was no way to cross it without putting your feet into the water somewhere. The kids and I weren't able to cross without getting wet. There were also times when the trail was covered in water, like a little stream itself, which created several muddy spots.

A 1/2 mile from the falls is a sign. Stay to the left to head to Lake Serene, go right to head to the falls. The kids and I made it to the wooden staircase which takes you on a steep climb up to the falls (you can see the falls from the bottom of the stairs). That's where they pooped out. Cold, wet, and crabby, they decided they weren't going any further. My husband climbed the stairs to the falls on his own. Unfortunately his camera decided not to work so he didn't get a picture of the falls.

Overall this was a good hike but I don't recommend it for hikers with younger children. Even in good weather, I think it will be difficult for them. Older children should be fine. I think the hike will be much more pleasant in better weather and we plan to return in the spring or summer.

This hike was our 15th hike this year. We are 1/3 of the way to our goal of 45 hikes in a year (see my earlier post about it)!

I'm looking forward to next weekend's hike. Happy hiking to you!

Hiking First Aid

2011-11-08T15:37:00.000-08:00

On our last hike we had our first, first aid "emergency". Our son must have touched a poisonous plant and then touched his face. His cheeks became fiery red and broke out in hives. In our first aid kit I had some diphenhydramine cream that I put on him. When we got back to the parking lot I had him wash his hands and face in the drinking fountain and reapplied the cream. In hindsight, I should have washed his hands and face with water right away instead of waiting until our hike was over (thankfully it was a short hike back to the parking lot).

It got me thinking about what we have in our first aid kit and if what we had was adequate. I knew we had stinging nettles out on the trails here in Washington. I've seen them plenty of times and am quite familiar with how they look. But I've never given much thought to poison oak, ivy, or sumac because in my 43 years I've never had an encounter with them, until our last hike. I suspect it must have been one of the three that my son got himself into.

Here are some links to images of the three plants:
http://www.plantscapeservices.com/image/poison_ivy_sumac_oak.png
http://www.cpnonline.org/CRS/CRS/poison.jpg
http://www.rei.com/pix/expertAdvice/articles/ea1042_poison-plants.jpg

I printed out a copy and put it in with our first aid kit. We also carry the following in our first aid kit:

2 thermal space blankets
matches in waterproof container
Swiss army knife
1 poncho - I need to get at least 1 more of these (garbage bag would work too)
1 ace bandage wrap
1 roll of fabric first aid tape
bandages and gauze pads of various sizes
1 tube antibiotic cream (neomycin/polymyxin/pramoxine)
1 tube anti itch cream (diphenhydramine)
alcohol prep pads
2 small tubes of sunscreen
moleskin
compass
bug repellant with deet (7% deet for the kids and I, my husband uses the 98%)
hand crank flashlight
small pack of baby wipes and tissues

My husband carries the backpack with the above in it (along with his cell phone, gloves, hat, food, and water). The kids and I use fanny packs. In each of ours we carry a whistle, gloves, hat, extra socks, food, and water (I also carry lip balm and eye drops in mine). My son carries the hand sanitizer and chewable acetaminophen tablets in his pack as he often needs it when his feet start hurting him (he has Sever's disease).

What do you carry in your packs? What are we missing? Your suggestions are much appreciated!

Fort Ebey State Park - Whidbey Island

2011-11-06T17:45:00.000-08:00

The Gun Battery.

The Bluff trail.

Another place to explore.

Kelp piles at the Cascadia trail beach.

Driftwood fort at the Cascadia trail beach.

Lake Pondilla.

To get here: take the Mukilteo ferry crossing to Clinton. From Clinton, head north on SR 525 (SR 525 eventually becomes SR 20) to Coupeville (28 miles I believe). Two miles north of Coupeville, turn left on Libbey Rd. and follow it 1.5 miles to Hill Valley Dr. Turn left to enter the park. We followed the signs to the gun battery and parked at that lot. There are toilets available here as well as some picnic tables and a shelter.

After exploring the old battery (bring a flashlight) we took up the Bluff trail. The trail was well maintained and relatively free of rocks and tree roots, although footing may still be an issue for those with small children. It follows along the water, sometimes you can see it, other times you can't. There are some nice viewpoints along the way but take care with small children as there are some serious dropoffs along the trail. So you'll want to keep them close at hand. The trail is about 1 mile from the gun battery to the Cascadia Marine Trail campsite. At the campsite, there is a path down to the beach. We spent a little time exploring the beach and headed back up.

There is a parking lot, toilets, and picnic area close by the Cascadia campsite area. From there we decided to take the trail to Lake Pondilla. After our brief pause at the lake we got on the Bluff trail and headed back to the gun battery and parking lot.

We experienced our first, first aid "emergency" on this hike. My son must have touched his hands on something and then touched his face because his cheeks turned fiery red and then broke out in hives. In our first aid kit I carry anti-itch cream with diphenhydramine so I put that on him. Once we got back to the gun battery I had him wash his hands and face at the drinking fountain there and reapplied the cream. Whatever it was, it responded well to the cream. Doctor's visit avoided, yeah!

This is a great hike for the whole family. Even more fun with the gun battery to explore. This state park is filled with hiking (and some biking) trails so we will be heading back in the future.

We ended our day with a nice late lunch/early dinner at Ivar's at Mukilteo Landing.

Take care and happy hiking!!!

White Chuck Bench Trail #731 Mountain Loop Highway

2011-10-29T17:35:00.000-07:00

Bridge at Black Oak Creek.

Black Oak Creek.

White Chuck River.

To get here: This trail is on the Darrington side of the Mountain Loop Highway. Take highway 530 to Darrington. At the 3 way stop, turn right onto the Mountain Loop Highway. Drive about 10 miles. Take a left onto FS Road 22 (follow the sign to the White Chuck River Access/Raft Launch). Cross the bridge. Shortly after, the raft launch will be on the left . There are toilets available here. Continue .75 mile to the trailhead parking on the left.

There aren't many current reports on this trail so we weren't sure what to expect. We were pleasantly suprised. While the trail is overgrown in many spots and there are some downed trees to climb over, this hike should be no problem for older children. I would hesitate to bring younger children however, because footing will be an issue. The trail is mostly rocks and tree roots. It's currently covered in fallen leaves making it difficult to see exactly what you are stepping on.

The trail follows along above the White Chuck River. At times, you can just hear the river and at times you can see it too. There are a couple spots along the way that provide a nice vista of the river, but I didn't see any good spots that lead down to the river bank. At about 1 mile there is a picturesque little bridge that crosses over Black Oak Creek. Take care, the bridge is quite slippery.

About a mile after the bridge, the trail becomes more difficult to determine. We hiked about another 1/8 of a mile and decided it was best to turn back at that point. I did notice tree markers (pink ribbons) that followed along the trail so that was helpful in navigating the way back until the trail became clearer.

We didn't see much wildlife other than the occasional bird. We did see a small black mouse. He was too fast to get a picture of though. But the kids enjoyed watching him for the short time he stuck around.

As always, I'm looking forward to next week's hike!

Pacific NW Style Salmon Chowder Recipe

2011-10-25T15:08:00.000-07:00

Having grown up in the Pacific NW and having grandparents that went salmon fishing often, I love salmon. Over the years I have looked for good salmon recipes. Here is my take on a hearty salmon chowder. Fantastic for those cold and damp NW days. Not to brag or anything, but I think my recipe is the best one out there;-)

2 cups chicken broth
2-3 cups diced small potatoes (I don't peel mine)
3/4 cup chopped onion (I prefer red onion)
3/4 cup sliced carrots
3/4 cup sliced celery
1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) butter
1/4 cup flour
2 cups half and half
3/4 cup shredded parmesan (not the canned stuff)
1/2 cup bacon bits
6 oz smoked salmon cut into small pieces
salt and pepper to taste

Combine the first 5 ingredients in a large pot and bring to a boil. Turn down the heat to a simmer, cover, and cook for 15 minutes. In another pan melt the butter. Stir in the flour until smooth (I believe this is called a roux). Then add salt and pepper to taste. Gradually add the half and half, stirring constantly and bringing the mixture to a light boil. Continue cooking until it's thickened. Once thickened, add this mixture to the broth/vegetables and stir well. Add in the parmesan cheese, bacon, and salmon pieces. Cook for another 10 minutes or until heated.

Occasionally I will add 1/2-3/4 cup baby shrimp to the chowder if I have them on hand. I add them in the same time as the salmon.

I get about 6 bowls out of this. Served with corn muffins and a salad, it makes a great meal.

Happy eating!!!

Lund's Gulch - Meadowdale Beach County Park - Lynnwood

2011-10-23T13:32:00.000-07:00

To get here: 164th Street SW exit off I-5; follow 164th St SW west to 164th SW; turn right to cross Hwy 99; turn right onto 52nd Ave W; turn left onto 160th St; turn right onto 56th Ave W; turn left onto 156th Ave W. Park entrance is at the end of the road. There is a toilet at the parking lot and then again at the end of the hike down by the beach access.

Today was a plan B hike. Our original plan was to hike a trail off the Mountain Loop Highway, but our oldest wasn't feeling well. We didn't feel comfortable being out in the middle of nowhere with him so far away so we picked a hike close to home. We chose the Meadowdale Beach Park/Lund's Gulch trail which is less than 5 miles from our house. This is our "go to" hike that we've done several times over the years. This is a fantastic urban hike that takes you through lush woods and ends up at Puget Sound. What more can you ask for?

The trail is 1 1/4 mile one way. The path is wide and is well maintained year round. It steadily descends down to sea level, an elevation drop of 425 feet, I believe. I find it to be a bit hard on the knees going down.

The trail meanders along a stream and there are many great viewpoints to stop and enjoy. We didn't see any fish in the stream today though. Along the way there are signs identifying some of the trees found in the area. There are a few large hollowed out stumps that may be good for climbing on.

Once at the bottom you will come to a "Y" in the trail. The open area has the ranger's house, a covered picnic shelter (that can be reserved), and toilet facilities, along with the beach access. Or you can follow the trail that leads directly to the beach access. To get to the beach, pass through the tunnel under the railroad tracks. Watch your head if you're more than 5 feet tall (I don't have to worry about that). Awaiting you on the other side, is beautiful Puget Sound.

Once done at the beach, you will have to hike back. That is when the workout begins! You will have to climb the 425 feet back to the parking lot. Thankfully there are several benches along the way for weary hikers to rest.

I highly recommend this hike. Because this trail is so well maintained, it can be hiked all year long. While I do think that toddlers may have some difficulty on the way back up because of the elevation gain, it's not impossible. We have hiked this when our kids were pretty young.

We saw a number of dogs off leash on today's hike. Dog owners, please be respectful of others and keep your dogs on a leash.

This is a very popular hike. The parking lot is often full so get here early on nice days.

Enjoy your hike!

You can read more about the trail and the history of Lund's Gulch here http://www1.co.snohomish.wa.us/Departments/Parks/Park_Information/Park_Directory/Regional_Parks/Meadowdale.htm

Do Not Buy an LG Fridge!!!

2011-10-21T09:19:00.000-07:00

We have had our LG Fridge (#LDC22720SW) for less than 2 years. Last night it died. Of course they can't get out here until Tuesday next week to take a look at it.

I am so mad. Thankfully we bought a cheapo fridge for the garage over the summer. I was able to get all of my fridge stuff in there. Unfortunately I had to throw out about $50 worth of freezer foods because they wouldn't all fit.

Life is NOT good. Save yourself the trouble and don't buy an LG appliance.

Edited: Today (10/25/11) the repairman came out. He was super friendly which helped because I'm seriously annoyed by the whole thing. It was a blown fuse. And of course instead of it being easily replaceable, the company made it so the whole circuit board has to be replaced. To the turn of $110. In addition, the company neglected to tell me when I called for a repair that they also charge $75 for labor (they only told me about the $75 charge to come here). The tech took pity on me and only charged me the $75 instead of the full $150. He also told me that if I had someone handy they could rig the board so that the next time a fuse blew we could replace it ourselves and wouldn't have to call out a tech.

LG lost a future customer, that's for sure!

Old Robe Canyon Trail, Snohomish County Parks

2011-10-17T09:18:00.000-07:00

Sunday October 16, 2011

To get here: This hike is on the Granite Falls side of the Mountain Loop Highway. From Granite Falls, take the Mountain Loop Highway east for 7 miles. On the right side of the road is a brick sign that should read Robe Canyon Trail, but has been used as target practice, so it's difficult to read. There is no parking lot, parking is along the shoulder. There are no toilets available.

This trail is part of the Snohomish County Parks system but is located right off the Mountain Loop Highway. There is a sign at 1.2 miles that lets you know the trail is officially closed beyond that point.

The trail starts out by dropping down into the canyon via some switchbacks. Once in the canyon, it continues for awhile through some lovely tree cover. The fall colors are just starting to show. Along the way you will pass some swampy areas as well with horsetails aplenty.

The trail eventually meets up with the Stillaguamish River. The views along the river are beautiful. There are some great spots along the way to stop and have a picnic. The trail is quite muddy at times and there are plenty of downed trees and little streams to navigate around. Footing can be an issue, especially for little ones.

Continuing along the river the trail becomes the old railroad bed. At this point footing gets even trickier. The rocks and railroad ties can be quite slippery. Even though it hadn't been raining the ground was still quite wet and there are areas where water from small waterfalls covers the tracks. It was at this point in the hike that I found the scenery to be the most spectacular.

Shortly before you reach the first tunnel (you could just make it out in the distance), there is a sign stating the trail is officially closed. We stopped here. Because we had our kids with us we felt it was unwise to go beyond this point. We would like to return in the summer when the trail is dry and continue to the first tunnel. It looks as if that would be possible to attempt with (older) kids in tow.

I do not recommend the last part of this trail for hikers with small children. Footing will be a serious issue. There are some nice areas along the river that would be a great stopping point for these families.

On the way out of town we stopped by Omega Pizza and Pasta in Granite Falls. Friendly service and delicious fettucine (nice and garlicky). It was another great hike!

Can't wait until next weekend's hike...

Retro Signs - Kalama, Washington

2011-10-10T14:32:00.000-07:00

Retro signs I spotted off I-5 in Kalama, WA. I made a detour and took some pictures of them.

Pearson Air Museum - Vancouver, WA

2011-10-10T10:24:00.000-07:00

Saturday October 8, 2011

We didn't go on a hike this weekend. My son and I drove down to visit my grandmother in Vancouver, WA. We decided to stop by and check out the Pearson Air Museum at Fort Vancouver. Their website can be found here http://www.fortvan.org/pages/pearson-air-museum. This is a nice little museum. The day we went they had a WWI traveling museum on tour. My son really enjoyed looking at the planes, the weapons, and the uniforms that were displayed.

We wanted to take a look at Fort Vancouver (in the background above) but didn't have enough time this trip. Something for us to do at a later date.

Decorating for Halloween

2011-10-07T11:43:00.000-07:00

I finally got the house decorated for Halloween. I've usually got everything up by the end of September so I'm running a little behind this year.

Here is the mantel decorated with my favorite Halloween items. I love the paper pulp figures that Seasons of Cannon Falls, Bethany Lowe, and the like put out.

This guy is my favorite!

I let the kids decorate the Halloween Village this year. My daughter decorated her side with LPS (Littlest Pet Shop), and my son decorated his side with Legos (Zombie Invasion, of course!).

Creepy Clowns

2011-10-06T13:17:00.000-07:00

Just to get you in the Halloween spirit, some creepy clowns and puppets from Pike Place Market. The stuff of nightmares, I tell you!

Retro Motel Signs

2011-10-05T14:15:00.000-07:00

These places scare me. They are all on Aurora Ave. in Seattle, Shoreline, and Edmonds.

Beaver Lake Trail #629 Mountain Loop Highway

2011-10-03T10:04:00.000-07:00

Sunday October 2, 2011

To get here: This trail is on the Darrington side of the Mountain Loop Highway. Take highway 530 to Darrington. At the 3 way stop, turn right onto the Mountain Loop Highway. Drive about 9 miles. Just after you cross the Sauk River, the trailhead and parking is on the right. There is no toilet available.

This is a no elevation hike that follows the Sauk River off and on. The trail takes you through Beaver Lake and ends at the river's edge. I think the trail is about 4 miles round trip. It was quite overgrown in spots and there were plenty of nettles to deal with. If it were cleaned up a bit, small children would have no problem on this hike.

Beaver Lake is kind of a misnomer. It's more like Beaver Pond. Not really much of a lake at all and certainly not someplace you'd want to dip your feet in. It was quite dirty.

Along the trail we saw many tiny frogs. They were everywhere. The kids really enjoyed that. We saw fish in the river (must have been spawning salmon). And suprisingly off in the distance, I saw a beaver at the pond.

One very unpleasant thing about this hike was the horrendous stench we kept smelling. I have no idea what it was but all along the trail you would get wafts of what smelled like the inside of an outhouse. It was truly awful. We didn't linger long on any part of the trail. So for that reason alone, I wouldn't recommend this hike.

BrickCon 2011 Seattle

2011-10-02T13:12:00.000-07:00

BrickCon 2011
Here are a few of the wonderful displays they had this year.

If you have a Lego fan in your house and you live in Western Washington you've got to go to BrickCon next year. Here is their website http://brickcon.org/. This is the 2nd year that my son and I have gone. He's 12 and absolutely loves Legos. But what he loves even more is Lego weapons.

Here is what he bought Saturday from BrickArms http://www.gibrick.com/.

And what he traded with his friends.

Big Four Ice Caves #723 Mountain Loop Highway

2011-09-26T18:59:00.000-07:00

Saturday September 24, 2011

To get here: This trail is on the Granite Falls side of the Mountain Loop Highway. From Granite Falls, take the Mountain Loop Highway about 26 miles to the parking lot (on right side).

We had family in town so we decided to go on this popular hike for the second time this season. Our first time was in July and you can read about it in my previous post.

This is a great hike that the whole family will enjoy. Very little elevation gain and not very far to get to the caves make it a perfect hike for those with little ones.

The toilets were out of service at the parking lot so we took the path to the picnic site to the toilets there and took up the trailhead from that location. There is a trailhead at both the parking lot and the picnic site.

Along the trail we saw birds and frogs. My son also saw a snake up by the caves. We also saw different types of mushrooms, berries, and flowers.

This is a great time of year to see the caves. When we hiked this back in July no caves had formed yet. Today there were plenty of caves to look at.

The trail was nice and clean (thank you!). You could tell the work crews had been out cutting fallen trees. There were plenty of them that had fallen across the trail.

Bugs were a little bit of an issue, but not enough to warrant use of any bug repellant.

And if you are new to this hike read the warning signs. The caves can and do collapse, injuring and killing people.

Recent Thrift Store Finds

2011-09-21T16:24:00.000-07:00

Pyrex plates from the Goodwill. Pyrex bowl and unmarked green cereal bowl from Value Village. The blue Fire King cereal bowls (my favorites!) are also a Goodwill score.

The 3 pink Federal bowls and the square Glasbake mug are from Craigslist.

Lime Kiln Trail, Snohomish County Parks

2011-09-18T10:37:00.000-07:00

Saturday September 17, 2011

To get here: At the 4-way stop in Granite Falls turn right onto Granite Ave. Go 3 blocks. Take a left onto Pioneer St. which becomes Menzel Lake Rd. Go 1.2 miles. Then take a left onto Waite Mill Rd. Go .6 miles. Left at the Y onto the gravel road. The Robe Canyon Historical Park entrance is there on the left. There is no toilet available.

Despite the rain, we decided to take the kids hiking today and chose this trail. According to the sign at the trailhead the hike is 5.2 miles round trip to the lime kiln. We made it. This is the longest hike we've done so far.

Beyond the lime kiln, the trail continues for a bit and ends at the river's edge. We hope to do this portion of the hike at a later date and perhaps in better weather.

The trail was in decent condition. It has very little elevation gain so it wasn't a strenous hike at all. There are a couple areas where footing is a little tricky. I wouldn't recommend this hike for toddlers or small children, however. Older kids should be just fine on this hike even in the rain.

Part of the hike is used by horses so there was some horse waste to navigate around. Other than that it was a very pleasant hike.

Lots of scenery to look at and near the lime kiln there are artifacts to be found. We saw a couple large fish in the waters below and some birds, but no other wildlife. We were very disappointed not to catch a glimpse of Sasquatch;-) According to the sign at the trailhead there have been Sasquatch sightings in the area.

DIY Vintage Mirror Update

2011-09-15T12:58:00.000-07:00

Before (after a light sanding)

An old mirror I got at the Goodwill. I decided to spray paint it green and hang it in the kids bathroom.

After

Looks so much better. I love how it turned out!

Old Sauk River Trail #728 Mountain Loop Highway

2011-09-11T13:01:00.000-07:00

Saturday September 10, 2011

This is a nice, easy hike that the whole family will enjoy. There is no elevation gain and the trail is well maintained (thank you!). I believe this trail is about 6 miles round trip. The scenery is really beautiful.

There are several spots along the river that you can make your way down to it's bank. At the spot we picked, we saw small fish in the river. There was a couple of nice sandy areas where you could put out a picnic blanket and lay back and relax. There was even a nice little swimming hole with cool, clean water.

We didn't run across any other wildlife except the occasional bird. Other hikers were virtually non-existent as we saw only one other group of hikers.

It was a very relaxing day. I can't wait to do this hike again in the fall.

Camano Island State Park

2011-09-04T18:41:00.000-07:00

Sunday September 4, 2011

We parked down at the beach and started at the trailhead across from the restrooms (Lowell Point). After climbing up the hill, the trail meanders around the campground for a bit. We followed the outer loop. We eventually ended up on the road to North Beach and took the trail down to the beach. We walked along the beach back to the car at Lowell Point.

This is a nice little hike for children. Toddlers and young children should be fine. We saw a snake, rabbit, chipmunk, and plenty of birds. We found jellyfish, shellfish, and crabs on the beach and a couple of fish heads.

For a nice sunny Labor Day weekend I was expecting a lot more people than there were.

Barlow Point #709 Mountain Loop Highway

2011-08-29T10:36:00.000-07:00

Sunday August 28, 2011

To get here: This trail is on the Granite Falls side of the Mountain Loop Highway. From Granite Falls, take the Mountain Loop Highway to just shy of where the road turns to gravel. On the left side is the parking lot and trailhead. There are toilets in the parking lot.

This is a fairly well maintained trail, although there are a couple spots that are overgrown. There is some elevation gain and because of that I do not recommend this hike for toddlers or young children. Footing will also be an issue, the trail is full of roots and rocks. I think that some older children (who are new to hiking) may find that the trail is difficult as well. My 9 and 12 year old fall into this category. They were completely exhausted when we reached the top.

For an adult wanting a hike that's not too strenuous, but not too easy, this is a good option.

We encountered only a couple people on the trail. The bugs were not a problem at all. I didn't even bother putting repellant on the kids or I.

Independence Lake #712 Mountain Loop Highway

2011-08-22T14:13:00.000-07:00

Sunday August 21, 2011

To get here: This trail is on the Granite Falls side of the Mountain Loop Highway. From Granite Falls, take the Mountain Loop Highway about 26 miles to Forest Service road 4060. It is across the highway from the Big Four Ice Caves parking lot. The road is almost 5 miles to the Independence (and North) Lakes trailhead. Coal Lake #632 is also off this FS road. There are toilets at the Coal Lake trailhead only.

The Forest Service road is a bit rough and can be quite narrow in spots. Take it slow and stay to the right side as best you can. The day we came up we encountered 2 trucks that had a head-on collision. It's likely that both were going too fast for the road conditions. The view from the road is gorgeous. Along the way you will pass the Coal Lake #632 trailhead. This is a short hike (.1 miles). We opted not to stop and check it out on this trip.

The hike to Independence Lake had minimal elevation gain. It's a great hike for kids, although I think it might be a bit rough for toddler aged children. Once at Independence Lake, the trail continues on to North Lake, which I am under the impression is a more difficult trail and not suitable for small children or children who are new to hiking.

The trail up to Independence Lake was easy to follow. There were a couple areas where you had to cross over water, but nothing bad at all. The trail is full of small rocks and tree roots so footing would be an issue with toddlers. But for older children, it shouldn't be a problem.

We only passed a few groups while on the trail. Just enough to not feel completely isolated and not too many to wish you'd gone somewhere else.

The bugs were horrible though and we clearly didn't have the right kind of bug repellant on us. Had our bug repellant actually worked, it would have been a much more pleasant hike. As it was we were pretty miserable by the time we got to the lake so we just turned around and came back. We would have liked to have spent a little time at the lake. Live and learn. We'll be better prepared next time.

Goose Rock, Deception Pass State Park, Whidbey Island

2011-08-15T12:22:00.000-07:00

Sunday August 14, 2011

We decided to head to Puget Sound for our hike this week. Deception Pass seemed like a good place to start our beach hiking experience.

Once inside the state park we took the road toward North Beach. There is a parking lot and restrooms. We took up the trailhead from here.

This is a well maintained trail with not too much elevation gain. From the parking lot, head up the hillside. The trail then takes you under the Deception Pass Bridge. There are staircases up to the bridge if you want to do that. We opted not to today because it was so crowded and there were so many people on the bridge.

We ended up on the Goose Rock Summit trail. Great views from the top. When we arrived back at the parking lot we took the short path down to the beach. This beach, however, is not safe to let the little ones venture into the water. The water is very swift and the waves can come crashing in pretty quickly at any given moment. Instead I would head to the North Beach area. There is a designated swimming area over near Cranberry Lake that is much safer for swimming.

Retro Signs

2011-08-12T12:27:00.000-07:00

Darrell's Tavern in Shoreline.

Puetz Golf in Shoreline.

Robin Hood Lanes in Edmonds.

1 Hour Dry Cleaning in Lynnwood.

More Retro Signs

2011-08-07T12:40:00.000-07:00

Monroe Motel in Monroe, WA.

The Dutch Cup in Sultan, WA.

The Timberline Motel in Peshastin, WA.

The Airway Express Inn in Spokane, WA. This was a "drive-by shooting" so pardon the poor quality.

The Trade Winds Downtown in Spokane, WA.

Runges in Coeur d'Alene, ID.

Boulder River Waterfall #734 Mountain Loop Highway

2011-07-25T10:27:00.000-07:00

Sunday July 24, 2011

To get here: This trail is on the Darrington side of the Mountain Loop Highway. Take SR 530 east towards Darrington. At milepost 41 turn right onto Forest Road 2010 (French Creek Road) and continue for about 4 miles to the trailhead. There is a toilet on the way up.

Today we decided to hike this trail. The parking lot was full so we parked along the shoulder.

This is a nice family hike that I think would be fine for families with toddlers and young children. There is not much elevation gain. We hiked to the waterfall and back (about 2.5 miles round trip). The trail does continue on for another mile and a half (I believe) beyond the waterfall.

This is a well maintained trail. There are a few spots where footing may be a bit of an issue for little ones, but not bad at all. Lots of beautiful scenery. The waterfalls are picturesque.

We really enjoyed this hike and at some point in the future hope to return to it and hike to the end.

Recent Thrift Store Finds

2011-07-20T13:23:00.000-07:00

The Pyrex and Fire King bowls I found at the Goodwill this month. The Franciscan Ware Coronado plates I found back in April or May at New & Again. I love the aqua color! I've got my mom hooked on the Coronado pattern and now she's collecting them too.

Big Four Ice Caves #723 Mountain Loop Highway

2011-07-17T19:00:00.000-07:00

Sunday July 17, 2011

To get here: This trail is on the Granite Falls side of the Mountain Loop Highway. From Granite Falls, take the Mountain Loop Highway about 26 miles to the parking lot (on right side).

Trailhead is behind toilets or you can follow the path to the picnic area (about 1/2 mile) and take up the trailhead there.

This is a fantastic family friendly hike, including those with toddlers and young children. There is very little elevation gain and the hike is about 2 miles round trip.

The trail is well maintained. At this time of year it is not very crowded. Late summer is usually packed on the weekends though.

No caves have formed at this time of the year. At the end of the trail near where the caves will be is covered in snow/ice and footing will be difficult. I wouldn't venture too far out onto the ice for safety's sake.

Since the caves hadn't formed yet and there wasn't really much of a "destination", we spent a little time at the river. Just before getting to the bridge there is a side trail that will take you down there. It's a nice little spot for some relaxation and maybe a picnic.

45 Hikes

2011-07-17T10:08:00.000-07:00

My husband and I decided we needed to get out and enjoy nature more than we have in the past. We thought a great way to do this would be to go hiking with the kids. Washington State offers so many wonderful outdoor recreational opportunities. Within an hour or two of just about anywhere in the Puget Sound region are a myriad of hiking trails for every skill level.

Since we are hiking novices we decided to start small and easy and work our way up to more difficult and/or longer hikes as the year goes on. We figured we could at least get in 45 hikes a year, come rain or shine. I started researching trails. A great resource is the Washington Trails Association website http://www.wta.org/. We decided to focus on the Mountain Loop Highway region in the North Cascades (from both the Granite Falls side and the Darrington side) and the Puget Sound region (state and county parks).

One of the reasons I started this blog was to share our hiking adventures with other families in Western Washington. We're looking forward to experiencing all that nature has to offer. I hope you enjoy following along.

Retro Seattle Signs

2011-07-16T20:34:00.000-07:00

Saturday July 16, 2011

I take pictures of retro signs that are still around. Here is the one from Ray's Boathouse in Seattle. I'll post more of my signs at a later date.

Elephant Car Wash in Seattle.

Cadillac Hotel in Seattle.

Auditorium Cleaners in Fremont.