Woodshed Project - moving forward finally

Sunday, 24 March 2013:
For several weeks now I've been trying to continue work on a small but much needed wood shed, but haven't been so fortunate due mostly to inclimate weather.  I know you might be thinking, "is it wise to build a woodshed in the middle of Winter?"  And I would agree with you that the timing is a bit off.  But the sad state of wet wood has made it rather difficult to burn in the wood burning stove.  And since the stove is my only source of heat I thought it be wise to make the additional effort to dig out the 6'+ of snow, level a clay area of soil that has a small stream running under it, and build a platform that would house a 6'x8' shed.  Well after the most recent storm the progress continued this morning and all afternoon.  It is not entirely complete but the difference is certainly noticeable.  Who knows, perhaps another snow storm or two remains before the season is completely done with!

Spring Snowstorm - two more feet...

This past week on Thursday the 21st through Friday the 22nd we received another Arctic blast of cold and precip in the form of that wonderful white stuff.  I happened to be down in the city (Seattle) at the time, and joined my friend Linda who resided up on Snoqualmie Pass.  That evening first evening I hopped a ride with her up to her home but we were halted by Interstate 90 being shut down for hours due to a massive number of wrecks and stranded vehicles because of the heavy and blinding snow.  Finally after waiting in the car along the highway hour after hour the pass finally opened up just past 1130pm and we arrived just before 0100 in the morning.  Upon arriving we went right to work with shoveling an snow blowing for at least an hour or two then crashed for a few hours before having to wake and head back down the mountain.  I felt so bad for Linda having to return to work after such a short nights rest.  But she's such a trooper and tough cookie for living the life up in the mountains, at least she was smart enough to choose to live somewhere with power mobile service!

Once back in Seattle I repacked my items and did a little shopping for fruits and veggies at a local market then headed up the highway back to my mountain retreat.  The snow had stopped by mid morning and the sun returned to the area to give way to some incredible vistas of the landscape covered in Spring time snow.  After a few detours and arriving on the final leg of my drive home I turn on the infamous Mountain Loop Highway and drove my 22 miles to Silverton, stopping several times along the way just to take in the clear views of many peaks all the path that were beckoning to be admired; Pilchuck, Three Fingers, Dickerman, and many more..  I arrived and was perhaps a little unenthused about the snow I'd have to shovel to get up to the cabin but instead I visited with neighbors down the road for tea and stories of the sizable flakes that had fallen the day before.  What was great about this last dumping of snow was that it was mostly powder rather than heavy wet stuff.  It makes all the difference when your having to shovel for hours just to get to your front door which is up the mountain side a short bit.  I returned to shovel for several hours but enjoyed every minute of it and slept in the next morning to celebrate the newly arrived blanket of stillness...

XC Ski - Mtn Loop Hwy, Silverton, WA

After much fun up North in Bellingham I returned to Silverton on Sunday evening with a new foot of freshy on ground, oh YEah!

So Monday the 18th felt more like a weekend to me.  I mostly read, slept, stoked the fire, and cleaned up and outside the cabin.  In the late afternoon I kicked myself in the butt and suited up for a XC ski up the hwy.  If I haven't shared before, the Mtn Loop Hwy is closed just one mile up (East) from Silverton.  With the massive amounts of snow we receive it is too much for the county to keep it all plowed, and that we're the last year around residents that need the service.  So a gate exists so that make the area also a Winter refuge for showshoe hikers, snowmobiles, xc skiing, and who ever else comes for a visit.  (By the way No trail pass is needed up here in the Winter only once the road is open again.)  So I headed out and up the highway past the Big Four Mtn and Ice Caves trail up to the Deer Creek parking area, for a good 12 mile round trip.  It felt great and once past all the messy snowmobile tracks  it was great to break fresh trails and just glide back on the return.

Yesterday, on Tuesday I did much the same only headed out just after noon so that I could get in a bit more distance.  I even came across a group of three that made it back quite a ways and seemed to be having the time of their lives.  I continued to venture further and further East and finally turned around just before Barlow Pass, for I was aware a storm was coming and the signs of the wind picking up hinted to me I'd better pickup some speed on the return.  I made good time with being out for about 4.5 hours with what I'm guessing was about 18 or so miles.  It was a much clearer day then the day previous and so from a distance you could witness an avalanche here and there and capture the ominous roar of the thunder as it crashed down the mountain side.  Not to worry being on the highway you are quite safe but have a great view of the Big Four Mtn and Hall Peak.

Hope to see you out here on the highway sometime soon!  And if you're about stop by the cabin for a hot cocoa, tea, or coffee I'd love to see you and always welcome visitors...

"Rock Trail" - WTA work party

Sunday, 17 March 2013 - After a camping at Larrabee State park on the West side slope of Mt Chuckanut over looking Bellingham Bay and the San Juan Islands, I woke to much of a surprise to the sun beaming in my box on wheels (Honda, Element).  If you haven't slept in an element you haven't slept properly in a car before.  A good nights rest after helping out at the Chuckanut 50k the day before.

So back on another Washington Trail Assoc. (WTA) work party.  This by far is already my favorite New trail of the year!  And even though we won't be done for several more months it is turning out to be quite the technical trail with a rough terrain and incredible up close views of the local geology.  On this day, a splendid day of St. Patrick's Day we wore our green hardhats and returned to chipping away rock, removing layers of duff (organic matter on the surface that acts as a sponge), cutting in switchbacks, and removing trees and that's just before noon!  So with an ideal morning of sun and warmth we hadn't felt in months we took a break for a midday lunch.  But just as we sat down cold air arrived and with it sleet and hail.  This continued through our lunch and into our afternoon work.  But the last hour it all changed once more and returned to the sunny and warm weather we were first welcomed to when the day first started out.  It was a tough and tiring day but above all it was great fun with like minded people.  At the end of our day we hiked out with all our tools and back to Arlen's truck (WTA bossman).  There he pulled out his traditional Hot apple cider, remaining donuts, fig newtons, and nutter butters so as to replenish us from an exhausting but rewarding day.  I have to mention I'm learning a fair amount of environmental engineering with learning to move large rocks/boulders with rock bars and pic-matics, it is a slow and tedious process but quite amazing.

Upon finishing up in Larrabee I was also bestowed my own WTA hardhat with my name and trail name, this is done once a person has achieved so many hours of volunteer time.  So I encourage you if you're a local to get involved if for no other reason than to give back to the trails we hike and be surrounded by enjoyable and hard working folks, or perhaps consider an annual gift to the WTA.  It is doing a great deal to help protect our trails, lookouts, and educate our communities and businesses.

Chuckanut 50k - Bellingham, WA

0300am, 16 March 2013 (Saturday) I sprang from my cozy mountain retreat to decent down the Mtn Loop Hwy enroute to Bellingham/Fairhaven, up the road North just over 1.5 hours.  Arriving about 0530 I joined a few other early birds as part of the Mtn Chuckanut 50k Ultra marathon Volunteer Crew.  We hoisted tents and setup registration tables to welcome entrants and handout race bids and Patagonia L/S shirts.  The race initially sold out at 400 entrants in less than a day, with only about 30 no shows the pack was ready to run.  The clouds slightly parted for a time to halt the rain till later in the race, and the racers were off at 0800 on the dot.  It's a pretty wicked course, not a suggested 50k for a first timer.  After you run the initial leg along the base of the mountain you come to a sudden Left turn up a path rightfully referred to as "Chin scraper", this is due to the the severe incline that basically has your chin scraping the ground ahead of you, NO JOKE!  Then you run along the ridge of the mountain that often times has some of the wildest weather.  Unlike last year when there was plenty of snow it was powder free this time, but howling winds of up to 30mph, hail, and blasting rain made a serious mess of the course.  However most survived with only about 25% drop rate.  First place male (David Laney) came in at an astonishing 3:40:21 and first female 4:01:15.  They arrived muddy and whipped to say the very least.  It poured rain so much that the race director Krissy Moehl (fastest women ever) had us spread out 12 bails of hay in an attempt to soak up the water at the finish and provide a decent place to hang out (see pics). The last runner came in at just over 9:06:32 and she was nothing short of a fighter, it was Anne's first Ultra.  And even though just about everything was packed up even the finishing line and tents, those that were still present gathered and cheered her on in support to welcome her home.  To an amazing class of racers, race staff, and volunteers, THANK YOU!

Oh, I must not forget I had a mid morning break so I drove into Bellingham and stopped at Ralf's Bavarian Pretzel shop and picked up a few freshly hand forged pretzels, had them coated with a healthy slathering of butter and quite merrily drove back to the race.  It was a Kai moment, thank you Ralf and Stef for your delicious gifts!

Granite Falls, WA - Museum

A pineapple express has arrived here in the Pac N.W., so instead of another batch of Winter wonder we are having a slight warm spell with a heavy dose of rain and wind.  To snow or flood, that is the questions!  Anyhow, found myself driving down the twisted Mtn Loop Hwy today for half day of Granite Fall work at the local Museum.  If you haven't been there yet it's a hidden gem in the old logging town.  It's only open on Sunday's from Noon-5pm or if you'd like arrangements can be made for private tours if you call ahead (great option), and located on Union Street.  For just over a month now I've been finding time a couple of days a week to work behind the scenes at recording donations of historical value in the museum database.  It may sound mundane to some but the space is an incredible time capsule of the late 1890's when towns around these parts were just beginning to form in response to the mining and timber industry.  A fair amount of the donations are old photographs or glass negative prints as well as objects of historical relevance.  For me it is walk into the past, and as some articles become familiar to me especially those of the old mining town that I now live in (Silverton, Est.1891), I find myself calling it apart of my new found roots.  It's quite incredible to feel such an attachment to one place.  I've attached just a few photos to tease you with.

Should you find yourself in the area I surely suggest you visit the establishment and enjoy stepping back into time.  I think you'll be amazed at what you'll discover...

WTA - trail work parties

This past weekend on March 9th and previous weekends I've been having a wicked good time volunteering with the Washington Trail Association (WTA) building new trails and improving upon pre-existing trails in some of the states most spectacular parks.  My favorites in the past month have been Larrabee State Park up in the Bellingham area atop Chuckanut Mtn.  We're creating a new trail named "Rock Trail" which will allow for a short access from Cleator Rd to Lost Lake.  The trail is rather steep with an initial descent by rappel which is being switch backed and staircased, but the trail continues along side these impressive rock bands into unchartered territory.  We've been working here for several weekends now and likely will continue to do so for months to come, but the progress is grand and the trail is sure to be an epic addition.

But this particular weekend we were out at Sharpe Park that shares a boundary with a county park the Montgomery-Duban Headlands.  Also up North but West on Hwy 20 to Fidalgo Island, and just before you head over Deception Pass you veer off to the Right as you pass Pass Lake, and up 1.8 miles on the left.  A stunningly rock/cliff park that edges on the West side of the Island and overlooks the Strait, Lopez Island and the other San Juan Islands, and to the South Whidbey Island.  It's an excellent local to spot whales as they migrate and see into the distant Olympic Mountains or over to Victoria, B.C.  This day we improved an existing trail that needed some severe widening that rolled over some jagged rocks and up a rather good ascent just 200 meters away from a spectacular view point that shouldn't be missed.  Our primary focus was locating large rocks we could also move.  Several of these boulders took 6+ people to move into, a process we were all rather stunned we could actually accomplish.  I've added a few photos but only of the finished product not of a before and after, but mann what an awesome improvement.  And we couldn't have asked for a better weather forecast!

Check out the wta.org website on trail parties in your area around the state.  You'll meet some of the most energetic and positive array folks you'll ever come across!  Hope to see you out there soon...

Salmon Ridge Snow-Park - Mt. Baker, WA

This past Friday the 8th of March 2013, I met up with my adventurous friend Tigerlily (aka David) up in Sedro-Wolley at Ranger station.  From there we commuted up the rural route 9 North then 542 East to the base of Mt. Baker (not far from the Canadian boarder).  Neither of us had ventured to the Salmon Ridge XC snow-park before, but on this near perfect day of late Winter weather the sky was mostly blue and the temperature in the upper 30's.  We did both sides of the snow-park, about 20km and could have gone further had we not lost day light.  I've included a couple of photos for proof of the splendid scenery both on the drive as well as the ski.  I'd surely recommend the visit, week day if at all possible.  The park was well groomed for both XC, a nice wide section for Skate, and nicely marked snowshoe paths as an alternative.  Note, it's a good 2.5-3hrs from Seattle but well worth the scenic drive.  Enjoy the quaint towns of Acme, Deming, and Glacier.  And don't forget your Snow-park Pass!  - Cheers