Burnout Trailblazer hike

 Today 11 of us started at the Fragrance lake trailhead on Cleater road for our Senior Trailblazer hike.

After walking about 1 mile down hill we joined Fragrance lake road. Our fearless leader Owen (for this hike) checked out the trail sign before we headed towards the Burnout road.

The slide is still there, but the trail isn't closed to hiking.

The waterfall along the road had a good amount of water flowing in it.

Time to head uphill on the Burnout rd.

We stopped at the first viewpoint, I liked the shadows behind the hikers.

A nice view.

We had a few skinny trees that had fallen in our last wind storm, but not difficult to step over. This tree in the photo below was our largest tree to get over before we got to the top of Burnout.

Views of the San Juan islands from Burnout.

There was a chilly breeze blowing at Burnout, so we headed up to another viewpoint that would give us a view to the east and hopefully out of the wind. There was still a breeze but it wasn't too bad.

The new blanket of snow helped Mt. Baker and the Twin Sisters range to look magnificent.

Looking down towards Lake Samish.

After lunch and a conversation we agreed to head to the Rock trail and the Gates overlook before going to the cars.

Checking out the Lost lake trail sign.

Wonderful rock formations along the trail after turning on the Rock trail.

We had a major tree fall on the trail, it fell on one of the stair sections. It was interesting to pick how to get up and past the tree. Some climbed over the fallen tree, others climbed up the dirt bank. We all made it past and continued up the stairways.

We stopped at Gates overlook to enjoy the views before heading down the road to where the cars were parked.

View from Gates overlook.

Trail rating: the people in the car we drove in declared our hike mod/hard

Totals miles: 8.8

Total ascent: 1876 feet

Everyone seemed to like the route and the last addition that Owen had proposed. This was a substitute hike as the leader of the scheduled hike to the Anacortes area wasn't able to lead his intended hike.

It was nice of Owen to step in and lead us on this hike, and bonus the weather stayed nice enough for us to get some great views.

Pine Lake, Raptor ridge Trailblazer hike

 I've been trying to figure out when to join the Senior Trailblazers on a hike again. My senior center membership has been paid for awhile now, but for one reason or another mostly health issues, or finishing my summer bucket hiking list, I haven't felt ready to join them. After attending a planning meeting last Friday I decided to take the plunge and go for it. My main concern now isn't the distance, but my speed. I don't want to be "that" person that they always have to wait for. The pace was brisk, but I was able to keep in contact with the person in front of me. We had no rest breaks except for clothing changes when we got either too warm or too cold and at trail junction locations. I was surprised by this but managed to keep up. It did limit my photo taking opportunities as I had to focus to keep my pace even with them.

I would call today's hike mod/hard but that wasn't the rating listed on our hike schedule.

Anyway I'm pleased with my efforts today. 

11 of us started at the north Chuckanut trailhead and hiked the Hemlock trail to the trail junction that led to Pine lake. There was a slight light rain when we began but that ended quite quickly and we were left with just trees dripping on us.

Nearly all the leaves have fallen from the trees and we were in a mossy, mushroom world today. I've always enjoyed being the last in the line when we hike. My pictures are usually looking at everyone from that perspective.

The little creek that flows under the trail had a nice waterfall today.

Continuing on the Hemlock trail.

After quite the uphill we came to the junction that would take us to Pine lake. The trail in the center is the Huckleberry trail, that is the one we returned on. We took the sharp left turn trail.

Making out way towards Pine lake.

We crossed the Pine and Cedar trail junction and turned right towards the lakes.

I've always loved this tree that is at the top of the Pine and Cedar trail hill.

Finally we came to the Pine lake trail sign post.

We stopped at Pine lake for our lunch on the little island. The sun came out briefly, but it was a bit chilly by the time we were ready to hike again.

As we made our way towards Raptor ridge we spotted several tree stumps that had the old logging "Spring board" slots in them. There were also old logging cables laying here and there on the trail.

As we made our way to Raptor ridge we passed by some great rock formations. The trail is right up at the base of the rocks. There are some rock steps visible.

A bit of blue sky welcomed us at the viewpoint.

We made our way to the Huckleberry trail and followed it to the Hemlock trail junction and made our way back to the parking lot on the same trail section that we started on.

Trail rating (according to our hike schedule): moderate

Total miles: 10.4

Total ascent: 2100

My first Trailblazer hike with group 2 (since 2016), hopefully just the beginning of many more outings with this group.

Sharpe park hike

 Sharpe park was where our feet found themselves today. We hiked the beautiful trails, enjoyed the Madrona, the views out over the water and at our feet.

At the start of the trail is a nice seated area with a central focus feature.

I took a photo of the plaque on the stone pedestal.

The inscription reads: 

"In every outthrust headland, 

in every curving beach, 

in every grain of sand 

there is the story

of the earth:

~Rachel Carson

A stump covered with Turkey tail

Mushrooms on a mossy tree

Old Douglas fir tree with deep grooves in it's bark.

Still some fall colored leaves clinging to the trees.

A Madrona bark curling.

Madrona along the trail.

A quiet place to sit and relax.

Aptly named trail.

We made our way down and up the Sunburst trail.

As we walked along I heard an 

Eagle and saw it sitting on a branch.

We took a break at Sares head and enjoyed the peacefulness of the area and the view of the calm waters out in front of us. 

Check out the view in the video:

I always love when I pass by a sea of ferns.

Lichen on a tree.

Witches butter

More mushrooms in the moss.

I realized as I went along that I was enjoying the views close at hand as much as the view we had at Sares head. 

Just a 2 mile hike

418 feet ascent

"I believe there is a subtle magnetism in Nature, which, if we unconsciously yield to it, will direct us aright." ~Henry David Thoreau