Chuckanut Ridge, Rock Trail, Raptor Ridge

My husband and I have started hiking together on the weekends. Yesterday's hike he planned for us was to be long, it was!

Again he got out his trusty "Happy Trails" map and figured out a route for us.

We began at the North Chuckanut Trail head as we did last Sunday. For this hike however we were headed towards the Chuckanut Ridge Trail.

It was about 35 degrees when we began our hike but we quickly got warm as we hiked "up" the trail. When we got to the viewpoint we stopped and took off our gloves, hats, and outer layer.

We continued walking "up" the spine of Chuckanut ridge towards Gates Overlook.

Finally our lunch spot in view. 

The view from the Gates Overlook never gets old. The photo below shows the view looking towards Bellingham Bay.

After lunch and a nice rest it was on to the Rock Tail. The WTA trail crew made a really nice series of steps down this trail. I've posted about it before, you can read that blog post here.

Here a a few pics from this section of the hike.

We then connected with the Lost Lake trail, you can just see the lake through the trees in the photo below.

We hiked for quite a ways on the Lost Lake trail before turning onto the Raptor Ridge trail.

I really enjoyed the long sweeping switchbacks as we made our way up, with the clear weather day we got in a nice view.

After a brief stop we then headed down to the Hemlock trail junction. I found and interesting post about this section of the trail. The author is describing the trail from the opposite direction we hiked it, so if you read this post from the Northwest Geological field trips site, just reverse the info. for what we did. Neither one of us had been on this particular section of the trail before and we were interested in taking it.

The trail then intersects with the Lost Lake trail, which took us back to our starting point - The North Chuckanut Trail head.

I like the word "Plethora", 

that is exactly how many trails are in the Chuckanut Mtn. trail system  ;-)

Endomondo stats:
Total miles hiked - 14 miles
Minimum altitude - 70 feet
Maximum altitude - 1888 feet
Total ascent - 2634 feet
Total descent - 2708 feet

Picture of the week ~ Spartan Race!

Yikes, I signed up for a Spartan Race.

Whatcom Falls Trailblazer hike

When I saw what the hike for today was, I wasn't too thrilled about it. 

It was to be a hike? walk from the Bellingham Senior Center to Whatcom Falls park, 6 - 7 miles easy. I went determined to enjoy the day with the others in our hiking group.

It was great to be on this Urban hike?walk with the 13 (lucky?) ones of us who went today. 

Bellingham has an extensive trail system. We are truly lucky to live in such an area.

We really only hiked in neighborhoods for short periods of time, the rest of the time was spent on trails.

We even got in some uphill ;-)

We then enjoyed walking in Whatcom Falls park,

and the trail towards Scudder's Pond. 

We didn't go all of the way to the pond, we instead took a right turn on the trail to head back to Whatcom Falls park for lunch,

It was a little cold & dark in the shelter for lunch, but our view. Oh how glorious!

After lunch on to the trails.....

We walked through the cemetary and more "spring".

We walked past Bellingham's famous "Angel".

I found this site with some beautiful photos of her.

Time to head back onto the trail once again.

Just when I thought that this had been a fine hike, 

I was given another gift of spring!

Thank you Mother Nature, just what my heart, soul & mostly my attitude needed.

Endomondo stats:

Total miles hiked - 8.65

Maximum altitude - 378 feet

Minimum altitude - 49 feet

Total ascent - 388 feet

Total descent - 378 feet

Raptor Ridge

We wanted to go on a long hike on Sunday, so my husband got out his trusty "Happy Trails" map & figured out a route that would be just a little over 12 miles - we hoped.

We started at the North Chuckanut trail head and walked the trail through Arroyo park to Old Samish hwy.

We then walked on Old Samish hwy for a little over a mile to the Pine and Cedar lakes Trail head. 

Along the way there were quite a few sticks with Hair ice on them.

It was 29 degrees when we started, so it was a wee bit chilly.

We then began the just over 1 mile UP of start to the Pine and Cedar lakes trail.

The photo below shows me during the UP.

We then hiked to Pine lake for lunch.

After lunch we hiked to Cedar lake and around it.

We then hiked the Pine and Cedar lakes viewpoint trail. We saw Mt. Baker in the distance when we got to the top of the ridge.

Then it was on to Raptor Ridge,

and finally Raptor Ridge viewpoint!

The photo below shows my husband inspecting the map at the base of the Hemlock trail, it was fun to see where we had been.

On to the North Chuckanut trail head to our car. A most excellent day with my best friend.

Endomondo stats:

Total miles hiked - 13.25

Minimum altitude - 87 feet

Maximum altitude - 1865 feet

Total ascent - 2359 feet

Total descent - 2392

Picture of the week ~ Sasquatch sighting!

Sighted near Elbow Lake