Today's Senior Trailblazer hiking destination was Ridley Creek. Our group hiked this last year at about this same time you can read about that day's hike HERE.
12 of us drove in carpools to the Mt. Baker hwy, on to the Mosquito Lake road and then turned left on Forest Service road 38 and drove 13 miles to the trailhead.
After a map conference with our "fearless leader" Pat, we signed in and began our hike through the beautiful forest.
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| note the glasses on the signpost ;-) |
The Deming glacier was visible as we were crossing the Middle fork of the Nooksack river.
Pat crossing the bridge.
Misc. forest views while we hiked.
The trail is quite steep in places and very muddy but really in pretty good condition.
There were many Columbine's in bloom.
We hiked about 4 miles to the first meadow opening and enjoyed the view of Park Butte before heading back down the trail. We did see the lookout on our way up, but it's not visible from this angle.
I took the photo below because the way the light was in this particular area made it appear as a painting to me. Sometimes when we hike I just have to take a moment and say "yes, this is why I hike".
We didn't make it the the "official" meadow, but we got closer than last year & that made me happy.
Endomondo stats;
total miles hiked - 8 miles
(Garmin info. from a fellow hiker, mine didn't do the return distance correctly.
minimum altitude - 2561 feet
maximum altitude - 4301 feet
total ascent - 2149 feet
total descent - 2123 feet
