We've been having some hot weather here in north Whatcom county, so my husband had a great idea. His plan was that we would set our alarm for 6 am. Get up and get an early start, but best of all hike is a nice shady forest before the temperature got too high.
He's a clever one.
We decided to start at the lower trailhead, usually we start at the upper trailhead on Blanchard mountain. It was a nice .8 mile walk through the woods after a short walk on the road.
After we got to the upper trailhead, we read the alert sign and realized we would need to change our route. They are logging a section near the trails. We had hoped to include the Oyster Dome and Samish Overlook in our hike today, but the sign stated that the particular section we wanted to do was closed on weekdays.
So we decided on a long gravel road walk and then start up the British Army trail, to the Lizard lake trail, Lily lake trail, Max's shortcut, Lily Max connector trail, Lily/Lizard trail (trail name source: Square one map) to lastly the upper trailhead parking lot and out to the lower trailhead parking lot. Whew that's a mouthful isn't it.
We walked a little over 3 miles on the road from the Upper trailhead to get to the British Army trail.
Blackberries
Thimble berries
We bypassed the Alternate Incline trail and continued on up the road.
Finally at the British Army trail.
Huckleberries
In the photos below intermixed with other photos I'm sharing the signs for when we switched to another trail.
PNT marks on the trees
Lizard lake
I found my "heart in nature" rock! ❤
Time to turn onto Max's shortcut, but first a short rest break on a bench by the trail junction.
Some nice new trail work.
Ferns and Trees ❤
Monkey flowers
Lilly Max connector trail
Doesn't this photo of the bridge look almost like a black and white photo? Kind of strange.
When we crossed over the bridge, we saw
a dry creek bed below.
We exited at the trail head for the Lily/Lizard lakes trail and walked up the road to the Upper trailhead parking lot.
We joined the return .8 trail from the Upper trailhead parking lot.
Then after a short road walk to the lower trailhead parking lot we were done.
It was a great plan to get an early start AND hike in the shade. Since we finished so early we even got in a leisurely back roads drive home with some iced Lattes, a nice rare after hike treat for me since I don’t drink coffee after 3:00. Here is a picture of our weather station at our home when we returned at 3:05: 91 degrees and the high had been 92!
Relive video of our route:
Garmin stats:
Total miles hiked - 11.5
Total ascent - 1854 feet
