Hears Different Drummer

Thursday, January 10, 2019

Rufus creek hike

Today we did the hike we'd planned on doing last week, you can read about the reason for our change of plans HERE. Rufus creek trail is part of a new trail system in the Lookout mountain area. The Bellingham Herald did an article about the new trails. Here's the link for that article: https://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/local/article220786170.html.

We were excited to explore a familiar area to us along some different trails. It was drizzling abit when we began our hike but that soon quit and we had mostly cloudy skies with the sun peeking in and out during our lunch stop. There was a breeze off and on especially when we got up to the viewpoint, but nothing horrible.

We had printed off the map of the trails at home so we'd have one with us, but the map in the photo below is on the sign board at the trail head.

A great mother stump at the parking lot.

Off to explore a new trail, happy days!

After nearly a mile we came to the junction of the waterfall trail and the road, we decided to walk up the road and then go down the waterfall trail.

What a sight, it was really flowing!

I found 2 heart rocks on the waterfall trail!!

The Mr. doing his trail clean up with his trusty little hand saw.

We decided to hike up the hill, hoping for some sun and a view for lunch.

The sun did decide to come out for a bit.

Our lunch spot has been chosen, pardon my shadow.

The Mr. made us a nice cozy log bench to put our seat cushions on for our break.

Since it's winter, we had a view of the hills. When the leaves come back on the trees, many of the views will go away.

We hiked back down the trail for a ways after our lunch, but after conferring with our map we decided to head back up the hill past where we'd eaten lunch and head to the viewpoint.

Still following the Rufus trail signposts.

We walked along a large rock wall. This was the view beside the trail looking up.

I heard a tap tap tapping near me and saw this Hairy? Woodpecker thumping away on this tree.

I took a video as well, if you turn your volume up you'll be able to hear the gentle taps that caught my attention.

https://youtu.be/fZVP0RCgmcA

Proof I was on the hike photo.

Another Hairy Woodpecker, this time a female.

We made it to the viewpoint. Mr. and Mrs. Pack enjoyed a quiet sit down together.

The view across the way, showed us Lake Whatcom and the area of another fairly new trail in the area, the Chanterelle trail. That trail as well as the Smith Creek aka Cub creek trail open up near the power line swath on the hill across the lake.