Blanchard Mtn./Lily and Lizard lakes Trailblazer hike

I should have titled this the "Separation hike". 14 of us met at the Bellingham Senior Center this morning to sign in and to talk about where we were going and to split up for our carpool rides to the trail head. When we got to the Blanchard Mtn. trail head on Barrel Springs road we realized that one of the cars wasn't with us. Thanks to Ed who had a cell phone, we got in touch with them and since they had gone to the wrong place, they decided to go on their own hike today instead of trying to find us. The driver of their car miss-heard our destination and had headed for Chuckanut drive. So they had 3 in their group and our group was now 11.

This is where we were all supposed to meet

getting ready to hike

Today's hike would be all in the forest except for a trip to North Butte to check out the view.

As we were going along my left calf that I had injured in 2011 was feeling pretty tight. It had been getting really sore the last mile of last weeks long hike, I told my husband that I didn't like how it felt so we talked about it and agreed that instead of hiking up to North Butte with the rest of the group, we would continue past Lily and Lizard lakes and hike on down to the car and wait for them to return. Our leader Pat agreed that this would be a good idea.

"OUR" separation, they went left - we went right 

This separation would shorten our hike by a little over a mile. Since we left the group we could now hike at a slower pace that was more comfortable for my leg. 

We didn't really go to these lakes, just passed by the sign

The trail to Lizard lake was so cute, a trail crew had lined the path with rocks. We decided this would be a nice place to sit and eat our lunch.

It was nice to take a more leisurely walk with my husband. The trail had several benches on the way down. So of course I took the opportunity to have my picture taken!

I noticed this tree along the trail (in the photo below), it had completely outgrown it's mother tree. 

Now that was a good "mother" ;-)

last bridge on the way out

We only had to wait about 40 minutes for the group to rejoin us. Not too bad, and my leg survived. I think ice will be my friend for the next few days.

together at last

I will be skipping next week's hike to Park Butte, I'd like my leg to feel better before I go again, besides next week is our 42nd wedding anniversary. 

Our shortened hike today just right! 

Endomondo stats:

7.82 total miles hiked

818 Min. altitude

2160 Max. altitude

10735 Total ascent

10740 Total descent

Elbow lake from Pioneer camp Trailblazer hike

What was advertised as a 6 mile hike for our Senior Trailblazer group turned out to be a 10.45 mile hike. We had a long drive before we could begin our hike. We drove about 2 hours to get to the Pioneer camp trailhead to begin our Elbow lake hike from the South trail access 14 of us started on an overcast day.

We hiked through a very lush forest and the Maidenhair ferns were everywhere.

We had a couple of short creek crossings. The rocks were very slippery.

We stopped for lunch just beyond this trail marker.

After lunch we hiked on to the first lake.

Lake Doreen

and then on to Elbow lake. My husband supplied the visual "Elbow"

Do you see a Sasquatch in the bush below?!

No, just my husband being silly with some moss that was laying on the trail.

Here he is - my husband the "Sasquatch"

Marjan with the clingy greenery sticking to her socks, posing with the "Sasquatch"!

Looking back towards the lower area of the Twin Sisters range.

The rest of the hike was on a logging road and turned out to be MUCH 

longer than we thought it would be....

and MUCH wetter!

It poured on us for a good couple of miles at the end our hike, boy was it nice to see our car again.

Endomondo stats:
10.45 total miles hiked
2123 Min. altitude
3598 Max. altitude
8604 Total ascent
8820 Total descent