The outing
: Make sure to drive the back way to Snoqualmie. Eschew the speedy 30 miles between Seattle and the Cascades foothill town via Interstate 90 and take the circuitous 30 that takes up real interest outside of Redmond on the Redmond-Fall City Road (Highway 202). At Fall City, the highway turns east after it crosses the Snoqualmie River and then winds up the hill and into town.
You will be much calmer and at one with the countryside you've just entered.
By Terry Tazioli | April 14, 2005
"Index!" the climber shouted at a local climbing gym. "I'm not going to Index!"
"Why?" his friend prodded.
The climber looked at his friend closely and responded slowly, as if he were talking to a child: "Dude, Index is hard. And I'm not talking a little hard. Dude, Index is waaaaay hard!"
By Jason D. Martin | April 14, 2005
Location: Mount Vernon.
Length: Over a mile of trails.
Level of difficulty: Level-to-moderately steep, dirt/gravel/bark trails (muddy after rains, although many trails have an absorbent top layer of bark).
By Cathy McDonald | April 14, 2005
The outing:
This half-day outing combines a visit to the Cedar River Watershed Education Center in the Cascade foothills and a hike to Rattlesnake Ledge with scenic forest and mountain views.
This can be thirsty work, but a reward awaits at the end: a post-hike wine-tasting in nearby Snoqualmie.
Spend the morning doing Saturday chores or hitting the garage sales. Head out around noon or 1 p.m. to time the active part of this outing to end about 5 p.m.
By Carol Pucci | April 14, 2005
The budget outing:
The town of North Bend, sandwiched between ever-sprawling suburban housing and Interstate 90 traffic, doesn't spring to mind as a place for a nice, half-day outing.
But it should.
By Kristin Jackson | April 14, 2005
Hike of the Week
Dash Point sounds like a place you may need to hurry to, or the name of a footrace; however it is anything but. Dash Point State Park is no place to dash, unless you are a mountain biker facing Heartbreak Hill, a steep hiker/mountain bike trail.
The 398-acre park in Federal Way is easy to reach from Seattle or Tacoma. With the exception of a rain jacket, food, water and walking shoes, you can leave your hiking gear at home and slow your pace to enjoy the variety of trails. Spend a couple hours or even a day.
By Karen Sykes | April 14, 2005
At first pass through the Woodland Park Zoo, the grotto is empty.
Minutes later, though, two rare Sumatran tiger cubs pad by for an unscripted show. One furry tiger, grown halfway between adorable and ferocious, stalks an unsuspecting log. He hunts. He pounces and wrestles, tearing off a branch and prancing away with his prey.
"He reminds me of when my cat was little!" says a visitor. "Look, he's like a puppy!" says another.
Soon after, though, both cubs retreat out of view and the grotto is empty again.
By Rebekah Denn | April 14, 2005
