The days are growing short and the flowers are gone. Snow has already fallen in the mountains but retreated again, pushed back by our lingering Indian summer. The Thorp Mountain lookout near Salmon La Sac is a great hike for that transitional season between fall and winter. Besides, a fresh dusting of snow only enhances the frail beauty of the lookout near Salmon La Sac.
By Karen Sykes | October 31, 2002
Hikers who spend a lot of time in the mountains may suffer culture shock the first time they hike an urban trail such as the Burke-Gilman or the Sammamish River route. It can be a shock to the soul when they make that transition from a lonesome mountain pass to the racket and razzle-dazzle of civilization. You may feel silly in your hiking boots as bicyclists whiz by in day-glo colors, and high-rise condominiums -- not summits -- are the high points along the trail.
By Karen Sykes | January 2, 2003
Hikers seeking a good workout, great views, and solitude will enjoy Scatter Creek Trail No. 1328 near Salmon la Sac. And walking it will do this seldom-hiked trail a favor, as it is beginning to disappear in the upper meadows below Scatter Creek Pass.
By Karen Sykes | September 5, 2002
It's always a pleasure to visit the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, especially for hikers with naturalist inclinations.
The refuge is situated eight miles northeast of Olympia and is easily accessed from Interstate 5. It offers a cornucopia of habitats, ranging from deciduous woodlands to salt marshes, with more than 175 species of birds to be observed at one time or another. That makes it an extremely popular destination for bird-watchers as well as hikers.
By Karen Sykes | December 11, 2003
The Pacific Crest Trail 2000 to Sheep Lake is better known to backpackers than day hikers, but this stretch of the PCT is gentle, scenic and only a short distance from Chinook Pass.
In summer it is a wonderful flower walk, also favored with views of Mount Rainier, but if you hike later in the season you will have an opportunity to partake of ripening blueberries. If the berries are ripe, you might not make much progress along the trail, but this is a short hike and you can afford to take your time.
By Karen Sykes | September 4, 2003
For many years the Mason Lake Trail lived up to its reputation of being mean and dirty. In addition to being badly eroded and steep, hikers had to negotiate a large boulder field before getting to the lake.
By Karen Sykes | September 11, 2003
September is an interesting time in the mountains. Cloudy skies replace the haze of forest fires and there are hints of fall color in the vegetation. As flowers fade, there are other compensations the bugs disappear (with the exception of irritable hornets) and chances of solitude are greater.
By Karen Sykes | September 18, 2003
If you are thumbing through guidebooks looking for a short hike in the North Cascades, don't go to Goat Mountain. The hike is described in "100 Hikes in Washington's North Cascades National Park Region," but if the trail to the site of the Goat Mountain lookout is your goal, you are in for a disappointment. The side trail to the lookout site is closed.
However, if the high meadows and views from Goat Mountain are your destination and if a gain of 3,100 feet sounds reasonable keep reading.
By Karen Sykes | September 25, 2003
If you are looking for an easy fall hike with a colorful history, the Coal Mines Trail in Cle Elum may be exactly what you want. The trail begins in Cle Elum and follows the abandoned Burlington Northern Railroad line through "coal country," goes through Roslyn and ends in the small town of Ronald.
By Karen Sykes | October 23, 2003
Lowland trails are always good winter destinations but sometimes nothing less than being out in the snow satisfies this hiker's heart. It can feel great to tromp and wallow through layers of snow on snowshoes -- even in the rain and fog.
Grace Lakes was ideal for an easy-to-moderate snowshoe outing offered by Everett Parks and Recreation. This series of small tarns is situated at Stevens Pass on the south side of U.S. Route 2 a bit west of the Brooks chairlift.
By Karen Sykes | January 22, 2004
