Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Washington State Parks: Field's Spring



Sometimes it pays to talk to the park rangers, volunteers and other employees of the state parks.
On my recent trip to Field's Spring, a park I had never visited before but will be visiting again, I was meandering around the parking lot and the trails between one of the lodges and the campground. The park is know for being a wildflower heaven during the months of May and June, so I was looking at all of the forest wildflowers popping up and was completely thrilled to be able to photograph both the male and female flowers of the meadowrue.

Before I had decided to stay close to camp (I was rather tired after the drive from Seattle to south of Clarkston), I had the opportunity to chat with Mike & Kathy the campground hosts. A very kind couple who enthusiastically showed me the wildflowers pictures they had taken on their hike up Puffer Butte, the high point of the park with views into Oregon and Idaho.  They found lupine, lomatium, calypso orchids, phlox, paintbrush and several other flowers on the trail and in the meadow at the top. Feeling the exhaustion set in, I decided to stick around camp and head up the hill for sunrise and morning golden hour photography.

So there I was, meandering around the campground and lodges when a beat up red sedan pulled up next to me with an older gentleman driving, his passenger was a big German Shepard standing in the passenger seat nose to the windshield and tongue hanging out. "You looking for birds?" he asked leaning his head out the window. One look at the car and the monster of a dog next to him, I knew he was someone with something to say. "No, not really. I'm looking for wildflowers - they're easier to spot."

"Oh. You want wildflowers. Well, have you been out the corral trail yet?"

"No. Where is that."

"You'll want to follow the dirt road here past the lodge to the gate. Go through the gate onto the trail. Take the Morning Song Trail and at the end of that trail there's a smaller trail that follows the ridge. You can go out there. You can go anywhere - it all belongs to the park, so it's ok. But that's where you'll find all the wildflowers you want. I know - I used to work here."

"Oh, thank you. This road here?"

"Yep. you can drive out to the gate too - there's a parking lot there."

"Thanks."

I watched as he drove off with his dog balancing in the front seat. I looked at the road he pointed out and decided that I needed to explore every corner since that is why I was there. His advice did not disappoint.

Just off the Corral Trail was the Morning Song Trail. A short walk brought me to sweeping views of the Blue Mountains and at my feet - flowers. Lupine, Balsamroot, Scarlett Gilia, Indian Paintbrush in so many colors I lost count and flowers I had never before seen.

I followed Morning Song to it's end but it hooked back into the Corral Trail. There was no trail along the ridge. I thought to retrace my steps, but instead continued along the Corral Trail to its end. I did find the trail along the ridge but will tell you about it in the book in a feature named Insider's Tips. These will be hints and tips from the people who know the park from the inside out.

Oh, and at the end of the Corral Trail is an old broken down corral and more views including a view of Puffer Butte.

To Get There: It's a short 29 miles from Clarkston, WA. Follow Highway 129 south to Asotin. In Asotin, Highway 129 turns right to head up into the plateau. Turn right to continue on Highway 129. The park is on your left 22 miles from Asotin.

Monday, May 04, 2015

Washington State Parks: Camano Island State Park



Camino Island State Park is a case study of a community coming together with a common goal and building a long lasting legacy. Organized by the South Camano Grange on July 27, 1949, 500 volunteers from Camano Island and nearby Stanwood built the park. In one day, they cleared the land, built roads and trails, picnic tables and a parking area. The South Camano Grange won 3rd prize in a national contest for the event and the park.

Over the years Camano Island State Park has grown but the devotion of a small group of residents who believed that they could build a park and create access to the beach for everyone can still be felt in every trail, campsite and table.

The parks sits on a wooded high bluff overlooking Saratoga Passage and includes the rocky beach below. Trails meander throughout the park weaving through the thick forest of Douglas Fir and Sword Fern. The Al Emerson Nature Trail built in remembrance for the first park ranger takes a hiker on a journey through the life cycle of the forest. A photographer can find small intimate vignettes of nature and life in the trees.

From viewpoints along the bluff, you have sweeping views of Saratoga Passage and the mountains of the Olympics and southeast towards Mt Rainier. head down towards the beach and you'll find on the east side of the parking lot a marsh filled with cattails and birds. The beach is rocky and popular with shellfish harvesters. Which can be a boon to photographers looking for details on the beach. Textures abound as do small vignettes of sea life. While on the beach, throw your polarizer on your lens and play with the reflections on the ripples and the rocks below. Don't leave before sunset, for here is a grand place for the colors of the evening.

To Get There:

From I-5 North or South, take exit 212 for State Route 532 to Stanwood and Camano Island. Follow SR 532 west for approximately 10 miles and continue onto E Camano Island Dr. In about 6 miles turn right onto E Monticello Dr. Turn right on SW Camano Dr and then right on Lowell Point Rd.