Springtime Wildflowers

Twin Falls 4/27/07 3 miles

Due to computer maintenance at work, I was able to take an early day on Friday. And what better way to spend a free Friday afternoon than to go on a short little hike? I had recommended Twin Falls near North Bend to a friend who was needing some alone time in the woods - it's an easier hike to a waterfall cascading through a black rock canyon. I however, invited another friend to go with me.

J.H. is from Georgia, she's been here for some time but seeing the northwest woods through her eyes made me appreciate my home all the more. For instance, did you know in Georgia the rivers are brown - not clear as they are here in the northwest? I was also pleased to point out some our woodland wildflowers: trillium, bleeding heart, scouler's corydallis, woodland violet, siberian miner's lettuce.

We ventured along the trail as it rambled next to the river, watching as the spring run-off bounced and tumbled over the rocks. The trail then head's up over a hill to an overlook looking across the canyon to the falls. We sat admiring the horsetail shaped falls before heading down the hill and up the other side to the bridge spanning the river.

We took our time along the trail - admiring all that nature had given us on this day - in true trail turtle mode. We weren't out for any speed records, we were out to enjoy each other's company, nature's brilliance, and a little time off from work.

Springtime Snow

Rattlesnake Ridge 4/15/07 8 miles

Continuing on our conditioning for climbing Mt St Helens, Michael & I decided to traverse Rattlesnake Ridge near North Bend. This hike is 11 miles from start to finish - from the east end of the mountain to the west with a 2000 foot elevation gain. Not the conditioning hike Mt Si can be, but a good stamina booster. However, we didn't expect the late season snowfall that would contribute to our turning around.

Our plan was to start at the Rattlesnake Ledge trail head and continue to the other end at Snoqualmie Point. The last time we hiked the trail all the way through, the WTA had still been working on it. I was interested in seeing what they had done. We saw the dusting of snow atop Rattlesnake and the other mountains surrounding North Bend as we drove to the trail head. I thought this might make for an interesting hike.

Our initial climb to the ledge went smoothly, fog had settled in around the lake which gave the new green of the forest a soft quality. A few birds could be heard calling back to one another, possibly catching up on overnight happenings. The view that greeted us from the rocky ledge was partially obscured as the clouds drifted about the mountains - Mt Si and the other mountains across the valley played peek-a-boo with us.

We continued up the mountain. It wasn't too long before we reached the snow we had seen from the highway. Already the glimpses of sun had started melting what snow rested in the branches overhead. The resulting melt felt as if we were hiking in the rain - big heavy drops splashed on our packs, arms and hats. Every now and then a small frigid clump of wet soggy snow would let loose invariably hitting my neck or ear.

But that wasn't the worst of it. When we had hiked Mt Si the week before, there was no snow at the top. Mt Si is higher than Rattlesnake. We didn't envision the amount of snow we would run into on the trail. Approximately two feet of snow still lay in wide trail that once was a road. We were not prepared for this. On top of the snow on the ground, more snow had begun to fall around us. After a brief discussion, we decided not to chance it and turned around to head back to Rattlesnake Ledge and the lake below. Our day of happy springtime hiking cut short by snowfall.