Skagit Lowlands

When the persistent storms of winter darken the sky and provide only momentary respites from the wind and rain; experienced club members know that it’s the perfect time to explore or revisit the lowlands of Western Washington. During the course of a few weeks a series of Short-Notice-Outings of the Mt Baker Club provided opportunities for enjoying nature while dodging the worst of the weather. These outings included hikes, walks, and nature observation over a fascinating selection of sites.

Some of the highlights were: the summit bushwhack (reported trails were non-existent) of Bow Hill and the new trail construction at the north section of Deception Pass State Park; another trip to explore the Tommy Thompson & other trails near Anacortes with a short geology fieldtrip down the Chuckanut Coast and Padilla Bay; sunset beach walks with glorious golden light escaping under the dark clouds; while further up the Skagit Valley we explored the Northern State Recreation Area with it’s extensive trails and historic structures; walks along the Skagit provided examination of various bygone ferry crossings that now make excellent paddle put-ins; another day we drove with numerous stops and hikes down Friday Creek (Squires Lake included) and then up the Samish River to the high ground of Saxon Cemetery; gushing waterfalls, abandoned mines, ghost towns, flooded roadways, unique mountain viewpoints, and the massing of the Nooksack Elk herd gave us many vivid memories; the occasional shower seemed a small price to pay.