Spencer Island

Everett Wa.

(Spencer Island Butterfly) **This photo was accepted into the Washington State Photographer’s exhibition.**

Up until a few months ago I wasn’t even aware that Spencer Island existed. I must have driven by it hundreds of times while on I-5 or Hwy 2 and never knew that within the city of Everett existed a beautiful island inhabited by all kinds of birds and wildlife. Spencer Island is situated on the Snohomish River estuary. This is where the salt water from Port Gardner Bay and the freshwater from the Snohomish River meets. The first time I visited we took the trail that goes to the south of the island. I wasn’t too familiar yet with my whereabouts so I just chose this trail because I found the directions on a map. However, there are two ways to access Spencer Island. Both start primarily from the same area but this particular way (I’ll call it the south trail entrance) takes the long way around to the island. It was a nice walk and the Snohomish River is rushing past alot of the way. There were lots of waterfowl and we were able to see an Osprey flying to its nest. It’s about a 3 mile loop.

(Waxwings engaging in a courting ritual. Waxwings pass fruit or berries to each other as they are courting)

About half way to the entrance of the island you come to a spot where the Snohomish River and Steamboat Slough meet. There are benches and tables for picnicking, and it really is a lovely site. This is my favorite part of this trail. From the hwy 2 trestle you can see this spot and there has been a half sunken boat sitting off shore for a long time.

I have always wanted to photograph this boat but never found a way to get to it. You can see the boat from this particular vantage point, but it is on the opposite side and I still couldn’t get close enough to it. I am thinking I’ll have to take a boat if I want to get close enough.

Directions to both trails.
(From the south, drive north on Interstate 5and take Exit 195 (Marine View Drive). Turn left onto East Marine View Drive and continue to state Route 529 North (Marysville trestle). From 529 North, after crossing the river, take the first exit on your right (Smith Island Access/Frontage Road). Follow signs to Langus Riverfront Park and Spencer Island. You will find yourself on Smith Island Rd and just before the I-5 overpass there is a small parking area on the right. You will see the Spencer Island access sign.

The west entrance to Spencer Island is a much shorter trail to the island. You actually go the same way as above but you pass the parking area and Smith Island Rd becomes 4th street. You will see the Everett waste facility (not a great sight but you pass it soon enough) and there is a parking lot on the right. You will follow the path between the facility lagoons straight to the Spencer Island Bridge. This path offers a wonderful view of Mt. Baker.

Once you go over the bridge you can go either left or right. The trail to the right is the south trail loop I mentioned above. If you go to the left (to the north) the trail is very scenic. This half of the island is maintained by the Dept. of fish and Wildlife (in winter and spring steer clear of this side of the island since hunting is permitted here) , and the southern half is maintained by Snohomish County Parks. These trails used to encircle the island but flooding has since made this impossible. I, on the other hand, like to go straight before I enjoy the trails. There is a clearing here and a small barn/shack stands here. There used to be a large barn that was once owned by a farmer named Tom Mormon. Unfortunately the large barn blew down in a windstorm in 2006.

This area also has a plank bridge with interpretive signs about the area and it’s history. The entire island is a wetland so the middle is not accessible. However, the areas you can access are brimming with birds and wildlife. We saw an abundance of different species, including a few heron, waxwings, an osprey and dozens of others that I can’t identify. The view of the Cascades from here is breathtaking. Butterflies and wildflowers are most prominent along the trails.

I believe that Spencer Island is one of the better places to birdwatch here in Washington. I am still amazed that a place of such natural beauty could be located so close to an urban area. Spencer Island offers well maintained trails, hundreds of species of birds and wildlife, and expansive wetlands with beautiful vegetation. To the north is a perfect view of Mt baker, to the east are the rugged Cascades, and to the south you can see Mt Rainier from some spots along the south trail. What more can you ask for? (The only two drawbacks are that you may hear the noise from I-5, and if the wind is blowing to the east you may smell the wastewater plant. I have not experienced either of these and I have been to Spencer Island quite a few times.)

The only confusing part for me was the not knowing which trail to start from. I will include a link to the google map which will help if you are as unsure as I was. Zoom in for a better look.
View Larger Map

***Winter and spring; stay clear of north section of the Island Oct-Jan for hunting season***

**Please enjoy my photos but don’t use them without notification or my permission. If there is an image that you would like to use or would like as a print, please contact me.

The Old Sauk River Trail is located near Darrington Wa. It is a forested trail that meanders along the Sauk River. It reminded me of a rain forest hike since there is so much hanging moss and the tree coverage is dense. The trail is well managed and offers a wonderful view of the river.

You have to drive to Darrington on Hwy 530 to hike this trail. You can take I-5 or hwy 9 through Arlington to get to 530. At first glance I assumed we could get to it on the Mountain Loop Hwy through Granite Falls and Verlot. **There are two sections of the Mountain Loop Hwy. One is Verlot and the other is on the Darrington side. They meet in the middle but the road that connects them is a one lane gravel road for about 14 miles. Granite Falls is closer to my home but I knew we’d enjoy the scenic drive to Darrington. When you arrive in Darrington, which by the way is the cutest town with the most amazing snow covered mountains looming above, the trail head is only a few miles away on the Mountain Loop Hwy.

We started our hike later than usual so we decided to eat lunch in the parking area. The parking is decent and there wasn’t many other cars, most likely because we went on a Wednesday. I am sure on the weekends this trail is busy with families. Even senior citizens could enjoy this hike.

Along the way we noticed many interesting flowers and vegetation. The moss hung from the trees, foxgloves were scattered all along the side of the trail the entire way, and what looked like bamboo was poking out here and there. This of course made everyone stop as it was so different looking and felt very light, almost like paper. One by one the kids had to feel it for themselves.

Sunrise on Lake Cassidy-Seattle Times

**My “Fisherman Sunrise” photo was chosen for publication in the Seattle Times for Thursday July 17th 2008 in the NW Weekend section and at Seattletimes.com.

This photo was taken at Lake Cassidy in Lake Stevens Wa. I will be posting more photos and information about this cute little lake in a few days.

Snoqualmie Falls/Trail

Snoqualmie, Washington

I have been visiting Snoqualmie Falls since I moved here in 1989. The falls have always held a special place in my memory, and every time I go I am taken back to a time when all of the Pacific Northwest was new and exciting to me. I was 18 and my best friend and I would hike down the trail and race each other on the rocks to see who could get closer to the falls the quickest. I often wonder how we did that without ever falling. Such fond memories. My husband and I went on one of our first dates here as well.

Nowadays we bring our children. We have been coming here since they were in baby backpacks and we always hike down to the bottom to get a better view. And no, we don’t allow racing on the rocks.

Snoqualmie Falls is located 30 minutes east of Seattle, just off I-90.take Exit 5, for Highway 18 and Snoqualmie Parkway. Turn left and head north about 3 miles through Snoqualmie Ridge, to Railroad Avenue Southeast. Turn left and drive ¼ mile. Snoqualmie Falls will be on your left. Ample parking is on the right (unless you are a guest in the hotel, then you are permitted to park on the left in the lodge parking lot) but you will have to walk across the highway overpass pedestrian bridge. My 13 year old is afraid of heights and this is usually a daunting experience for her. However, she always laughs when she gets to the other side.

The falls are 286 feet, which is 100 feet higher than Niagara Falls and they flow from the Snoqualmie river. There are two hydroelectric power plants at the falls as well. The Salish Lodge and Spa is perched at the top of the falls. The original “Snoqualmie Falls Inn” was built in 1919 and was completely remodeled in 1988 into an 89 room romantic retreat. You may recall a show in 1990 called Twin Peaks which was filmed in and around Snoqualmie Falls. I, of course being a new resident of Washington, watched it and even loved the soundtrack. At the top of the falls is a two acre park complete with picnic tables, a very nice gift shop, and a lush, green grass area for weddings. Wouldn’t that be amazing?

(Misty shot of the lodge taken from the base of the falls)

At the top of the falls is an observation deck for visitors to stand in for a perfect view of the falls. When the falls are full (which it was the day we visited) due to snow melt or heavy rains, the mist is heavy and the visitors can’t help but get wet. I had to keep wiping my lens. There is another viewing area down the path and offers a drier view. My 13 year old (who is afraid of heights) avoids this overhang every time and stands at a safe viewing distance.

(If you look closely you can see the mist from the falls)

 (My 9 year old is pretty brave)

 After watching from above for a few minutes, it was time to head to the trail. It’s only a half mile but can be pretty steep in some parts. I grimace when I see an older person (usually being persuaded by younger family members) heading towards the trail completely unaware of how much of a climb it is coming back up. The falls drop almost 300 feet and if you are at the bottom then you know you have to climb back up the 300 feet, and it isn’t gradual since the trail is only a half mile.

At the bottom the river is rushing by and the trail leads past a power house through a caged walkway, probably to keep people away from the power house. A fisherman passed by us that day with a really big fish. I’m not sure what kind it was but it was huge! As you walk down this planked path towards the falls, you end up on a small observation deck some distance away from the falls.

This is fine for some people but the more adventurous visitors hop over a wood fence and carefully climb down the rocks to the river and to the base of the falls. This is a must. Unless you are physically unable to climb down I suggest you try it.. There is nothing like feeling the mist and hearing the roar of the water crashing before you. Of course you can’t get close enough to be in danger, but are close enough to experience the best of Snoqualmie Falls.  

(This was taken from the small observation deck. You can see the people making their way closer to the falls, a few are even fishing)

***Please enjoy my photos but don’t use them without notification or my permission. If there is an image that you would like to use or would like as a print, please contact me.

About 2 months ago I entered a photo I took of my Golden Retriever “Honey” into the Everett Herald’s “Cutest Dog” contest. I had forgotten that I entered the photo until I received a call a few days ago from the Herald informing me that I won first place. As the grand prize winner I will receive 4 tickets to an Everett Aqua Sox game on the 16th, which is “Bark in the Park” day. All visitors can bring their canaine if they so choose. As the winner I also get to throw out the first pitch accompanied by Honey. Of course I won’t be doing this so I recruited my 13 year old to to do the honors.

This is the article which I have print screened and pasted into photoshop not very successfully.

The original photograph is above. I titled it “Isn’t it spring?” The photo was taken in April and we were having an unusal snow day.

So on July 16th if you just happen to be at an Everett Aqua Sox game (this will be my first) remember to clap extra loudly for the “Cutest Dog” (at least out of 250 entries) , my Honey.

Rosario Beach                                                                                                                                             Fidalgo Island, near Deception Pass                                                                                                             

6/08

Last summer we went to Bowman Bay and hiked the Bowman Bay Lighthouse Point trail. A few weekends ago we decided to go to Rosario Beach since we didn’t really get a chance to actually see Rosario Beach when we hiked Bowman Bay. Rosario is just north of Bowman. In fact you can see Bowman Bay from the grassy clearing at Rosario Beach.

The tide was very low that day and I had read that there were pretty cool tide pools at this beach. The weather wasn’t too promising but we went anyway hoping it would be better up north. Rosario Beach is located on Fidalgo Island which connects to Whidbey Island by the Deception Pass bridge. You have to take I-5 north to Burlington and go west on Hwy 20 and it will take you straight to the turn off. If you are not directionally challenged there is a short cut so as to avoid driving to Burlington. When you get to Mt. Vernon, which is about 5 miles before Burlington, you can take Hwy 536 through Mt. Vernon and connect to hwy 20. The drive is shorter and more scenic. There are little farms all along 536. This is actually where the tulips farms are in Skagit. After about 10 miles, when you come to a sign that reads  “Oak Harbor, Port Townsend Ferry”, turn left at the stoplight. If you go straight you will end up in Anacortes. In about 5 miles, and after passing two lakes, turn right onto Rosario Road. It is easy to miss and if you do it you will find yourself crossing Deception Pass bridge. If you do then just turn around and try again.

Rosario Beach is home to the “The Maiden of Deception Pass” story pole. It depicts the story of the Samish Indian Nation. This entire area was settled by the Samish and Swinomish tribes and they lived on the land until the early 1900’s. You can read the entire story of the Maiden here.

 The history of this area is fascinating. In 1792 Joseph Whidbey, captain Vancouver’s chief navigator sailed through “Deception Pass” which was earlier noted to be a small bay, and discovered that it was a deep channel with turbulent waters since  this channel connects the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Saratoga Passage. So, it was thusly named by Vancouver “Deception Pass” since he felt that he had been deceived as to the nature of this waterway. He also named the island after Joseph Whidbey who had discovered this oversight. There is a monument on the bridge for visitors to read about Vancouver and this moment in our history.

Many years later years the land was sold to Washington State and a state park was established. During the 1930’s President Roosevelt created the Civilian Conservation Corps to help create jobs for young men affected by the depression. They built many of the structures at the two camps at Rosario Beach and Cornet bay. Kitchen shelters, restrooms, roadways and trails and the log railings along the highway were all made by these men during the depression.

I love history and I found this to be very interesting as I walked by the structures and realized the historic significance. The picnic areas are perfect for group gatherings or even just lunch at the beach.

The weather turned out to be pretty decent and to my delight there was some blue creeping through the clouds. I was eager to get to the tide pools so we hurried down to the beach and explored “Urchin Rocks”. These rocks were exposed since the tide was out so far and I was excited to see the many different sea creatures living in the pools.

Some of the inhabitants I saw were anemones, urchins, barnacles, chitons, sand crabs, limpets, etc. An eclectic underwater community. This area is also popular for divers since there is a an underwater park.

As I explored the tide pools I noticed that I could actually walk and climb on the big rocks to watch the waves crash one after another. I could sit there for hours. There were so many kayakers and boats to watch, and the water crashing onto the rocks was mesmerizing. This is on Rosario Head which is a curved structure of rocks which juts out into the ocean separating Rosario and Bowman Bay.

The beach itself was amazing. It is covered in driftwood logs and pebbles. Every time a wave would role in the pebbles made a really cool sound. I wish I could record it and fall asleep to this sound every night.

If you look closely below you can see the pebbles as they are being tossed around by the waves.

 As our day came to an end we were also treated to a visit from a wild rabbit and a sea bird that I didn’t recognize. If anyone knows the name of this type of bird please let me know as I have never seen one of these before.

 So if you are in the mood for a beautiful day at the beach or a picnic or even a hike, I would recommend Rosario Beach, especially if there happens to be a low tide. If you want to camp there are several areas in the vicinity. Deception Pass State park is a beautiful place to camp (and one of my favorite places) with hundreds of sites and many trails. You can also camp at Bowman Bay which is very close to Rosario Beach. Both places require reservations though so reserve early as they fill up quickly.

**Please enjoy my photos but don’t use them without notification or my permission. If there is an image that you would like to use or would like as a print please contact me.

Mount Vernon, Washington                                                                                                                           

May 2008

The Tulips of Skagit Valley are some of the best in the world. Every year people trek on up to Skagit to see the marvelous displays of multi-colored tulips. Fields upon fields of red, purple, yellow, white and a whole spectrum of colors as far as the eye can see.

The annual Tulip Festival usually runs through the month of April. This year since our spring weather was so crazy they extended the festival through May 4^th. I don’t usually go to the actual festival anymore. There are usually many people around and it is tough to take photographs without people getting into the way. There is nothing worse than discovering a great shot and having a someone standing in it. J So rather than possibly be impatient with the people who are there to enjoy themselves, I try to plan on being there when I know not many people will. When the daffodils were in bloom I went before all of the fields were open to the public and it worked out very well. If you’d like to see my day with the daffodils click here when you are finished with the tulips. 

This year I decided to try to get some tulip sunrise photos. I live about an hour away from Mt. Vernon so I had to be up pretty early. My oldest daughter went with me and we both stumbled out of the house before dawn. During the drive I had a sudden realization. I left my camera battery in the charger! We were almost there when I remembered, so my daughter lifted my spirits (she inherited the optimism that I usually have) and convinced me to go anyway even though all I had to use was a point and shoot camera. It was, however, a good idea since this gave us time to drive around and search for the perfect field. I was determined to go back the next day to get my tulip shots!

Unfortunately for me the sunrise was perfect that morning. It was a glorious mixture of yellow and orange and I am just glad that I was able to at least see it. I was extremely happy (and envious) for the photographers who were scattered throughout the fields who didn’t forget their camera battery, and were able to capture those amazing moments.

(My youngest daughter taking her own photos of the tulips) 

The next day my youngest daughter decided she would be the one to accompany me on my morning quest. The sky wasn’t looking too promising when we arrived, but we patiently waited to see if the sun would break through the clouds as it rose above the mountains. 

We had fun walking through the fields taking close-ups and perspective shots, but I was still hoping for some of the color I had seen the day before. I was actually quite impressed with some of the shots my 9 year old took with her little camera. Maybe we have a little photographer in the making.

 We decided to leave that field and go to another I had found the day before. The tulips were a deep red and the trees nearby were a perfect contrast.

So the only beautiful colors that day were those of the tulips. The sun never really produced the kind of sky I had seen the day before, but in the end it was well worth the two early morning trips. 

You don’t see this kind of beauty everyday. I am just lucky that it is practically in my backyard, and that I am able to experience this glorious spectrum year after year. So next year if you have never seen the Skagit Valley Tulips or Daffodils mark it on your calendar of things to do in April ‘09. If you don’t mind the crowds attend the festival. It is great fun and there are so many activities. Click here for the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival website so you can bookmark it for next year.

Oh yeah, these guys just happened to be in the next field and they all took a great deal of interest in our being there.

They couldn’t take their eyes off of us!

  **Please enjoy my photos but don’t use them without notification or my permission. If there is an image that you would like to use or would like as a print please contact me.

June 2008                                                                                                                                                          

San Juan Islands Washington

When someone mentions the San Juan Islands you immediately think of Orca whales, pristine islands, great fishing, and of course the exciting journey getting to the islands though the Puget Sound. So when our good friends invited us on a fishing day trip to the islands a few weeks ago, I was more than excited.

The San Juan Archipelago is made up of hundreds of islands but only 15 are accessible by the Washington State Ferry. The others are reachable by plane or private boats. The islands are situated between the Strait of Georgia and the Strait of Juan de Fuca in the northern Puget Sound. The largest and most populated islands are San Juan, Lopez, Orcas and Shaw with ferry services to all four, and inter island ferry services amongst them as well.

The day of our fishing trip we left through Coronet Bay which is on Whidbey Island near Deception Pass. I was thrilled to find out we would be going through this particular boat launch. To access the Islands from here we would have to go under the Deception Pass Bridge which is an adventure in itself. The currents are turbulent and there are whirlpools which you can actually see if you are peering downwards while standing on the bridge. Boats always have a difficult time getting through this channel, so it’s thrilling and chilling at the same time.

The ride out to our friend’s fishing spot was a quick one. The small islands whizzed by as we enjoyed the rush of wind and spray of the water. I was looking and hoping to see an Orca Whale since they inhabit the San Juans. Unfortunately, the closest we came was a few cute seals bobbing their heads out of the water.

When we reached his fishing spot near Shaw Island (I won’t divulge the exact location since this is his hot spot and you know how guys get when it comes to fishing) the view was outstanding. Mt. Baker was in the background and the island was picture perfect. (See photo at the top of the page)

Right away we caught 4 Lingcod and we were excited. My children actually pulled a few in (with help) so they were very glad they came, and determined to catch more.

I think we caught a few Greenling too. It makes for such a better time fishing when you are actually catching some. Wow, actually catching fish, a beautiful day with great friends and a day at the incredible San Juan Islands. Doesn’t get any better than that.

We saw quite a few Madrona trees along the shore lines and if you have ever seen one of these you know they stand out beautifully. They have a gorgeous red bark and curvy branches. They are easily spotted when standing within the evergreens.

We saw float planes.

Sailboats

 And after being on the boat for over 8 hours in the same fishing spot, I was so desperate for new scenery I even took photos of the fishing equipment.

When we arrived back at Coronet Bay, the sun was setting and I was able to get a few good sunset shots, which made my day complete.  If you haven’t already had the chance to visit the San Juans I wouldn’t waste anymore time. My next San Juan adventure will be to Lime Kiln State Park on San Juan Island. This is where you have a good chance of seeing the Whales from the island. So be sure to check back and hopefully I will have some incredible whale shots for you. Can you believe I have lived in the Pacific Northwest this long and I have yet to see a whale?

I recently found out that one of my older photos has been selected for inclusion in the newly released second edition of the Schmap Northwest Guide. (It was found through my Flickr  which I have been obsessed with lately). This photo was taken last October at Craven Farm while hunting for our Halloween pumpkins. I have a blog entry for the farm here, Craven Pumpkin Farm. My photo was selected for the Northwest Guide which can be found here, Schmap Northwest. I kinda wish they had selected one of my more favorite photos, but it is exciting nonetheless.

Schmap is a worldwide online travel guide which can be used online, and offline as a desktop application used for trip planning. Schmap is also available for the iPhone with a local search service. Widgets for websites and blogs are also used, but I have not yet been able to add that application here. They have 200 destinations published throughout the United States, Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.  

Exploring a Schmap Guide is a uniquely interactive experience: maps and guide content are dynamically integrated, allowing intuitive, real-time access to reviews and photo slideshows for places of interest.  -Schmap.com      

“Crawling Sun Starfish”

**This photo was chosen for “Seattle Times Reader Photo of the Week” and will be featured in the NW Weekend section of the Seattle times, and at seattletimes.com on Thursday May 29, 2008

 More legs than the Rockettes-Seattle Times

I love low tide. It’s one of my favorite activities here in Washington. I used to rush the kids to Mukilteo Beach everytime there was a really low tide, and now that they are older I think the enthusiasm has worn off. I, on the other hand, will cancel any and all plans just so I can experience the extreme low tides that come only a few times a year. During extreme low tides here the most amazing sea life is uncovered.

(Sun Starfish on the side of a structure that is usually underwater)

I mentioned in a previous blog that a friend of mine had brought me to a beach in Edmonds, Wa. during a really low tide once.  That particular day I was amazed at the amount of large Sun Starfish which I had never seen before. I took dozens of photos but unfortunately my daughter dropped the camera into the water and the photos were all ruined. I had no evidence to show everyone that I had actually seen these incredible creatures. Since then I have been trying to get back to this beach at a low enough tide to uncover these enormous Sun Starfish. The abandoned pier is just north of Edmonds Beach (the Kingston ferry terminal).

 (This is the abandoned pier in Edmonds)

 A few weeks ago the tide in Edmonds was supposed to be at a -3.8 which is quite low. The last time I went it was only a -2.1 and even though I did get to see some fascinating invertebrates, it wasn’t low enough to see the Sun Starfish I had been waiting so long to see again. On May 8th 2008, I climbed down the boulders (refer to this blog entry for details and descriptions Edmonds Beach Low Tide) and was delighted to see what I had waited years for. Under the pier and on every piling there were Sun Starfish, Anemones, Ochre Sea Stars, chitons, crabs, clams, mollusks, etc. You name it, it was under there!

(A Sun Starfish waiting for the tide to come in. A hungry heron waits in the distance)

I had my camera and I also brought my Mother this time since the kids were busy. She was also amazed at the amount of sea life under there. When I describe a low tide to someone who has never experienced one I usually say “It’s like someone pulled the plug on the ocean.” To me it’s like visiting another world. Now I understand why diving is so popular.

 (A piling with an array of sea critters hanging on ’till the tide comes back) 

Of course to see everything I had to wear shoes that could get wet. The tide was out quite far but when it starts to come back in the water gets pretty deep. At this point you have to be careful where you step since there are invertebrate creatures everywhere. In the end I ended up getting soaked almost to my waist. The water was cold but I was enjoying myself too much to mind. 

(A Northern Red Sea Anemone)

 (Quite a few Ochre Star Fish)

I saw something I found to be incredible that day. I didn’t realize that starfish crawled along the sand when they were out of the water. I saw at least 4 different sunstars on the ground with tracks behind them. I thought the one below had the coolest pattern. You can actually see how his legs moved and the remnants of the clam he ate along the way. Amazing!

This small sun starfish was upside down so we came to his rescue and flipped him over. I bet he was grateful.

This anemone was completely closed and transparent. If you look closely you can see the tentacles inside. Don’t you love low tide?? 

 So, the next extreme low tide, head out to Edmonds and check out this amazing place. I might see you there!! You can click the link on my blogroll to see the tide predictions. I believe the next really low tide will be the first week of June 2008 and then again the first week of July.

**Parking is limited but I have always found a spot on the street. This is not a public beach so be respectful to the people who live near there. Also be aware of the railroad tracks, take caution when crossing them.

Use the map below for directions. Click “View Larger map” underneath the map to be able to scroll in and out for more detailed directions. The pier is at the top of the map where you see “Meadowdale”. If you have any questions or “comments” leave me a comment.

 
View Larger Map

 **Please enjoy my photos but don’t use them without notification or my permission. If there is an image that you would like to use or would like as a print, please contact me.