On Tuesday we were lucky enough to go out out on some of the many miles of the Kludahk trail.
The area is not heavily promoted for conservation reasons, mostly to protect sensitive wetlands and has been in the works now for about 25 years.
It is a public trail accessible by logging roads.
If there is work going on in the area, take caution and let them know.
Phoebe, rounding up the troops.
So our first stop was to meet in Jordan River at the logging company office.
If there is work going on in the area, take caution and let them know.
So our first stop was to meet in Jordan River at the logging company office.
These areas are restricted and you do not want to mess around on active logging roads.
A big truck piled up with big logs can come around a corner at any time...
Once we were past the working area, it was rough up hill for quite a while until we got to the top of one of the trail heads... this is about 3200 feet above sea level...these areas were logged a few years back.
The most incredible thing is the amount of avalanche lilies!!
When you get up close, there are millions of them...
While I was zooming in on one I spotted this little fella...
Then it was off to the first part of the trail where the first cabin was built...
Yup that's snow still up there!
They call this Tower cabin for the police,hydro, rescue radio tower which sits on the peak.
There's the outhouse...built up high for the depth of the snow in winter...sometimes it can be 14 or 20 feet deep!
The cabin is open to anyone who wants to use it (by donation) and is fully equipped except for food and sleeping gear.
Crutches and snowshoes...what more could a gal want?!
Oh yeah! A bath!
Here's Maywell...
He's one of the pioneers of this area who has cleared, built, cleared more, built more and cleared some more of the many trails and cabins. Along with his friend Phoebe, they have led more than their share of hikes and have been paramount in preserving the area and educating others of the importance of the environment.
Not to mention the stories he has to tell of encounters with cougars, bears, wolves and even a fox or two.
Fresh bear tracks behind the cabin that day...
The Tower cabin has the most spectacular view point as well as a helicopter pad where we had lunch...
"Any for me?"
This is the San Juan Valley, looking north on Vancouver Island.
Some of the other trails...there are 7 different kinds of blueberries which grow here...they were just coming out in flower though...
On the way down more lilies and wild azaleas...
Stopping for a snack and to listen to the birds...
She'll be coming around the mountain.....
Looking down into the bogs...
Lots of pretty little waterfalls and creeks..
It's good to see some new life from these scarred and ragged hills and to know that there's people out there who will dedicate so much of their time to help commit random acts of conservation.
For more info or to donate to the cause...
2 comments:
gosh, where do i begin? when i was growing up we camped all the time. one of our favorite things to do was to hike to the nearest lookout tower and see if we could find the forest ranger to visit with. all my dreams then were of living in a lookout tower. so your photos had me leaping through my computer screen.
and what great photos! loved that outhouse. especially was taken by the avalanche lilies! now they will earn a spot in a poem i will write someday.
i look forward to your posts each day.
sherry
Beautiful photos ... love all the trees and flowers and the frog! The thing is that I just can't get over your dog! So dang adorable!!!
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