Merry Christmas, Buon Natale, Joyeux Noel, Feliz Navidad!

A foot plus of snow blankets the New Hampshire countryside this Christmas Morning. Ahh, the coveted White Christmas has struck again. A far cry from last year's 60 degree Christmas. The temperature this morning is a seasonal 33. That's more like it! Off for our morning yule time run-then its mangia, mangia tuttie giorno. That's eat and eat all day long! Hope you are all enjoying your Christmas. Go for a run, ski, walk, or snowshoe then sit back with friends and family and celebrate the season of peace and goodwill towards all. Merry Christmas everyone!

Happy Winter Solstice!

Today in Skagit County, Washington, the sun rose at 8:00 am and sets at 4:15pm. Tomorrow add a minute to that sunset! Yahoo! I love living in northern climes for the seasons and the long day light hours in the summer, but the winter darkness can get to you. Thank God for the holidays with all of their festive lights. Now nature will give us a little more light each day.

Tonight Heather and I are running in a Winter Solstice night run-five miles in the dark in a recreation area that once housed a mental asylum. Sounds to me like it should be a Halloween Run instead! Should be fun. Ok, for all you out there who don't follow the Gregorian calendar, Happy New Year. The Annus Novus has begun. Let there be light!

(photo-SPNHF Munsonville reserve Milford NH)

Let it Snow! But Play it Safe!

While the global warming alarmists are off in Bali in air-conditioned conference rooms-that's a big carbon foot print Al, not to mention all of the jet fuel used to get you and the rest of the Chicken littles over there-Ah, but I digress. Seriously, I really do believe that we are seeing climate change-but the climate always changes and I don't need a bunch of fat-cat mass-consuming politicians and demagogues telling me how to live (when I already live far greener than they do by the mere fact that I consume less) when they are nothing but a bunch of power-grabbing hypocrites!

Ah-but I digress again-this is the time for peace on earth goodwill towards men-all of them-even politicians! What I really wanted to say was that here in Washington and over in my home state of New Hampshire it has been one heck of a December so far in the snow falling category. Let it Snow! White Christmas! A beautiful blanket from heaven above draped upon the hills, mountains, forests and cities. But for heaven's sake people, play it safe out there. We've been having a few tragedies here in the Cascades.

Karen Sykes of the Seattle PI has a great little article in today's paper about playing it safe in the woods in the winter time. Check it out. Okay full disclosure-I'm quoted in the article. Now back to global warming- I don't dismiss it like the far right-but I don't fully embrace it as the end of the world either as the far left claims. Here's my advice to Al Gore, Mayor triple chin of Seattle and the rest of you alarmists-why don't you guys stop driving, flying, living in monstrous houses, investing in power companies, lavishly consuming, and gaining excessive weight-then maybe I'll try listening to you. In the meantime- I live modestly-drive sparingly, consume even more sparingly, am deeply concerned about the health of our planet and realize that it is going to take a lot more than fear mongering and manipulating the populace to make our planet a better place. For one thing it is all about consumption and population. I don't see any of the alarmists reducing their own consumption and I don't ever see them talk about promoting a sane and sustainable population policy. Lead-don't deceive.

(photos- Willard Audubon Preserve-NH, Mount Rainier National Park, WA)

Superior Hiking

I'm currently putting together five short articles for the Park Report for the Weather Network's website. One of the parks that I am writing about is Sleeping Giant Provincial Park. You know-I grew up in the Northeast with the White Mountains-live now in the Northwest with the Cascades-and up until my September trip to northwest Ontario-I plain forgot just how wild parts of the continent's mid section are. Particularly the Lake Superior region. It is an area of immense beauty and raw wild places. Sleeping Giant rises over 1,000 feet above the lake they call Gitchee Gumee. Hey, this is Gordon Lightfoot Country-ancestral lands of the Ojibwa. Over 20 years ago I spent 11 days backpacking Isle Royale National Park in Lake Superior. It was one of my most cherished life moments-and I have many! When I stood atop the Sleeping Giant this past September, I could see Isle Royale in the distance and a whole lot of special and wild lands. Don't discount the continent's heartland. Its pulse is wild and free!

(looking north along the Sibley Peninsula from the knees of the Sleeping Giant-9/07)

Spencer Island Barn Spent

This past week I set out for Spencer Island in the Snohomish River Estuary Preserve outside of Everett for a little trail research. I had last visited about three years ago for a hiking brochure that I designed for the County Tourism Board and for a running article for Northwest Runner magazine. This visit was for inclusion of Spencer Island in my upcoming guide book, Day Hiking Central Cascades (Mountaineers Books).

How fast things change around here thanks to our latest string of tumultuous autumn storms. It is no longer possible to hike all the way around the island. The levee trail on the northern half of the island has been breached in a couple of places making circumnavigation of the island impossible now. Fortunately, you can still hike the southern half of the island; and that will be in my new book. It is just that the entire hiking experience here is now shorter.

And missing a famous landmark. If you have my Snohomish Hiking Brochure turn to the page on Spencer Island. The old barn, captured in the brochure by Alan Bauer is no longer standing. A wind storm last fall toppled it. One of last remnants of Spencer Island's farming days gone. Fortunately the Jackknife Bridge (shown above), one of the last remaining bascule bridges, still spans the island providing access to this wonderful and easily accessible natural area.

One other Snohomish Hiking Note: The Lunds Gulch Trail at Meadowdale County Park is currently closed. A series of landslides has rendered it inaccessible. Park personnel should have the trail reopened by spring. But the old barn on Spencer is never coming back.

Good Tidings at the Christmas Rush

One of my favorite holiday traditions is running in the annual Christmas Rush 10K in Kent, Washington. Now granted, Kent isn't exactly the hot spot of Washington. But this southern King County suburb does have its charms-mainly the greenbelts hugging the Green River. And the course for the Christmas Rush utilizes those greenbelts. This latest race was the event's 25th. Runners were greeted by a cold albeit sunny morning. Over 1,500 runners and walkers participated this year. Race director, Mark Hendrickson with the city of Kent Parks Department does an excellent job putting this race on. I particularly enjoy meeting up with running friends and acquaintances at this event each year as many of the area clubs use it as a holiday get together. Here, Heather and I enjoy hot chocolate and banana bread with the Port Orchard Slugs. Great bunch of runners. Great race. Great Time. See you there again next December.

It Could Have Been Worse

I suppose after all of the recent trail and road damaging storms we have been receiving here in Washington State, that the latest could have been a whole lot worse. Of course if you live in Chehalis you're probably wondering just what the hell I'm talking about. Unfortunately, the folks of Lewis County were dealt a serious blow and will be cleaning up for quite some time after the flood waters recede. Hardly a jolly Christmas gift. As far as damage to our trails over on the Olympic Peninsula, the initial reports coming in don't seem so bad. So bad that is compared to last year's storms that destroyed Rainier's roads, campgrounds, and trails. Early reports were pointing to similar results at Olympic National Park such as Altair Campground being washed away by the Elwha. Last year that campground was dealt a few blows including having a big ole tree destroy one of its lovely CCC built shelters. The campground was spared this year and so were a few other places. Read the park service's report below:

Olympic National Park News Release
December 5, 2007
For Immediate Release
Barb Maynes 360-565-3005

Storm Damage Update

As park crews gain access to the roads and facilities, additional damage has been discovered in some areas, while other roads have reopened. Phone and electrical service are still out in the park’s western areas.

A summary of known damage follows.

Hurricane Ridge Road – A major slide near the Switchback Trail brought
mud, debris and water over the road. Once the slide was cleared,
workers were able to spot several areas of extensive damage to the road
shoulder along the downhill lane.

The road will remain closed this weekend to allow crews to fully assess
the damage and begin repairs. The Heart O’the Hills campground is
closed due to earlier damage from the November 12 windstorm.

Quinault Valley –The North Shore and South Shore Quinault Roads are
closed due to downed trees and electrical lines and crews are continuing
to cut their way through the trees and reopen the roads.

There is no electrical or phone service at Quinault. The North Fork and
Graves Creek Roads remain closed and have not been assessed yet.

Hoh Road – The Hoh Road is closed at its intersection with Highway 101.
One lane of the road was washed out within Jefferson County; minor
damage has also occurred within the park.

Elwha – The Olympic Hot Springs Road, the Whiskey Bend Road and the
Elwha campground have all reopened.

The Elwha Valley’s Altair campground was not as severely damaged as
initially thought; receding floodwaters have revealed many sites to be
damaged by the flooding, but no sites or structures were lost. The
Altair campground is closed throughout the winter season.

Lake Crescent area – Highway 101 has reopened in the Lake Crescent area;
both the East Beach and Camp David Junior roads are open and cleared.

Sol Duc Road – The Sol Duc Road remains closed due to a mudslide about a
half-mile south of Salmon Cascades.

Mora – The Mora area has reopened, including the Mora campground.

Ozette – The Ozette area is closed with downed trees and power lines.

Dosewallips, Staircase and Queets Roads remain closed due to previous damage and unsafe conditions. The Deer Park Road is closed for the season.

Groups and individuals interested in volunteering to help the park with storm recovery are urged to check the park’s website. Once damage assessments are complete, volunteer opportunities will be posted at http://www.nps.gov/olym.

For current road information, people should call the Olympic National Park recorded road and weather information line at 360-565-3131.

But while the early reports have us breathing a few sighs of relief, rest assure that there will be some serious damage out there. Trail crews will not go for want of work to do. Will they be funded though? That is the main concern. Citizens: get your checkbooks out and start sending them to the WTA and other similar groups. Get on the phone too, and start demanding that your representative in Congress finally begins to adequately fund your parks and trails.

(photo-damaged CCC shelter at Altair Campground)

Rain drops kept falling on my state...

But I'm never going to stop the rain from complaining-but at least a cold dry front will. We are finally drying out here in western Washington. And while up here in Skagit County we were pretty much spared the deluge, the case is not so good down in Kitsap, Grays Harbor and Lewis Counties. Michael Fagin of Washington Online Weather has just released the rainfall totals for Monday and Tuesday. They are truly amazing. Check them out:

These totals are for the entire day Monday 12-3; Bremerton 10.46 inches, Sea-Tac Airport 3.77 inches, and Seattle Weather Office (Sandpoint) 4.15 inches. Here are the estimated two day totals (cumulative) for Sunday 12-2 and Monday 12-3; Sea-Tac 5.34 inches, Shelton 7.71 inches, and Bremerton 12.42 inches.

Now for some drier ponderings:

Here's hoping that all those affected by the storm can soon get their lives back in order. We are praying for you all.

Here's hoping too that our trails weathered this latest assault fairly well.

And here's hoping that our pathetic government leaders can actually get something done in this state aside from pointing fingers and voting for ridiculous boondoggles. How about building the damn levees along the Chehalis River first before expanding a light rail system that'll be light years before it ever gets done? And you obstructionist environmentalists-get out of the way and let the Army Corp get those levees in. And you greedy developers and on-the-take city planning boards-stop allowing developments in flood plains. There are plenty of old industrial lands that can be redeveloped instead of destroying more agricultural lands and riparian ecosystems.

Yep, I know what I'm wishing for this Christmas; sound utilitarian government policies, an enlightened populace, and no more rain!

( photos- Pine Lake in Whatcom County, Quinault River in Jefferson County- and thanks to BJ Thomas for borrowing lyrics from "Raindrops keep falling on my head," from the excellent film- "Butch Cassidy and the Sun Dance Kid")

Kitsap Peninsula Clobbered!

Among the hardest hit areas in western Washington from Sunday and yesterday's wind and rain blast was the Kitsap Peninsula. According to Chris Henry with the Kitsap Sun, a record 7.5 inches of rain fell on Kitsap County in the 24-hour period ending at 8:30 a.m. on Monday. This is a record according to Lt. Charlie Rinard of Bremerton Fire Station 2. And the rain kept falling as an additional 1.08 inches of rain had fallen as of 3:30 p.m. Monday, setting a new two-day total record of 8.58 inches. And the rain still kept coming down. Last I heard as of this morning it was close to 11 inches. Anyone heading out this weekend to do one of the eight hikes in my Day Hiking Olympic Peninsula Book better pack a sense of adventure with their rain gear. I have a feeling some of these places may not have fared so well. I hope to have updates and hopefully positive info for you as we dry out.

(photo-Twanoh Creek)

Peninsula Pounded by Precipitation

Just when we thought we made it through this fall relatively unscathed, here comes the December Blast of 07! Record winds and rains throughout western Washington, and particularly the Olympic Peninsula. Early reports indicate that the Queets, Elwha and Skokomish Rivers are all near record flood stages. Of course we hikers are all too familiar with what all of this means-more damaged roads and trails. The situation for our trails here in Washington State is going from dire to truly dreadful. We were hit hard in 2003, 2006, and now this month. If you head out after the deluge be prepared for surprises. This is sad indeed and I can only imagine what surprises await me along the Skykomish River Basin as I continue work on my next hiking guide.

(photo-Hiking Leadbetter Point February 2005)

Let the Christmas Season Begin

Ok, time for something a little more serious this time. Tomorrow is the first day of Advent, the true beginning of the Christmas season-not Black Friday-not Thanksgiving-and for God's sake, not Halloween! And as it is the true Christmas season now, the true meaning should be reflected-peace on earth, goodwill to all men. Not shop til you drop or any other materialistic corruption of this truly magical time. Christmas to me is not only a spiritual time but also a time to celebrate nature as the solstice approaches. I especially like the tying of Christian and Pagan rituals during this time. The celebration of life and the earth ties in nicely with hope, salvation and redemption.

Perhaps if we stayed out of the malls a little more in the next few weeks and took more walks in the woods the Christmas spirit may become more revealing to us. Don't get me wrong-I have nothing against gift giving and commerce. I am just disgusted over our modern culture's cult of materialism and consumerism. It has become a new religion for many. It's false! The real meaning of life is in nature-in the beauty of the natural world-in the marvelous gifts of life that God has bestowed upon our home, planet earth. Get outside and celebrate it!

(photo- Rila Monastery in the Rila Mountains of Bulgaria)