Revising and Updating

Trying to keep up with road closures and trail conditions can be downright daunting. And as much time (seems like always) as I am on the trail researching for my guidebooks, it can be a challenge keeping my books updated. I hike, map and research every trail I write about so you can trust my information when you hit the trail. But what happens when something changes after my book is published? We try to reprint each title every 12-18 months, so I can add those changes in. I also try to keep you informed on my blog, facebook site and website. But I also can use your help too. You see I am always out researching a new book which means my focus stays in one area for long periods of time. So if something is happening over on the Olympic Peninsula and I am spending the summer near Mount St Helens, I might miss that change. I try to keep up with all my sources to keep me informed, but many times in the field I am not getting that information. With that said, please don't hesitate to send me an email about anything you notice changed from the time of my books' printings. I just finished making revisions/corrections for the 3rd printing of Day Hiking North Cascades. I am currently researching two new books, Day Hiking San Juan and Gulf Island and Day Hiking Mount St Helens. I'll be working on a second edition on the Day Hiking Olympic Peninsula soon with all kinds of changes -including adding new hikes! Let me know if there is anything in particular you want to know more about. And please let me know if there have been any trail/road/land-use changes out there! Thanks and I look forward to hearing from--and thanks for all of your support!

A Suiattle Sooner can't wait to hike the Suiattle any sooner!

Count me to be one of the Suiattle Sooners. That is, I plan to rush the magical Suiattle Valley as soon as the road is reopened which should be sometime late this summer. Finally! Access to the much of the Suiattle Valley and Whitechuck River Valleys was lost in 2003 when devastating floods claimed the Forest Service Roads leading through them. Lost was access to miles of some of the most magnificent hiking trails in the Northwest. And with loss of access, came loss of maintenance and a threat of permanent loss. Which was the case for the Whitechuck, the road washed out in so many places that not even the most stimulus happy Congress could ever justify or provide the funds to rebuilt it--not to mention new environmental concerns as well.

The Whitechuck Trail was a favorite for many and I will always cherish my Halloween 1999 hike on It to Kennedy Hot springs. They're gone too-reclaimed by the earth they once bubbled up from. Lake Byrne will still be accessible via Lost Ridge and the upper Whitechuck still accessible by the Pacific Crest Trail-now fixed and fortified as well. These destinations will be within the backpacking domain-and that's okay, leaving them for the more adventurous intent on a bigger payoff of solitude and true wilderness. But day hikers have plenty to rejoice about too, for Green Mountain, Sulphur Mountain, and Huckleberry Mountain will once again be within their sights.

Thank God-my Day Hiking North Cascades Books has been pitching them for years. And the most glorious spot of all in the Suiattle Valley, Image Lake and Miners Ridge will once again be hikeable from the west. I hiked this area from the east this past summer for my upcoming Backpacking Washington book and can conclude that Image Lake is truly one of the most spectacular places in all of Washington-make that the nation! Yeah, sure there will be a few more people there in 2012-but it's still a 16 mile slog from the west-one that only the hardiest and most determined backcountry trekkers will attain-and they deserve it! Bring on the Suiattle-I can hardly wait-hope to see you on the trail-I'll be there first thing on opening day, pack on and boots ready to kick up some tread!

(photo-Glacier Peak rising above the Suiattle River Valley from the Miners Ridge Lookout 08.10)

Making the Cut in my Guidebooks

So-I am often asked:, when I'm putting together a guidebook and I have to decide what to include in it, what is the criteria I use? Well, obviously I am going to include popular trails (I can't possibly leave them out even though I may not care for a few of them!) and my own personal favorites as well as trails that are generally in decent shape and are easily accessible within the geographic area that I am covering. And of course I want to capture a wide array of trails and hikes ranging from easy to challenging-historic-alpine-lake shore-river side -forest-etc- Then I get to make some personal additions based on among other things-advocacy-Perhaps there is an area or trail that I believe is threatened and needs attention-I want to let you know about it-and I want to let you in on a few "secret trails" too that despite the criticism that I may take for it-I find that most people still go to the same trails over and over again and that the people who seek out different places deserve to be there! So, what doesn't make the cut? Generally paved and urban trails (but not always) because they offer more of a walk than a hike (but what is the fine line difference between those two activities?) and if a trail or road leading to it is dangerous, inconvenient or I would be cursed out for sending you there. The Boulder Lake Trail in the Glacier Peak Wilderness which was never officially built was going to go in my Day Hiking North Cascades Book-until the road leading to it washed out. Being user built and now requiring a long road walk or mountain bike to it, lead me to leave it out. Well, now the good news-the road has been reopened and is drivable for most vehicles and the trail has been greatly improved to almost official standards in places. So what does this mean as far as my books are concerned? Count on it being in the second edition of Day Hiking North Cascades. Matter of fact I plan on increasing the hikes in all of my day hiking books by 25 to 150! I will probably yank a few hikes out for various reasons -so count on having at least 20% new hikes in the new editions as well as updates on all the other trails and new extensions and variations. Of course I always welcome your suggestions-is there a trail I left out that you would like for me to cover? Let me know! In the meanwhile I continue to look for great trails throughout the state to share with you!

(Photo-despite the cold weather, Heather works in a nap at Boulder Lake)

Paddling a Day Hike!

Of the 125 hikes in my Day Hiking Book North Cascades Book, several can be explored by alternative methods. You could horseback ride or mountain bike a few of the routes described-but how many of them can you paddle? Just one! The Padilla Bay Dike Trail in Skagit County. With a high tide; my wife Heather, friend Mary Jo, and I took to the bay and paddled up Indian Slough following along the shoreline trail. Got to plod through plenty of eel grass-one of Padilla Bay's famed natural features which feeds 1,000s of brants come fall. The coolest aspect of the trip other than the late evening light illuminating the waters and grass beds-was paddling by the shoreline barn-a much photographed landmark along the trail. It makes for a wonderful shoot too from the water. A great adventure-and nice to finish a "hike" with sore arms instead of legs!

Photo- Mary Jo paddles by the famous Padilla Bay Trail slough side barn

Stay on What Trail?!

I have to share this photo with you. Its from the Shark Reef Sanctuary on Lopez Island (see my Day Hiking North Cascades Book). I get a kick out of the sign pleading you to stay on the trail. But, look-the trail has been obliterated-where is it?! Just a thought for you when out hiking in the windy stormy months of January and February and it looks like we have another bout heading our way this week. Hunker down and pray that our trails make it through yet another winter. There's very little money in the coffers to repair our trails if they get hit!

(photo-Heather reads the sign while looking for tread)

Baker's Delight!

The picture in Harvey Manning's 100 Hikes North Cascades for Boulder Ridge is an uninspiring photo from the trailhead. No other guidebooks mention Boulder Ridge. Trail reports from various sources mention a scary rope climb, killer mudholes and brush and lots of bugs. I left it out of my Day Hiking North Cascades Book because of all of that negative publicity. Boy, was I wrong to not check this place out earlier. This weekend in the 80 degree sunny weather, Heather and I went up the Boulder Ridge Trail and this is what we found:

• First two miles in old-growth forest is nice trail and a delight to hike
• Next two miles on climbers path not bad at all
• one steep section
• good tread and no route finding needed
• no mosquitoes just some biting flies down in the valley
• mud holes minimal but could be a problem during a wetter year
• Brushy in spots but just huckleberry bushes-I wore shorts and came out with no scratches
• the scary rope-it is there but only if you want to continue on a mostly climbing route
• You'll get plenty of scenery and excitement beforehand making for a wonderful 4 mile journey
• You can explore the moraine up to the snout of Boulder Glacier without any climbing concerns
• There was nobody here! How many people do you suppose were out at Artist Point, Skyline Divide, and Park Butte. Yep, hundreds!
• This hikes is definitely going in a future edition of my Day Hiking North Cascades Book
• Get out there and enjoy it!