Where Curiosity Takes Me

Monday, April 15, 2013

Staircase Rapids Loop

Kelsie, Kristin, Jayne, Peggy, Stefani

Staircase Rapids Loop 3/13/13

Today was for the girls, and apparently the rain. Five of us ladies went on a nice little day hike up to Staircase Rapids by Lake Cushman. The weather didn’t look promising but we were dedicated to go rain or shine. On the drive down from Bremerton, through Belfair and Union, the rain subsided and the sunshine peaked through the clouds. We got our hopes up but as soon as we got onto Hwy 101 the downpour started. Way too late to turn back now…but we weren’t going to anyways!

The road was really pot-holey. Im not that good at avoiding them, but it was avoidable enough...for the most part. There was also a fire truck on the road. We weren't sure what it was up there for or what they were doing because as we drove up they were turning around on the narrow road.

Fire truck on the way to TH

The pay station at the park entrance was closed when we got there, maybe it isn’t open for the season yet? There wasn’t too much activity at the trail head either but more cars than I would have expected with the current weather. A decent size group with multiple children were getting ready to hit the trail. It looked like they were all ready to go with their umbrellas and I didn’t hear a single kid complaining about the rain! Little troopers!

The trail starts by crossing a bridge right over the North Folk Skokomish River. Follow it to the right along a wide, well maintained trail. This is a very popular place to hike, very family friendly, so I was surprised that I was the only one in our group that has been here! I’ve hiked Staircase Rapids twice, once when I was much younger and another time just a couple years ago. I was hurt that last time because I’m a klutz and wiped out the day before, but this is an easy enough hike to do so we went anyways!

Me & Kelsie

The trail is covered with big puddles that are hard to avoid and even if we managed to keep our feet dry out of the puddles the rain took care of the rest. The tree cover helped a little with the downpour, but we still got soaked none the less. Just a few moments into the trail there is a side trail that leads to Big Cedar, a huge cedar tree that had fallen in the 90’s. The sign says the tree is 17 feet in diameter, it’s pretty darn big! The path ends at the base where you are dwarfed by the roots of this giant. It’s worth the side trip, it wont take you more than a few minutes and it’s pretty cool.

Sturdy new bridge!

It’s barely a mile to the bridge, which has finally been rebuilt since washing out back in the 90’s. I wonder if the storm that took down the big cedar tree is the same one that washed out the bridge? It’s a very nice suspension bridge that was just opened this year I believe. You can see the some of the remains from the old bridge, on the boulders old bolts and “bridge stuff” are still present. Light dusting of snow, looks more like slush, left on the brush and moss. Not quite enough for a snowball, but maybe a snow “marble”.

The sun came out a little bit!

Instead of heading straight back down to the trailhead once we crossed the river we decided to venture up the North Fork Skokomish Trail. It goes much farther but we only walked maybe 15 minutes up just to check it out before heading back. Trail is in great condition as well, and less puddles! Tons of elk poo piles along this trail but we didn’t see any elk ourselves. We stopped back by the bridge to have a quick lunch and snacks before finishing the hike back. A couple small rivers to cross, at times it looked like we would have to ford the river but as you make one turn you finally notice the little bridges. At the larger crossing we stopped for a picture opportunity and unfortunately Kristin’s phone decided to go for a swim. She didn’t notice until we were down the trail a little ways (somehow she noticed when here babybell cheese fell out but not her phone!) so we went back searching for it. We couldn’t really see right under the bridge with the water moving so fast so Kristin went back farther in hopes it fell out on the trail somewhere. Some how we ended up spotting her phone in the river just below the bridge! With a long stick and Kelsie reaching into the cold water we were able to retrieve it and, believe it or not, it was still on and working! It had to have been in the water for about 15 mins. I am shocked that, not only did we find it, but it didn’t break. Whatever phone that is, I recommend it to everyone!

Where Kristin lost her phone...oops!

Right before the end (or the beginning if you start at the North Fork TH) the trail is washed out and rerouted. You can see the Wagon Wheel trail from the new section now. I’m not sure if you could always see it since I’ve never been on that side but it looks like you wouldn’t have been able to see from the original trail. Back at the TH it was pouring again. Maybe it was the entire time and we were just sparred a bit from the tree cover. Back at the cars there was a Ranger patrolling and there were a few less cars left.

Did a total of 3.88 miles (in the pouring rain!) in about 1.5 hours (moving). Soaking wet we headed home and sure enough the sun started coming out again!! That’s ok, it was a fun day spent with the girls!

Pictures courtesy of Kdub & Kelsie. :)

Gazing into nature.

North Fork Skokomish River

The end

Monday, April 1, 2013

Duckabush River Overnight - Big Hump

The forecast was for the mid 60’s the entire weekend making it the nicest weekend so far for 2013 so we took the opportunity to spend Easter weekend out camping! We left home at 9:00 and drove the 1.5 hours to the trail head. Even with the beautiful weather we were experiencing I was surprised how many people were there. I think we counted 9 cars parked at the trailhead by the time we started our hike. Quite a few dogs as well, including our 2 that we brought. My dad and I had hiked this trail 9 years earlier as a day hike and it was interesting to see the parts that we remembered and the aftermath of the fire that unfortunately blazed through the area in September 2011 burning over 1,200 acres within the Brothers Wilderness. It was slow moving for us, being the first backpacking trip of the year and in a while, it took us about 4.5 hours to get to Five Mile Camp. Another backpacker and his dog that passed us on our way up was already set up and resting, he said it took him only 2.5 hours to get there. Maybe we need to get out and exercise some!

Emily, me, and Catherine 2004

Entering the Wilderness, my dad and I 2013

There wasn’t a cloud in the sky and the views were amazing at the multiple break spots we took overlooking the forest. By the time we got up and over Big Hump we were all feeling the effects of the heat and the extra weight on our backs. Luckily we weren’t too far from camp where we would be able to relax by the river. About half a mile left to the camp and I fall, twisting my ankle and worried I wouldn’t make it the last leg of our journey. Good thing my dad brought his walking stick (since I forgot to grab my poles) and that helped make the last descent manageable and we were so close to resting for the rest of the evening. We were tired and wondering if we’d ever get to the campsites! I had never gone this far on this trail but when talking to another couple along the hike they said part of the camping sites had been washed away.

Dad's pointing to the elk below.

Right above the campground we saw a dead elk partially buried in what looks like a slide. Our thought is that the tree above it fell on it before the winter and was buried under the snow and it’s just now being thawed out. A little worrisome that it’s right above the campground, but hopefully any animals that would want to munch on it won’t go near there with the campers so close below.

Little bit of snow left, elk not far off to the right of the trail.

We only stayed one night and brrr it was cold! I’m glad I had bought a sleeping bag liner last month…but it didn’t really do enough. I think I need a warmer sleeping bag since I’m getting braver and going camping in the colder weather now! Poor Jasmine was cold too and her and I both tossed and turned all night long trying to stay warm. Dad said he was quite toasty though! It was hard to get up the next morning and face the chill, but after a cup of hot coco and some hand warmers I was ready to pack up and get home in time for Easter dinner. We saw some of the backpackers that had passed us on the way up leaving as we got ready, they must have stayed just inside the park boundary at the next campsites we were told were there. With the dogs this was as far as we were allowed, which was fine as I don’t think any of us were up for continuing any farther!

Our hike down was only about 50 mins faster than the hike up. We passed maybe 7 or so people heading up, stopped and talked to a few. A couple of guys were up there scouting for a future trail work party with WTA. One of the guys, Greg, stopped and talked to us a bit. Like some of the people he already passed, we mentioned the dead elk up there by the campground. I wonder how they will dispose of that, it sure is a big animal. Over the past couple years there have been many trail work parties on this trail and it’s looking pretty good. If all the work didn’t need to be after the switchbacks I would consider coming out and helping too! I am overdue for some trail work after all.

Downed trees above trail.

Back at the car there were just as many cars as the previous day, everyone seemed to be taking advantage of this weather! Be warned, at the trailhead there was a lot of glass on the ground from broken windows. I didn’t have any problems with my car staying there overnight, nor did I notice any problems with the other cars. The road was full of potholes coming in, but some unlucky fellows were put to work on Easter Sunday repairing the roads. They were in the process of smoothing the road back out when we left, it was a very nice and much smoother ride.

I’m super glad we were able to get out and enjoy the sunshine and nature and start the season off right!

Here's a few more pictures and some more from when we hiked it back in 2004 for comparison.