OUR TOWN
“Just the other day I was hiking with my daughters and we spotted an owl and it was the third time in the last few months we found owls,” says Martinson, who can recall numerous animal sightings from his hiking excursions. According to the WDFW, a pack of wolves deemed the Naneum Wolf Pack, consisting of at least three wolves as of 2019, reside in Kittitas County’s wilderness. The department considers wolves a protected species and states that they are still endangered in Washington. Don’t let the thought of a local wolf pack scare you though. Although he has not seen any traces of them yet, he claims the wolves add a little excitement to hiking around the Naneum trail area. Rattlesnakes are a smaller, but still threatening animal to watch out for on trails, especially in the Kittitas area. Martinson explains that his first reaction when spotting a rattlesnake is to jump back and then check it out. If you’re going to follow his lead, just remember to get out of the strike zone first. While hiking along the back side of Ingalls Lake, Martinson has also seen less intimidating wildlife in the form of mountain goats. Then, on the smaller side of the animal kingdom, Martinson says he also sees Killdeer. Believe it or not, this is actually a type of bird and not a deer. The telltale signs of Killdeer are the black stripes along their head and upper torso area, light brown feathers on the wings and back and a white underbelly. Preparation for the Trip It may seem obvious, but it is important to bring water and something to eat when going on a hike, at the very minimum. Martinson says he would recommend bringing water, food, a map and a first aid kit. Popejoy seconds the idea of bringing water; “I bring my Hydro Flask, and I bring an extra bottle of water in case I end up drinking a lot.”Something else Popejoy recommends, aside from food and drink, is bringing someone with you on a hike. “Our rule is we hike together [and] never hike alone.” Hikes can be multiple miles long and are not always predictable. Massey says she always informs someone before going on a hike in case she doesn’t come back in a timely manner. Another thing you might want to know before heading out to the trail is how to get there. “I always make sure to go to Google Maps and 12
SPRING 2020 | ISSUE ONE
then I screenshot all the instructions to get there in case my phone dies or if I lose reception,” says Massey. Weather is an added aspect that may impact the enjoyment of a hike. Popejoy suggests that you “Make sure you have hiking shoes, and just be ready to get a little muddy.” Looking up a trail prior to going can give the opportunity to see what the last person to go on a trail encountered on their way. Martinson says it is good to know what the last person to hike a trail has said about it in the event that a trail is washed-out or has a lot of bugs. Hiking in the rain, Martinson notes, is less popular leading to a more peaceful hike with less people around. He says bringing a rain jacket and boots are going to benefit you when hiking in the rain. While ice may not be that big of a problem during the spring and summer, late fall and winter do provide slippery trails as an added challenge. Popejoy recalls a hike that her class went on during the winter that had many students slipping around on the ice and snow. In these situations, bringing shoes with good traction, possibly in the form of spikes similar to cleats, is a method for avoiding a fall.
