Mount Baker Experience Summer 2012

special publication of the northern light

S A L

T F H O E T Y R E E A C N O C STIVAL OF THE SU R! M E ME F T

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MOUNT BAKER EXPERIENCE | SUMMER 2012

CONTENTS

SUMMER 2012

GETTING WET 4

‘Round Lummi Circumnavigating the other island

6

Below the Surface Diving in the Pacific Northwest

10

4

What’s SUP? The view from a stand up paddleboard

22

Liquid Light Paddling in search of bioluminescence

GETTING OUT 8

Shredding Cleator Chuckanut has mountain bike trails for all riders

PHOTOS (CLOCKWISE): DAN MOOS, PAT GRUBB, SAM LOZIER, JON BRUNK PHOTOGRAPHY

12

9

Turns All Year Who says you can’t ski all summer long?

10

14

Shooting Stars Prime viewing sites for the Perseides meteor shower

18

Zip On The thrill of zip-lining

26

Divine Divergence Hiking the Nooksack Cirque and Yellow Butte trails

FOOD AND DRINK 20

Home Grown Deliciously local food and drink

27

Belly Timber Bars

PHOTO GALLERY 16

Freeze Frame Local photographers capture the action

12 MOUNT BAKER EXPERIENCE PUBLISHERS Patrick Grubb and Louise Mugar, Point Roberts Press, Inc. MANAGING DIRECTOR Kathy McGee STAFF WRITERS Jeremy Schwartz, Carissa Wright PUBLICATION DESIGN Charlie Hagan ADVERTISING DESIGN Charlie Hagan, Ruth Lauman ADVERTISING SALES Molly Ernst, Janet McCall, April Miles OFFICE MANAGER Carissa Wright CONTRIBUTORS Molly Baker, Kitty Bond, Jon Brunk, Joey Burke, Tim Chandonnet, Dave Church, Gene Davis, Jay Goodrich, Ryan Hasert, Brandy Kiger, Karl King, Sam Lozier, Sue Madsen, Tyler Mitchell, Dan Moos, Dave Peebles, Sherry Sennet, Shannon Skouras, Andy Wallis ©2012 POINT ROBERTS PRESS 225 Marine Drive, Blaine, WA 98230 TEL: 360/332-1777 EMAIL: info@mountbakerexperience.com WEB: mountbakerexperience.com FACEBOOK: facebook.com/mtbakerexperience PINTEREST: pinterest.com/mtbakerexp TWITTER: twitter.com/MB_Experience If you can see Mt. Baker, you’re part of the experience. Mount Baker Experience is a quarterly recreation guide for and about the Mt. Baker area, published by Point Roberts Press, Inc. Locally owned, the company also publishes The Northern Light, All Point Bulletin, Pacific Coast Weddings, Waterside and area maps in Blaine, Washington. Vol. XXVI, No. 3. Printed in Canada.

LOCAL 9

Ski to Sea

15

The Mountain Runners

19

Deming Logging Show

28

Summer Events and Activities

GEARING UP 23

Book Reviews

24

Summer Gear Picks

ABOUT THE COVER Heather Goodrich looks out at Mt. Shuksan at sunset (near Mt. Baker Ski Area, Washington).

Photo: Jay Goodrich jaygoodrich.com

NEXT EDITION: AUGUST 24, 2012 | ADS DUE: AUGUST 1, 2012 SUMMER 2012 | MOUNT BAKER EXPERIENCE

3

PHOTO BY ANDY WALLIS

I M M U L D N U O ‘R r” island he ot he “t ng ti ga vi na um Circ

BY DAVE PEEBLES

H

aving spent part of my youth in the eastern Washington town of Chelan, and in, on and around the beautiful lake that bears its name, it puzzled me that many lifelong residents had never taken a boat to the head of the lake. The attitude seemed to be that “It’s always there, always has been, and I’ll go someday.” I think a similar notion prevails amongst many locals concerning the San Juan islands. Kayakers the country over, however, regard the islands as a world-class destination, and they rank high on many “must-do” lists.

The islands present a number of impediments to the would-be tourer, however, which I suppose is actually part of the charm. Among these are the long crossings over congested waters roiled by strong currents or crowded state ferries. And when you get to whatever island you have chosen, you often find launching sites sparse, lacking in parking room and costly.

Another way to sample island charms is to tackle Lummi Island. It’s safe to ignore the tepid controversy over whether it really is part of the San Juans, since it is in Whatcom, not San Juan County. The approach to the island does not require a long, hazardous crossing from the preferred put-in, and the wonders of the island itself make this a very worthwhile trip. It can be approached as a one-day circumnavigation or as an overnighter or longer getaway.

GETTING THERE. The easiest put-in is at Gooseberry Point. Though the beach is a few hundred yards west of the ferry landing and is part of the Lummi Reservation, the tribe has always tolerated our using it. As soon as you’ve offloaded your boat and gear, park across Lummi View Drive in the designated area. For all the years we have used this launch and parking area, I have never heard of any security problems with the vehicles left for the day or overnight. I would avoid it, however, during periods when the ferry is out of commission, as many of the islanders park there for the duration.

Some paddlers prefer to approach the island via longer crossings. You can put in at Squalicum Harbor in Bellingham or from Wildcat Cove at Larrabee State Park. Don’t forget that you will need a Discover Pass for your vehicle to park at Larrabee. Although the route from Bellingham needn’t take you far offshore, you are exposed to the open waters of Bellingham Bay, which can be as benign as a lake, or truly tempestuous during stormy weather. From Larrabee, you have a major crossing to make of about four-and-a-half nautical miles, and nearly seven nautical miles from Squalicum Harbor. Here’s an idea to make your decision easier: travel along the shore is much more interesting than open crossings; as the time-honored adage says,“the longest distance between two points may be way more fun than the shortest one.”

Yes, I just made that up.

To do a circumnavigation, start from Gooseberry Point. You can either paddle directly down channel or make your crossing over to the island straight off. Do your best to dodge the Lummi Island Ferry, which makes frequent runs, especially on weekends. This is the route I prefer.

If you want to make your circumnavigation more efficient, try to ride the ebb tide south and the flood north, whether you decide to go clockwise or counterclockwise. Times of slack and direction, as well as force of tidal currents, vary tremendously throughout the area. This is because all that water sloshing through the islands on its way to the Strait of Georgia, and flushing back out again, has to find its way through a veritable maze of twists and turns. A reliable tide table, such as Capt’n Jack’s Tide & Current Almanac, will give you the most detailed information; the inexpensive guides from the local drugstore are almost useless.

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MOUNT BAKER EXPERIENCE | SUMMER 2012

One feature of paddling in the San Juans is that this is not wilderness adventuring. In fact, much of it I would describe as rural, and some even suburban. One of the delights of a Lummi circumnavigation is that while the north end will seem more or less rural or suburban, in the south it becomes truly wilderness. The wilderness portion starts soon after you have passed the huge rock quarry on the island’s east side.

The first major feature you’ll see (and a tempting stopover) is Inati Bay, also called Smugglers Cove. The land around the cove is private property and, according to the owner, so is the water in the bay itself. (I don’t know whether that controversy was ever resolved). For years, Bellingham Yacht Club has had a working arrangement with the owner, but a kayak isn’t a yacht. In any case, it’s best not to stop here.

LANDING SPOTS. A couple of miles farther along, directly opposite the north end of

Eliza Island, you’ll find the Lummi DNR (Department of Natural Resources) camp. This is a lovely site perched on rocky cliffs, with picnic tables, tent pads and fire rings. There are also outhouses. Bring your own water, as none is available here. Whatcom Association of Kayak Enthusiasts (WAKE) volunteers cooperate with the budget-challenged DNR crew in maintaining this site. I fear it would be closed altogether were it not for the effort from WAKE. About a mile and a half farther along, you come to Carter Point, the southern end of the island. If you started your trip down Hale’s Pass in blustery, choppy conditions, you may notice a curious phenomenon as you round Carter Point: the west side of the island, at least for the first few miles, may be strangely calm. I surmise that the southwesterly winds (our usual stormy weather) are abruptly thrust upward when they hit the steep, high bulk of Lummi Mountain, leaving an area of dead air at sea level. Also curiously, the currents here, up at least to Lummi Rocks, are described in the tide and current guide as “weak and variable.” The rocks, which lie a few hundred yards offshore, are a worthwhile stopover. They are administered by the federal Bureau of Land Management, part of the Department of the Interior. This is a strange and fascinating place. There are two good landing beaches here, flanking a tombolo that joins two of the rocks. It’s a nice place to stretch your legs and have lunch. If you happen to be here at the turn of the tide, you can actually watch and hear the movement begin with a swirl and a rush. A small tidal rip may form on the west side of the rocks.

This is a fragile environment, with wildflowers and grass and a few shrubs growing. If you climb (carefully) to the top of the rock closest to Lummi Island, you will discover long, shallow grooves carved into the rocks. These are the signatures of glacial action. Some of the grooves are a foot or more wide, and continue for a hundred yards or so. You can also see these grooves from the water if you round the rocks on the west (Lummi) side. The Puget Sound glacier is believed to have overtopped Orcas Island , which you can see to the northwest. Lummi Rocks must have been a much tougher formation to have withstood the mighty forces of this glacier.

Lummi Mountain looms overhead here, and often, if there is an onshore breeze, you will see eagles and turkey vultures soaring at the very top in the upward flowing air.

Lummi Island actually consists of two distinct geological formations, with quite different histories. The mountainous south portion is said to have originated far off shore and to have ridden the Juan de Fuca plate eastward to its present position. At least on the westside beaches, the rock is primarily shale. The low lying north end, on the other hand, is locally formed

One of the delights of a Lummi circumnavigation is that while the north end will seem more or less suburban, the south becomes truly wilderness.

As you work your way north, be aware that there may be reefnetters at work scooping up salmon, using a technology invented long ago by the Native Americans. The visible part of the operation consists of ranks of scows anchored in pairs. Between each pair stretches a reef net that slants underwater toward the incoming tide and oncoming fish. The net is covered with plastic ribbons resembling eelgrass – in other words, it looks like the bottom. As the salmon swim over this artificial reef, spotters on towers signal their arrival, and the net is hoisted before the salmon can pass over or retreat. A friend of mine who used to be a spotter said it can be the most boring job in the world, though maybe overly exciting if to be perched on one of those towers during stormy conditions. As the flood current flows strongly northward through the lines of reefneters, watch out you don’t get caught up in a net. It could be embarrassing. Boundary Bay brews their Reefnetter Ale in honor of these fishermen. Having paddled through or around the reefnets, you’ll have a fuller appreciation for the ale, which I recommend.

A mile or so north of Village Point, a dike or ridge extends a considerable distance out into

PHOTO BY DAN MOOS

Chuckanut sandstone, which is also found around Wildcat Cove, Clayton Beach, and Sucia, Matia and Clark Islands – and even into the Canadian Gulf Islands. The two formations welded themselves into one in their collision. I have heard there are actually places on the island where you can see the suture of this joining, though I myself have not seen it. It is along this low lying north end of the island that the environment again becomes rural or suburban.

Continuing north, you have two choices: paddle alongshore, or venture out into Rosario Strait to ride the current north. Since the alongshore stream has to go farther, even around the broad curve of Legoe Bay to Village Point, it flows faster. One time I took this route while others stayed in the middle of the main current, and we all arrived at Village Point at the same time.

Rosario Strait, making for some interesting current activity. Often you will not only see rips or overfalls, but may hear them as well. Should you get caught out and get swept into a rip, there’s no need to fight your way out; just concentrate on staying upright, and the current will flush you out the other side. Paddling along this shore north of Village Point, you will see sandstone formations much like those mentioned above. Though you may be tempted, the beaches here are all private property. As you round Point Migley, you’ll want to ascertain whether the tide has turned. If the ebb has started, it’s best to cross over to Gooseberry Point sooner rather than later.

If it’s still flooding, take advantage of a big back eddy by hugging the Lummi shore all the way up to Lummi Point, before making your dash across to Gooseberry. You’ll be able to judge how much current you’ll have to cope with by observing the behavior of the big green navigation buoy at Lummi Point.

If you’ve been carrying your GPS, you can track your actual route and know how many miles you really paddled. Though you could do your navigating with any old roadmap, or sketch on the back of an envelope, it’s best to carry an official chart. That would be chart 18421. If you have a very old one like mine, it’s a 6380. Apparently certain numbers fall out of fashion, but I can’t figure out why. Judging by the number of digits, it looks like a form of inflation. X Dave Peebles has done many Lummi circumnavigations and campouts and has paddled in Baja, Belize, Alaska, Australia, the west coast of Vancouver Island, the Queen Charlottes and B.C.’s inland passage.

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SUMMER 2012 | MOUNT BAKER EXPERIENCE

5

BELOW E C A F R U S E H T west Diving in the Pacific North

BY SUE MADSEN

O

n a cold, windy Saturday, a group of eight hardy souls gathered on the beach on Whidbey Island in wetsuits. It was the first “real” dive of our open water scuba course, and we couldn’t wait to get in the water.

The Pacific Northwest has some of the best diving in the world and, as the friend who had talked me into trying it had told me, “If you learn to dive here, diving anywhere else will be easy.” The highlights of that first dive included giant orange and white plumose anemones, vast schools of pile perch and a variety of sea stars of different shapes and colors. As divers get steadier and more experienced, the smaller creatures capture the interest – brilliant orange sea cucumbers, purple ring-top snails, scallops, shrimp, nudibranchs and an array of otherworldly creatures that must be seen to be believed. But the big fellows still make the best stories – there are few other places in the world where one can regularly encounter Giant Pacific Octopus or Wolf Eel year-round.

All of us living in this area are well aware of the majestic mountains and stunning scenery that surround us topside, but few folks have experienced the wonders that exist below the ocean’s surface. And wonders they are. Jeremy Jones, owner of Washington Divers, told me that the Salish Sea boasts more color, life and diversity than the tropics. The high biological diversity is a result of its unique geological history. Glaciation some 10,000 years ago carved deep troughs between high mountains; the islands we see today are the tops of these mountains. Puget Sound and Georgia Strait comprise a complex system of interconnected inlets, bays and channels surrounded by rocky headlands, forested slopes, deltas, salt marshes and beaches. Sea water enters from the west, and cold freshwater waterways drain in from the surrounding mountains; the large tidal exchange (up to 15 feet each day) and abundance of freshwater inputs create strong currents that distribute nutrients throughout the region, supporting a diverse, productive food chain. And strange as it may seem, winter can be one of the best times to dive in this area, as water temperatures remain about the same 50 degrees Fahrenheit all year long. Water clarity is at its best in late winter when plankton levels and silt runoff from the rivers are low.

GETTING STARTED. So how do you get started? Rigorous training and an experienced,

dependable buddy are key first steps. No doubt about it, you need to know what you are doing, and being knowledgeable and well prepared is critical. A number of local dive shops offer instruction and advice on equipment (see sidebar). Start by getting certified as an Open Water Diver; courses generally include classroom instruction and pool sessions to introduce you to equipment and to practice skills, and completion of three to five training dives at local dive sites under the supervision of certified instructors.

Once you have been certified, you are then able to rent equipment and get your tanks filled.

Advanced training is also recommended; most local divers complete their drysuit certification soon after taking up the sport (after all, 50 degree water is cold even during the warm summer months). Other specialty courses include boat diving, deep diving, wreck diving, night diving and more. To receive advanced open water certification, you will need to learn navigation and deep water diving skills, take three to four specialty courses and complete 24 dives.

FAVORITE DIVE SPOTS. Great dive spots abound within view of Mt. Baker. Keystone

Jetty on Whidbey Island is a perennial favorite of divers from all skill levels; check out the “octa-hole” to see if the resident octopi are feeling social. Other local shore dives include Rosario Beach and the Langley tire reef. Try a boat dive to Lummi Rocks or Cypress Reef.

The Pacific Northwest is also renowned for its wreck diving. More accomplished divers may want to check out the America, a square-rigged, 232-foot long sailing ship stranded on the rocks of San Juan Island. The cargo of coal that she carried now harbors urchins and kelp. If you are up for a greater challenge try the Cabezon, a 130-foot fishing vessel that burned and sank in the Bellingham channel. Beware of strong currents, however.

North of the border are some of the best diving spots in the world. Jacques Cousteau said the coastal waters of B.C., especially Vancouver Island and Nanaimo, were “the best temperate wa-

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MOUNT BAKER EXPERIENCE | SUMMER 2012

ter diving in the world and second only to the Red Sea.” Nanaimo is famous for its wrecks. The H.M.S Saskatchewan destroyer and the Cape Breton, a 442' former World War II Victory class ship were sunk to create an artificial reef and divers’ mecca. A great shore dive can be found at Lighthouse Marine Park in West Vancouver. The wall of anemones has to be seen to be believed.

Since my first dive I took a bit of a break, but after a recent trip to Belize that included diving and snorkeling the famed “great blue hole,” I found myself this past spring donning the dive gear again and waddling down the beach into the icy waters adjacent to the Keystone ferry dock. This time around, fish were the order of the day. Large ling cod guarding their eggs stoically stood their ground as we drifted by. Kelp greenlings, a yellow-tail rockfish and sailfin sculpin all made an appearance. We searched in vain for signs of life in the octopus holes, but all we saw were the remains of last night’s shellfish dinner. All in all, it was a satisfying way to while away a rainy spring afternoon.X Sue Madsen is a fluvial geomorphologist who likes to climb, ski, backpack, sea kayak and scuba dive in all of the Pacific Northwest’s wild places.

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Washington Divers (SSI) 903 N. State Street, Bellingham 360/676-8029

Ocean Pro Divers 3189 King George Blvd., Surrey 604/538-5608 | oceanprodivers.com

Adventures Down Under 2821 Meridian Street, Bellingham 360/676-4177 adventuresdownunder.com

The Great Pacific Diving Company 10020-152 Street, Surrey 604/583-1700 | 800/811-7797 greatpacific.net

Gone Diving (PADI) 1740 Iowa Street, Bellingham 360/738-2042 | gonediving.org

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WHIDBEY ISLAND Whidbey Island Dive Center 1020 NE 7th Avenue, Oak Harbor 360/675-1112 | whidbeydive.com

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7

SHREDDING CLEATOR

n bike trail Chuckanut has a mountai for all riders NON SKOURAS STORY AND PHOTO BY SHAN

A

s we turn off Chuckanut Drive and the pavement abruptly changes to gravel, my heart starts to pound with the anticipation of what lies ahead. The ascent up Cleator Road is slow, and we turn up the music to tune out the rattle of the bikes in the back of the truck.

Our friends are waiting at the trailhead. We pull our bikes from the truck bed and start suiting up for the ride down the mountain. Drops, steep terrain, and rock covered trails lie ahead, so wearing body protection while riding is a wise choice. Most riders don knee/shin pads, full-face helmets, elbow pads, goggles and gloves. Many riders also wear neck braces and back pads as an extra precaution. Mountain biking can be a dangerous sport, so it is also important to trust and watch out for the riders that you choose to shred with.

We begin the short trek up to Double Black Diamond. At the top of the trail, we fall into a line from fastest to slowest. Pushing off, we become a bike train weaving through the giant trees that envelop the area. The rider in front of me puts on a show for the deer that just crossed our path, launching off the tree roots and cruising through lush salal. We curve around tree after tree until suddenly the trail spits us out onto a gravel road.

Once all of the riders have emerged from the first trail, we begin to pedal upward toward the Chuckanut Ridge Trail. The trail comes into view, our pedaling quickens and we fall into line once again. Slashing around corners and hopping over mud puddles, I chase the rider in front of me as the trees become a blur. We must trust our bikes with our lives, and our focus is razer sharp on the winding trail ahead of us. I taste dirt as mud whips up off my front tire as we round the final corner. Skidding to a stop on the gravel, I am surrounded by smiling, mudcovered faces, and high fives are flying everywhere.

We all climb into the back of my friend’s pick-up with our bikes and head back up Cleator Road for one more lap. Huddled together with our backs to the cab and mud covering 75% of our bodies, we relive the epic lap we just had. From building trails to hanging out in the back of trucks on a shuttle run, the camaraderie and friendship that evolves from mountain biking is truly amazing.

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As the truck takes the last corner before the trailhead, we reach for our helmets and get ready for another lap before the light is lost. Falling back into line, I see crimson, orange and yellow filtering through the trees as the sun slowly sets for the night. I smile as I take the first turn, knowing that summer shredding has finally arrived.

THE TRAILS. Connected to Larrabee State Park, the trails off Cleator Road are some of the best public mountain biking trails in the Bellingham area. Whether you want cross-country or downhill trails, or something in between, these trails have you covered. Double Black Diamond and the Chuckanut Ridge Trail are both considered intermediate to advanced level trails that have downhill sections to them. You’ll find roots, drops and technical sections, so if you are a confident rider or want more difficult terrain, these two will be a good fit for you. The Chuckanut Ridge Trail is approximately five miles long, and Double Black Diamond is approximately two miles long.

GETTING THERE. Cleator Road is located off Chuckanut Drive, approximately six miles south of Fairhaven. Take a left off Chuckanut Drive onto Hiline Road, which turns into Cleator Road (bear right at fork) and make your way up the long gravel road. You will eventually reach the Larabee State Park Gate, where you can park your vehicle and ride up the trail. This gate closes at dusk, so make sure you are out the park before then. For those shuttling from the top of the trailhead, continue driving past the gate until you reach the end of the gravel road. You’ll need a Discover Pass to park within Larrabee State Park. Some parking lots also have a $5 fee, so pay attention to signs.

The trails all begin at the end of the gravel road and branch out from there. To reach Double Black Diamond, hike up the trail located on the east side of the gravel lot. Push your bike uphill from the end of that Double Black Diamond trail to reach the Chuckanut Ridge Trail, which will shoot you to the North Chuckanut trailhead.

Maps of the Chuckanut Road and Larrabee State Park trail systems can be found at your local bike shop. A map is necessary for first time riders and should be used until you are familiar with the area. Riding with a partner is recommended, because many of the trails in this area are difficult and can be dangerous. Remember to go slow on a trail the first time, giving yourself time to check out the terrain and evaulate the difficulty of each section of trail. X Shannon Skouras is an avid mountain biker who spends her time shredding, writing, and shooting photos.

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SKI TO SEA

T

he Mount Baker Marathon started in 1911 as “America’s original adventure race,” but lasted only three years because of the dangerous race conditions.

After hibernating for nearly 60 years, a revised version of the marathon was born in 1973. Ski to Sea is now a 93.5 mile relay race from Mt. Baker to Bellingham Bay featuring seven different sports. Each of the 500 teams has eight members, competing in the seven legs (two people per canoe).

Race day is May 27 this year. As soon as the official time hits 7:45 a.m., the first leg of the journey takes off. The cross-country skiers

BY KITTY BOND

lead the competition in a four-mile sprint to the second leg, the downhill ski/ snowboard. The most challenging part of this leg is the hike. The skiier/boarder must first trek up to North Face, and then to the top of Chair One. At this point, they must quickly set into their gear and ride down to meet the runner.

The runner takes off along the Mt. Baker Highway, pounding eight miles of pavement to reach the road biker. Road bikers are stationed at the DOT shed, and ride down the winding road to Everson. Luckily, enthusiastic bystanders along the 42-mile route are there to hand cold drinks to appreciative riders.

Once a road biker crosses the finish line, one of their canoe team members grabs the timing chip.

The 18-mile canoe course leads the two-person crew into Hovander Park in Ferndale, where the sixth leg participant, the mountain biker, awaits. The biker covers 13 miles of rough terrain to meet up with the kayaker at Zuanich Park. In the last stretch, the kayaker paddles from Squalicum Harbor to Marine Park in Fairhaven, the finish line.

Ski to Sea has seen changes over the years, including its 2010 purchase by Whatcom Events,

which intends to make the event environmentally friendly. “We are so excited to eliminate water bottles this year – we’re using Zip 2 Water filtration stations along the race,” said Mel Monkelis, executive director of Whatcom Events. “Zip 2 Water provides large barrels of clean, filtered water to refill racers’ individual bottles.” In recent years, approximately 5,000 disposable plastic bottles have been handed out every year. The 2012 race will provide water bottles only at the DOT shed station, where potable water is not available to fill up the barrels.

Another change this year will be the early release of all race legs, so that competitors may join their teams in Marine Park for the after party and 5:30 p.m. awards ceremony. No teams will be disqualified for early release – their times will simply be added together for the cumulative team total. Other new developments include a volunteer appreciation dinner, expanded beer garden and live band at the DOT station for road bikers and runners.

After the success of last year’s shuttle buses from Boundary Bay to Fairhaven and back again, the buses will be providing rides during the event. “This cuts down not only on fossil fuel use, but on traffic congestion – we want to make Ski to Sea a community friendly event for everyone in Bellingham,” Monkelis says.

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Water from a higher point of view

BY SHANNON SKOURAS

I

drag my fingers through the cool water of Bellingham Bay as the sun beats down on me. I’m lying on my stand up paddleboard, enjoying a warm, sunny afternoon. I roll over, grab my paddle and pop up onto my feet. With knees slightly bent and my back straight, I paddle toward my friend, looking forward to today’s adventure.

Stand up paddleboarding (SUP) is a water sport that has become increasingly popular in the Northwest in the last decade. Not only does it give you a full-body workout, it is also a great way to enjoy all the water has to offer.

GETTING STARTED The most expensive part of paddleboarding is the board itself. The size will depend on your weight and experience. If you’ve never surfed or paddleboarded before, start with a board that is at least 11 feet long and 30 inches wide. This size will help with balance, allowing you to progress quickly. Once you gain experience, you can buy the best board for the long term.

You’ll also need a paddle with an “elbow” made for stand up paddle-

boarding. The paddle should be 6 to 10 inches taller than you. A leash connecting you with the board is a good idea – it should be a foot longer than your board. Make sure that the board has deck grip – it will help keeping you on top of the board and with your paddling stance.

The Coast Guard has classified SUPs as vessels, which means that Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs) are required to be worn when out in open water.

As far as clothing is concerned, you’ll want to wear a drysuit or wetsuit in the cold months to avoid hypothermia. In the warm months, bathing suits, board shorts or anything you don’t mind getting wet will work. Plan on getting wet and remember that the water can be very cold in the Pacific Northwest, even in summer. Always wear a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen to protect from the extra impact of the sun when it reflects off of the water.

BOARD BASICS Once you have the proper equipment, you should know a few stand up paddleboarding basics.

Carrying your board: If you’re close to your put-in, simply grab the board and carry it under your arm. If you have to go a fair distance, balance the board on your head. To do this, place the board on

its tail (bottom) with the top (deck) facing you. Hold the rails (sides) and place your head in the middle of the board and lift up. You’ll know if it’s balanced or not. Start walking.

Getting onto your board: Stand

next to your board in the water, and place your paddle with the grip on the rail and the paddle blade in the water. While holding the paddle with one hand, grab the rails on either side of the board. Once you have a good grip, jump onto the center of the board into a kneeling position. After you are balanced, confirm you are in the proper position on the board. The front tip of the board should not be popping out of the water or, conversely, submarining.

Stand up one leg at a time, placing your feet parallel to each other and about hip width apart. Make sure that your legs are bent in an athletic stance. This will help with your stability and balance. It is essential that you keep your back straight while standing. (If you fall off the board at any time, pull yourself back up onto the board using the same technique above. You will have to use more of your upper body strength if you are in open water and/or over your head.)

Paddling: Once you are balanced

and comfortable, take your first strokes. When paddling on the left side, place your left hand low on the

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tour around the area. You’ll become familiar with the best paddle boarding spots and get a real feel for paddling while an instructor is there to help you out.

SUP RESOURCES PLACES TO BUY, RENT OR LEARN Deep Cove Canoe and Kayak, Deep Cove, BC

Surfing: The great thing

paddle and your right hand on the grip. (Vice versa for paddling on the opposite side.) Push down on the top of the grip as you drive the blade into the water and pull the paddle back toward the tail of the board.

When paddleboarding, try to use your core strength to paddle instead of your arm strength by keeping your arms as straight as possible and twisting your torso as you paddle. By doing this, you will get tired less quickly and you will get a better full-body workout.

Changing Directions: To maintain a straight line, paddle 4 or 5 strokes on one side, then do the same on the other side. To change directions, simply continue paddling on one side until you begin to turn in the direction that you want

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your board to go. For example, if you want to turn left, paddle on the right. This is called a sidestroke. If you would like to slow down, drag the paddle blade in the water. For moving in the opposite direction, paddle backward or backstroke, alternating on either side of the board.

Other Important Info: When beginning, stay close to shore. Don’t go into open water unless you are comfortable getting on the board in deep water and know the tides and currents in your area. Look for days with onshore winds so the wind will blow you back into shore instead of out to sea. Starting out, your best bet is to take a lesson or a lesson/tour, which will teach you the basics of paddle boarding, but will also include a paddle boarding

about paddleboarding is that you can kick up the excitement level once you have a good grasp of the basics. To surf, you’ll need to be able to paddleboard confidently on calm or choppy waters. Again, you can make it easier on yourself by signing up for a lesson with a professional. Before you know it, you’ll be sporting sun-bleached hair and saying ‘Mahalo’ to the onlookers on the beach. Stand up paddle surfing is much easier than regular surfing, but it is still difficult for beginner paddlers.

SUPing is a lot of fun, no matter your age. It provides a good workout (especially for the core!) and is a great way to explore the coastline or see your favorite lake from a different perspective. Ride small waves into shore, or enjoy a calm day paddling on the lake.

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R A E Y L L A S N TUR mmer? su e th in i sk ’t n ca u yo ys Who sa M LOZIER STORY AND PHOTOS BY SA

O

n a clear day, you can look east and see the perpetually snow-capped mountains of the Cascades. If you’ve lived here for a while, it’s easy to take them for granted – after all, they’re always there. In most of the lower 48 states, year-round snow is quite rare, and there’s a group of dedicated backcountry skiers and riders who turn all year (TAY), appreciating the snow regardless of the season.

I first became aware of “turns all year” about seven years ago as I was entering college in New England. Instead of studying, I spent time tracking the weather, looking for ski partners and planning fantasy trips to far-off places. Skiing wasn’t good that winter so when the season ended, I wasn’t ready to hang up the skis.

I spent most of that summer digging through the trip reports other skiers posted on online message boards. From the Alps to the Rockies to the Cascades, it looked like everyone in the world who wanted to ski still could, except for in New England. As summer ground on though, trip reports became less frequent. Snow melted and people moved on to other sports. Only one region was still skiing – the Pacific Northwest. I found the Turns All Year website (turns-all-year.com), salivated over the amount of snow the Cascades held through the summer and vowed to relocate there once I finished school. I was captivated at the idea that it was possible to ski all through the summer, especially in the sweltering humidity of a New England summer.

The goal of turns all year is to make turns at least one day in each month of the calendar year. As most ski areas close in April, this requires tenacity, creative thinking and willingness to hike for turns. First, you have to figure out where there’s snow (not always that easy), then you need a day off with good weather, and finally you have to convince yourself that hiking several miles over dry ground in August with skis on your back is somehow normal or rational.

A constant source of friendly debate amongst TAYers is, “What exactly counts as a ski day?” Since this is all in good fun and there’s no governing body overseeing the recordkeeping, a

12

MOUNT BAKER EXPERIENCE | SUMMER 2012

ski day can be whatever you say it is. I’ve set the bar low – ten turns or 100 vertical feet over at least partially snowcovered ground with skis on my feet (no boot skiing, sledding or snowlerblading) counts as a ski day.

My current streak started on September 30, 2009, in Stowe, Vermont. The national weather service had called for light snow at higher elevations starting late in the evening, so some like-minded friends and I packed up our camping gear and headed to higher elevations in the hopes of welcoming the first snow of the season. At 11 p.m., with barely an hour left in the month, we donned head lamps, clicked into our skis and, to the best of our ability, shussed some snowy wet grass at the top of the ski area. The following morning we “skied” again, clinching October, 2009 in the same trip. Since then, it hasn’t always been easy to keep the streak alive, but the quality of the snow has certainly increased.

The winter months are obviously the easiest, skiing is (for most skiers, anyway) the logical activity to be pursuing when the snow is flying and the days are short and cold. In the long summer months though, I’ve sometimes found that its only the goal of extending the streak that gets me out the door and up on the slope. Despite some disappointing snow, I’ve never regretted skiing though – the summer months usually find some strange way to reward the year-round skier.

In September 2010, for example, there was plenty of snow remaining around the Mt. Baker ski area, but it was heavily sun cupped (divots that form in the snow as it melts irregularly) making it a filling-rattling ski run. Several friends were with me, and we decided to hike several miles out to the Coleman Pinnacle where the snow looked smoother and the runs

were longer. It was a sunny weekend day, and my shorts-andT-shirts clad group got many a strange look from passing day hikers. The snow turned out to be no less sun cupped, but the location afforded spectacular views of Shuksan, Baker and the alpine meadows between the two. We skied several great runs on both side of the Pinnacle, following the sun as it warmed and softened the snow, but the highlight of the day was the large herd of mountain goats that ambled passed us while we ate our lunch, sprawled out on some rocks.

Last September, expecting a repeat of poor snow quality, but still eager to get out, I talked two friends from Utah into climbing and skiing Mt. Baker. I didn’t have high hopes for the skiing, but just spending a bit of time on top in clear weather is rewarding enough to justify the climb. With low expectations, Ben, Tom and I set out for the summit of Mt. Baker from the Scott Paul Trail on the south side of the mountain. At first we found the sun cups and dirty snow that we expected, but as we climbed higher we were surprised to find that a thin layer of new snow had filled in all of the sun cups and smoothed the snow. What I’d written off as a token ski day turned out to be one of the best ski days since winter.

Driving home, we couldn’t help but gush at how surprised we were at the quality of the snow, how great the weather and how uncrowded the mountain was. The biggest take-away in my search to ski all year? The best days in the mountains have always come unexpectedly. X Sam Lozier lives in the Mt. Baker area, where you can find him skiing, hiking, climbing, photographing and writing.

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SHOOTING STARS

e Prime viewing sites for th Perseids meteor shower

PHOTO BY JAY GOODRICH

BY SUE MADSEN

A

rim of yellow fading to cerulean blue outlines the horizon to the west, but overhead the sky is a deep indigo with stars just beginning to wink. We lay out our camping pads on the springy heather and settle back with arms behind our heads. Suddenly a bright flash streaks across the sky from the east. It’s the first shooting star of the night – and the Perseids meteor shower has begun!

The Perseids are one of the most prolific meteor showers of the year. They’re especially rewarding to view because they peak in mid-August, a perfect time to plan a backpacking trip for stargazing.

The name Perseids refers to the sons of Perseus, as the point from which the meteors appear to originate lies in the constellation of Perseus, named after the Greek hero who slew the gorgon Medusa and rescued the princess Andromeda.

Catholics sometimes refer to the Perseids as the “Tears of St. Lawrence,” since the saint was martyred on August 10.

Observations of the Perseid meteor shower date back at least 2000 years, with the earliest reports coming from the Chinese in 36 AD where it was said “more than 100 meteors flew thither in the morning.” The shower is comprised of a stream of dust and cosmic debris in the tail of the comet Swift-Tuttle, which was discovered in 1862. Most meteors are smaller than a grain of sand and almost always burn up or disintegrate before hitting the Earth’s surface.

The shower is visible from mid-July to late August each year, with peak activity happening between August 9 and 14.

This year, the peak is predicted to occur the night of August 12, when the rate of meteors reaches 60 or more per hour.

Contrast this with the last night meteors are likely to be seen from this shower (August 22), when you might see one every hour or so.

This should be an excellent viewing year, as the moon will be waning toward new, and moonrise is late (after 1 a.m.). As

14

MOUNT BAKER EXPERIENCE | SUMMER 2012

with all meteor showers, the rate is greatest in the pre-dawn hours. No specialized viewing equipment is needed, as the meteors are easily seen with the naked eye.

Watching the Perseids is a summertime ritual for many, and planning a backpacking trip around the peak activity is one of the best ways to enjoy the show. Good viewing sites are located far from city lights and have an unobstructed horizon to the northeast.

WHERE TO GO One of my favorite locations is the Park Butte Lookout/ Mazama Park area on the south flank of Mt. Baker. Access the area on trail 603 from the Schreiber’s Meadow trailhead off USFS Road 13 in the Mt. Baker Ranger District. The trail crosses Rocky Creek, which may not have a bridge. Crossing can be challenging during periods of heavy runoff, so be sure to check in at the Sedro Woolley Ranger Station before heading out. Campsites are available at Cathedral Camp, about 3.5 miles in, or about 2.5 miles further west at Mazama Park. If you are staying more than one night, the area makes a great base camp for exploring a series of mountain meadows with stunning views of Mt. Baker.

Side trips include the Park Butte Lookout (5,450 ft.), which is a short hike up the ridge from Cathedral Camp, and Railroad Grade, a glacial moraine that provides an up close and

personal view of the Easton Glacier. As an added bonus, the trip can be done as a 7.5 mile loop by returning down Scott Paul trail, which joins trail 603 just before the Schreiber’s Meadow parking area.

Yellow Aster Butte up Highway 542 along the North Fork Nooksack is also an excellent choice for late summer star gazing. Start on trail 686 off of the Twin Lakes Road about 12 miles east of the town of Glacier. Climb up approximately 1,500 feet over about a mile and a half to the trail junction just south of Gold Run Pass. Take the left fork and contour around Yellow Aster Butte for another 2.5 miles. Designated camping areas are located about 200 feet below the summit trail in a heathery meadow amongst a number of small tarns (lakes).

Beyond the tarns are cross-country unmarked routes to High Divide and Tomyhoi Peak.

WHAT TO BRING You’ll need a Northwest Forest Pass for these hikes. Passes cost $30 annually, or $5 for day pass, and can be obtained at any USFS office or from local vendors. Always check before heading out to assess current trail conditions. The Mt. BakerSnoqualmie National Forest website provides relatively current information on road and trail conditions www.fs.usda.gov/ detail/mbs/recreation/?cid=stelprdb5126323. X

MOUNTAIN RUNNERS BY JEREMY SCHWARTZ

L

ike the original Mt. Baker Marathon runners they’re seeking to portray, the crew behind the docudrama “The Mountain Runners” has had to battle the mountain’s weather to tell the true story of the country’s first major adventure race, the Mt. Baker Marathons of 19111913.

Fortunately, though, all the weather has done is delay the release of the movie a few months and not plunge any of the crew into an icy crevasse for six hours, as happened to one of the runners in the final year of the marathon.

Perspective really is everything.

After months of research and more than a year of filming, director Todd Warger has set May 24 as the red-carpet premiere date for “The Mountain Runners” – right at the start of the 2012 Ski to Sea Race weekend – at the Pickford Film Center. Tickets are $25.

Warger said May 24 felt natural because the Ski to Sea Race, now in its 39th year, is the descendant of the original Mt. Baker marathons that saw men brave ice, snow and derailed trains to race from Bellingham to the peak of Baker and back.

While the film’s premiere date had been delayed from last fall, with the extra time new sources of information were uncovered. These included several previously unknown photographs and recorded interviews from the 1960s with one of the participants and the son of an organizer.

“After 100 years, listening to someone’s first-hand account is like a time capsule,” Warger said.

The Mt. Baker Marathon began in 1911 as a threepart roundtrip from Bellingham to the summit of Mt. Baker. Participants ran from near sea level to the summit of Mt. Baker at 10,500 feet and back again. Most did not finish the race due to exhaustion or injury, but the winner received a $100 prize.

John Magnuson, father of Mount Baker Experience founder Al Magnuson, shared the 1913 victory with Finnish runner Paul Westerlund, who completed the race in 7 hours, 30 minutes.

The race was nationally known, but was cancelled after only three years due to safety concerns.

The film will provide viewers with a combination of historical and recreated scenes, a tactic Warger used to allow those watching to more fully experience the event.

It will also be interspersed with interviews of modernday extreme athletes to give viewers perspective on just how difficult the original Mt. Baker marathons must have been. Warger hopes that the inclusion of these interviews will also draw a younger viewing audience and give them an opportunity to connect with something they might not have known about before.

The production and editing studios are just two local parts of a film that Warger said has been nearly 100 percent produced in Whatcom County, with all the necessary crews, supplies and locations coming from within the state.

Looking for exposure, Warger reached out to the Pickford Film Center for help in promoting and screening the film. Executive director Alice Clark said the film center acted as the nonprofit fiscal sponsor for the “The Mountain Runners,” which allowed donations to the film to be claimed as a tax deduction. They have also hosted preliminary screenings of the film to provide feedback during the editing process.

For more information on “The Mountain Runners,” visit themountainrunners.com, or the Pickford Film Center, visit pickfordcinema.org.

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Cooling off at Whatcom Falls

Snowboarders skim across a slushy Terminal Lake at Mt. Baker

PHOTO BY TIM CHANDONNET | TIMCPHOTO.NET

PHOTO BY BRANDY KIGER | BRANDYKIGER.COM

Tyler Mitchell climbing one of the walls in Larrabee State Park PHOTO BY JOEY BURKE

Joey Burke hiking up from Twin Lakes to the Winchester Fire Lookout PHOTO BY TYLER MITCHELL | TMITCHELLPHOTO.COM

Whitewater kayaking PHOTO BY JAY GOODRICH | JAYGOODRICH.COM

Owen Dudley gets big air PHOTO BY JAY GOODRICH | JAYGOODRICH.COM

ZIP ON

h The thrill of gliding throug

the trees

PHOTO BY PHOTOADVENTURE.COM

BY CARISSA WRIGHT

Instead of looking across an otter-inhabited lake from a dock, you’re soaring above it, catching a glimpse of your reflection far below.

LIKE A THOUSAND MILES PER HOUR, SOARING HIGH ABOVE FIELDS, A GULLY, AND A LAKE. There’s a lot of waiting in a day of zipping, which makes the guides and group you’re zipping with a huge part of your day.

The Zip San Juan guides were genial and fun, and our group he call comes from 100 feet away, filtering through Douglas firs and Western red cedars. was definitely open to having a great time. On one of the relatively slow lines, Candace said we “Zip on!” should have a competition to see who could spin the most – I’m pretty sure the 10-year-old The guide at the launch platform gives the OK, and you’re off. Hooked to a cable stretched took home the prize. between two huge trees, you’re careening through the air at what seems like a thousand miles A rollicking suspension bridge connects two of the later zip lines and, with the guides’ per hour, soaring high above fields, a gully, a lake. permission, my zipping buddy and I took off across it at the same time, trying to run as fast as As you approach the landing, the guide on the platform gives you a signal, throwing her arms possible and shaking the bridge under each other’s feet.The final line of the day is the longest, wide to indicate you should do the same. An automatic braking system on this line will slow and crosses the aforementioned otter-inhabited lake. I was one of the last to go, and just as I hit you down as you come in to land, but it’s gonna hurt if your hands are in the way. the midpoint of the lake, the sun broke through the clouds one last time. The Pacific Northwest You land on the platform exhilarated and a little shaky, and after clearing the line, you crowd has always been my home, my playground, my backyard. From this viewpoint, however, it was toward the back with your zipping companions, waiting for the next incoming zipper to land. entirely new. X Zip lining has long been held the exclusive province of the tropical getaway, more familiar in A Puget Sound native, Carissa Wright is always looking for new ways to experience the best this region has jungle canopies and rainforests. However, a handful of companies in the shadow of Mt. Baker to offer. Got an idea? Shoot her an email at cwright@pointrobertspress.com. are changing all that.

One of those is Zip San Juan, which is heading into its second season of operation. The eightline course is located on private property about 10 minutes outside Friday Harbor on San Juan Island.

My day of zip lining started well before sunup with a drive down to the Anacortes ferry terminal and a 6:20 a.m. boat to Friday Harbor. My zipping buddy and I were set to meet our Zip San Juan guide at 10 a.m. just a short walk up from the ferry terminal.

After a much-needed latte at the closest coffee shop (the ferry’s galley doesn’t open until 10 a.m. so bring your caffeine fix with you), we strolled the streets of Friday Harbor for an hour or Canopy Tours Northwest Zip San Juan so, meandering down to the docks to check out the boats in the early-morning sun.

Camano Island San Juan Island When the appointed hour rolled around, we met our guide and filled out the requisite paperwork, introducing ourselves to the group we’d be spending the next few hours with. canopytoursnw.com zipsanjuan.com On the drive to the site, guide Candace pointed out the island’s resident camel, Mona.

360/387-5807 360/378-5947 A row of bright blue helmets and yellow harnesses greeted us at the end of our bumpy ride off the main road. The harness is awkward and uncomfortable at first, of course, but once Grouse Mountain Ziptrek Ecotours you’re off and zipping, you’ll hardly notice it.

North Vancouver, B.C. Whistler Mountain While giving us the rundown on what to do and what to expect, Candace pointed out that grousemountain.com/zipline ziptrek.com physically, zip lining is extremely safe. When you’re not attached to the zip line itself, you’re 604/980-9311 604/935-0001 clipped in to a cable attached to the takeoff or landing platform. The guides are actually more worried about zippers’ emotional state. If you panic in the middle of a line and try to stop or WildPlay Whistler slow yourself down, you’ll get stuck, and a guide will have to come out and tow you to the Whistler Mountain platform. wildplay.com/parks/whistler So when a guide asks how you’re doing, Candace said, they want to know how your mental 604/932-4086 state is holding up.

The practice lines (called “Easy Peasy” and “Lemon Squeezy”) completed, we walked to the first launch platform. The day was intermittently cloudy, with the sun breaking through every so often. The rain stayed away, but the guides warned that even if the skies opened the tour would go on.

Sitting in a harness, dangling from a cable and holding on to the trolley above your head is definitely an awkward posture, but after just one line, you’re used to it. Once the awkwardness passes, you’re able to really look at your surroundings, drinking in the unusual vantage point.

Instead of looking up at towering fir trees from below, you’re gliding along amid their branches, gazing over the tops of smaller trees to see the world around you as if you were a giant.

STRETCHED BETWEEN TWO HUGE TREES, YOU’RE CAREENING THROUGH THE AIR AT WHAT SEEMS

T

ZIP LINING IN THE AREA

18

MOUNT BAKER EXPERIENCE | SUMMER 2012

T

he first thing I saw at the Deming Logging Show grounds was an old wooden stump with dozens of chainsaws sticking out of it.

The blades of the saws, plunged into the wood, were angled in such a way as to best show off their own uniquely painted engines. Some looked no more than a few years old, while others had been weathered from decades of display, use or most likely both.

The stump sits just outside the workshop of Sherm Ousdale, one of the first presidents of the logging show. Ousdale’s clear, light blue eyes met mine as he went for a handshake with a hand well worn with toil in the logging industry.

As we walked, Ousdale gestured to various pieces of logging nostalgia displayed all around the grounds. Most of the space was surrounded by row after row of wooden bleachers. Two towering fir poles stood in the center of the arena while large piles of sawdust and half-hewn logs doted the ground surrounding the poles.

Ousdale said the bleachers were one of the first ways the organizers of the logging show thought to make money from advertising.

These funds, in addition to hours and hours of volunteer work, have helped the show grow from humble beginnings to one of the best-known logging shows in the

country with attendance figures topping 5,000 people.

Now in its 50th year, the idea for the Deming Logging Show sprang from the state department of labor and industries’ slow response to compensate loggers injured in the woods of Whatcom County.

Enter Finley Hayes, a logger with a passion for the profession and an undying loyalty to his fellow workers. Hayes gathered up some loggers, Ousdale included, and organized the first Deming Logging Show in 1963. The show attracted 800 spectators and featured eight competitive logging events.

Eight hundred spectators meant $800 went into a fund set up to help injured loggers.

The logging show began to grow in earnest a few years after its inception when show president Joe Zender came up with the idea to advertise. Through his burgeoning logging magazine, Zender garnered advertising dollars from eight large logging companies in Whatcom and Skagit counties and convinced them to advertise on the show’s growing assortment of bleachers.

The show still makes most of its $50,000-per-year operating costs selling sections of bleachers to advertisers for $750. The companies are then allowed to advertise at the top of each of the bleacher sections.

“Hayes said if we can keep it

going for just four years, I think we can make it,” Ousdale said. “And here we are at 50 years.”

Since the first show, attendance has grown to 5,400 people for just one day of the two-day event; a 575 percent increase.

The logging show has also grown from eight to 25 events. Competitors get points for every event won, which are added up at the end of the show. The coveted title of “All Around Logger” is bestowed upon the logger with the most points at the end of the show.

Ousdale is a fan of “hot saw” bucking – cutting off the end of a large log in the fastest time possible.

Any chainsaw that can be carried in by two competitors is allowed.

Competitors will lug in massive machines that regularly have thousands of dollars poured into them. These roaring, custom-built chainsaws will often be equipped with motorcycle engines and blades as long as coffee tables.

But all the glory and heartbreak that comes with these competitions aside, the entire show is all about helping injured loggers. Since 1963, about 1,200 loggers have received a modest stipend as a result.

The 2012 Deming Log Show is June 9 and 10 at the Deming Logging Show Grounds, 3295 Cedarville Road, Deming. Info: 360/5923051 or deminglogshow.com

BY JEREMY SCHWARTZ

PHOTO BY KARL KING

DEMING LOGGING SHOW

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HOME GROWN drink Deliciously local food and

BY SHERRY SENNET

F

rom delicatessens to fine dining establishments, more restaurants are seeking local food producers to supply their culinary needs. While foreign products may be less expensive than locally produced crops, there are many advantages to shopping and eating locally.

EVERYBODY’S STORE. The other day, I went to Everybody’s Store in Van Zandt to

talk to one of the owners, Jeff Margolis, about the organic garden they have growing out back behind the shop, and to ask about other local products that he and his wife, Amy, sell in their store.

“We wrote the book!” was his response, as he proudly listed off dozens of local and organic products they keep in stock. Row upon row of interesting, colorful and handwritten labels plastered the shelves in the most enchantingly chaotic, yet organized, way. The only thing that this store has more of than variety is character. I needed coffee for home, and I knew from experience that their private label organic and locally roasted coffee was the best – rich, dark, but not bitter or over-roasted like some of the commercial brands. He also had me sample a slice of an amazing potato goat cheese that literally melts in your mouth, and a fresh and hearty piece of beef jerky he had just purchased from a small operation in Burlington. Between the meat and cheese snack, the zesty, nutrient-packed Swiss chard and collard greens I had sampled straight from the garden on my last visit, and the delicious dessert wine I had picked up a month or so ago, I had experienced a full spectrum of flavors at this 109-year old store.

Growing an organic garden, however, isn’t exactly a piece of cake – there is a reason why chemical herbicides and pesticides are still popular with farmers. But for many determined

organic gardeners like Jeff and Amy, crop rotation helps reduce the need for chemicals by preventing insect and weed domination, and it reduces soil erosion and helps to maintain soil fertility. Strategic plantings at the right time of year will do a lot of the work, since different crops have different nutrient needs and provide different offerings back into the soil. And if you keep changing it up, the insects that target a certain annual crop won’t have a reason to stick around too long. Besides, it’s just one more reason to look forward to summer – corn, carrots, lettuce, cabbage, rhubarb, herbs and strawberries are all on the way.

I paid for my coffee, took my notes on their seemingly endless line of local products (including organic local eggs – the biggest I have ever seen), and departed the store not only a happy customer, but also with this comfortable feeling as if I had spent the afternoon hanging out a friend’s house. During my visit, Jeff had showed me around his store as if he had unveiled a valuable art collection and interacted with his employees as if they were his family. I even had a chance to give Mamasita, the resident cat-in-charge, some love. I don’t get that kind of experience in large stores with crowded aisles and fluorescent lighting. And, in buying the coffee, I wasn’t just exercising my right to stay caffeinated – I was also supporting a local retailer and the producer of the coffee.

My favorite part about consumer awareness is the ripple effect, which means that if the retailer and producer also buy local, they are helping to keep fed at least six more families in our neighborhoods, and it keeps on going down the line! And these aren’t handouts or social benefits, this is Joe the working man buying from his neighbor Jack the farmer – with no corporate middleman taking a cut. We are supporting each other by just buying the things we need anyway. Seems strange that this is how our country used to be in my grandparents’ day. Maybe I’m just being a little nostalgic since my ancestors, and their farm in Birch Bay, are no longer around. Or maybe there is more to this whole local thing.

MT. BAKER VINEYARDS. I had been meaning to stop in the Mt. Bakery Vineyards in

PHOTO BY TARA NELSON

Deming for a tasting for months, and now was a perfectly good time to pay them a visit. Beautiful and fragrant plum blossoms gracefully framed their roadside sign just off Route 542. The tasting room was just as I had pictured it – rustic and casual but with a nice touch of elegance as the warm afternoon light reflected the tranquility of the sleepy vineyard into their shop. Cellar master and vineyard manager Trent Peterson came out to meet me, and I asked if there were any eco-friendly methods that they had adapted for their grape production. Trent’s response was, “We do everything here organically, and we are a salmon-friendly vineyard.” Because of the nearby streams and rivers, their water table is just two feet below the surface, so irrigation is not even an issue. They use fermented cacti and seaweed products to fertilize their vines. These products feed micro-organisms down in the soil, which helps increase nutrient uptake into the vines.

For a winery that doesn’t advertise their wines as being organic, they sure care about the local environment. “From a PR standpoint, it isn’t really worth the cost of becoming certified organic,” Trent says. “We believe in the 10-mile rule,” meaning first using whatever resources that are available locally for production and also considering the impact that one makes within a 10-mile radius. And, of course, any heart-felt winemaker considers terroir. Terroir can be described as the special characterisics of a place, from the minerality of the soil, to the quality of light, to the elevation of the plot, and even the direction the wind blows. It explains why wine and food from the same region often pair so well together – grown in the same environment, photosynthesizing the same elements – it makes sense to me, anyway.

On the six-acre estate, Mt. Baker Vineyards grows six different varietals (not including the plums, which they sometimes use for plum wine): Pinot Noir, Chasselas, Muller Thurgau, Siegerebbe, Pinot Gris and Madeline Angevine. Even though I had worked in the wine industry, only two of these grapes were familiar to me. I asked Trent if he could pair any food with any of their wines, what he would choose. “I would have local oysters and the Madeline Angevine.”

Happy to have an excuse to try an unfamiliar wine, I began my trek further eastward toward Glacier, for some much-needed Italian fare.

MILANO’S. Milano’s was on Trent’s list for local restaurants that carry their wines. Once seated, I ordered a glass of the Mt. Baker Chardonnay with the antipasti. It was a surprisingly pleasant match. The sweet peppers especially lined right up with the well-balanced acidity of the

wine. Since the flavor profile of midrange Chardonnays in the Northwest are typically comparable to an apple – crisp, tart, with a little fruit

also limits our collective carbon footprint. But it’s not just farming that makes it all possible, it is responsible farming – and on a

wonderful salsa, seasoned beans and cheese on top of a whole wheat tortilla (La Mexicana Tortillas, Seattle). The freshness of the ingredients just made the flavors explode.

In fact, fresh local produce actually yields the highest nutrient content possible – second only to growing it in your own yard.

The less distance you have to ship a food item, the more time it spends on the vine, branch or in the ground, the more vitamins it pulls in from the soil, and the more time for the antioxidant qualities to mature and reach their peak. Even though frozen produce generally gets picked at its peak ripeness, it’s often blanched to kill bacteria, which causes some B and C vitamins to wash out.

Fresher really is better, for health and flavor. And if it’s grown organically, the farmers are, according to Trent, “leaving the soil in a better state than it was when they arrived.” And growing and buying locally renders us more self-reliant as a community, helping to keep a roof over the heads of our hardworking neighbors. X

The less distance you have to ship food, the more time it gets to spend on the vine, branch or in the ground. exposed (a touch of sweetness without it being sugary), it’s no wonder they pair with sweet peppers.

For the main course, I ordered the seafood linguine prepared with fresh tomatoes. The mussels were extraordinary and the homemade noodles were wonderful, with just the right amount of garlic. Since the server was flying solo that day, I didn’t want to bother him with too many details, but he was able to inform me that their shellfish comes right out of Chuckanut Bay, and they get their King salmon from a local fisherman in Ferndale. Their mushrooms are from Cascadia (organic), and their fresh basil and other herbs from Brent Harrison with The Growing Garden – both local sources.

We truly are blessed in this region, for not only the mild climate, but also our abundance of rain and such fertile soil. The variety of crops, meats and dairy products available to us locally are virtually endless – and keeping it all nearby

voluntary basis; thinking about the future and how our actions today will impact the land, water and air tomorrow, instead of waiting for a polluted tomorrow to teach us our lessons too late.

OLD TOWN CAFÉ. Next on

my list was the Old Town Café in Bellingham, which was filled with locals enjoying tasty and nutritious menu items from all over the Pacific Northwest. I’m a big fan of hot chocolate, and their’s is probably the best I have ever tasted – steamed milk from Lynden’s Fresh Breeze Dairy (the only fully organic dairy in Washington state), Ghiradelli cocoa and homemade whipped cream from Twinbrooks Creamery (non-GMO and without added hormones, also in Lynden). That’s a lot of good stuff in one mug of cocoa.

Then there was the bean and cheese tostada. The tostada was a mountain of sprouts (Happy Valley Sprouts), fresh spinach and Swiss chard (DEVine Gardens), a

Sherry Sennet is a landscaper and writer from Bellingham who is obsessed with food and wine.

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SUMMER 2012 | MOUNT BAKER EXPERIENCE

21

LIQUID LIGHT uminescence Paddling in search of biol

PHOTO BY GENE DAVIS

BY SUE MADSEN

PHOTO BY NOAA

T

BIOLUMINESENCE! I’D HEARD OF IT BUT HAD NEVER SEEN THIS LIQUID LIGHT. AS WE PADDLED ALONG THE

he first time I ever kayaked at night FLOATING DOCKS THAT RING THE MARINA, THE HARBOR SEALS SLEEPING THERE GOT NERVOUS AND SEVERAL was with a group of people who, like me, had signed up for a Whatcom County PLUNGED INTO THE WATER AND FLASHED UNDER OUR BOATS LIKE GREEN TORPEDOES. Parks-sponsored night outing. We met on the beach behind Semiahmoo Resort in Blaine, and launched as both the last rays of the sun faded and the moon set behind Point Roberts. A great horned owl called softly from a lone out that bioluminescence is a pretty common phenomenom. from footprints left in the damp sand on a beach in Costa snag on Semiahmoo spit.

Various fish, squid, insects, bacteria and other species possess Rica, flickering in a bucket of sea water fetched to chill a sixThe trip had been timed for when the high tide coincided bioluminescence – even some mushrooms can glow. Typically, pack of beer on the shores of San Juan Beach in Port Renfrew, with a full moon, and I had one of those “a-ha” moments and it’s the reaction that occurs between the lucerin molecule and B.C., and on the crests of waves breaking on the shore of the the whole concept of the lunar driven tide cycle suddenly bethe luciferase enzyme. What we saw were one-celled plankton Olympic Peninsula while camping. Friends have reported came crystal clear. Paddling off, we headed east as moonbeams called dinoflagellates – they produce light when stimulated strong bioluminescence in the coves of Sucia Island and the danced on the surface before turning south toward the bluffs. manually by a paddle, boat or swimmer, for example. It takes west coast of Vancouver Island, where one lucky couple I know One of the interesting things about paddling at night is that a lot of dinoflagellates to produce enough light for us to notice encountered a magical swarm of glowing jellyfish! Biolumiyour senses begin to compensate for each other – as your eye– they range in size from 0.0002 to 0.08 inch. Under the right nescence turns up in the most unexpected places, so next time sight becomes limited, your sense of smell and hearing seems conditions dinoflagellate populations can reach 60 million you are feeling adventurous grab a friend, boat and headlamp to bloom. Approaching the bluff, I was startled by the sharp, organisms per liter of water. and explore the shores at night. X clean scent of fresh water, and I realized we were paddling past I make it a point to do at least one moonlight/bioluminesa stream that I’d never noticed in my many daytime paddles at cence paddle every year. I most often see this phenomenon in the same locale. late summer – July through September. Favorite spots of mine Paddling under the full moon is a thrill to be sure, but the include Drayton Harbor and Mud Bay/ best part of this adventure was yet to come. In almost comChuckanut Bay. These are relatively safe, plete darkness I suddenly noticed twin tracks of emerald green sheltered areas to paddle at night. The shalin the wake of the boat in front of me and realized that each low waters limit powerboat traffic and each of my paddle strokes stirred up a swirl of green diamonds. offers a launch site where one can leave a Bioluminesence! I’d heard of it but had never seen this liquid vehicle parked after dark without getting light. As we paddled along the floating docks that ring the ma- locked behind a gate. rina, the harbor seals sleeping there got nervous and several Paddling at night is not without risk. plunged into the water and flashed under While you may not need headlamps to find our boats like green torpedoes. your way, each boat should have a bright Even the most grown-up light shining to be visible to powerboat among us couldn’t help traffic. It’s a good idea to apply reflective but let out delighted tape to boats and paddles, and to every squeals of childpaddler’s PFD. Go with a group, and stay like laughter. together. Make sure everyone is prepared Back home for potential immersion (wear wet or I followed up drysuit, know how to do a wet exit, have to see what I a set of dry clothes). Stay near shore – in could learn my experience bioluminescence is usually about the more common in shallow water. phenomeI’ve since experienced this otherwordly non. It turns blue/green glow in many places – sparkling

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SUMMER 2012 | MOUNT BAKER EXPERIENCE

23

SUMMER GEAR

BY MOLLY BAKER

Local outfitters reveal their top picks for must-have summer gear.

KEEN SHASTA WP LIGHT HIKING SHOES

The Shasta WP (waterproof) light hiking shoe is ideal for weekend hikes, urban treks around town or brisk walks with friends on your favorite local trail. It offers all the benefits of a serious hiking boot in a sleek, non-bulky profile with an affordable price tag. Built on a women’s last for a superior fit, the Shasta WP is ready for yearround adventures with a waterproof/breathable membrane and tough, trail-ready mesh venting panel.

WHERE TO BUY:

Sportsman’s Chalet 2420 James St., Bellingham 360/671-1044 sportsmanchalet.com

JACKSON VILLAIN WHITEWATER KAYAK

Jackson Kayak’s new Villain is ideal for everything from hardcore creeking to casual river running. It’s fast, stable and easy to roll.

“The Villain comes in two sizes for larger and smaller paddlers, and the outfitting is super comfortable, easily adjustable, and it is made out of super tough polyethylene plastic to handle the abusive rivers in the Northwest,” said Ryan Bayes of Western Canoe and Kayak. “Stable and forgiving enough for a beginner, the Villian is also a favorite amongst pro paddlers. The Jackson Villain is a boat you won’t soon outgrow, which is good because the Pacific Northwest has enough whitewater to last a lifetime.”

WHERE TO BUY: Western Canoe and Kayak

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REI ARETE 3 TENT

COLUMBIA TRAIL FIRE JACKET

A new jacket made for women, Columbia’s Trail Fire is lightweight, breathable, and wind and water resistant. “The jacket is a great temperature regulator,” said Cynthia Flora, a buyer for LFS Marine and Outdoor. “The Trail Fire is perfect for active women and changeable weather.”

The shell is ideal for hiking, biking, or trail running.

Lined with Columbia’s amazing Omni-heat fabric, it reflects back your body’s own heat when you need the warmth.

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Washington summers can be sunny, but you can’t always count on blue skies. If heading out for an over-nighter, a durable, allseason tent is essential. The REI Arete 3 is the happy medium between a light three-season tent and a heavier fourseason shelter, perfect for summers with a chance of rain or snow in the high country.

“The Arete 3 trends away from the ultralight tent frenzy, but let’s be honest – it rains in the Cascades so it’s nice to have a more heavy duty shelter,” said Patrick Kennedy of Bellingham’s REI. “The tent weighs in just under six pounds and can handle anything – rain, snow and the occasional sunny stint in the Pacific Northwest summer.”

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CILO GEAR 30:30 GUIDE SERVICE WORKSACK

Cilo Gear is a small company that makes packs on demand in Portland. The Cilo 30:30 is a lightweight pack that can hold about 40 liters of summer hiking and climbing gear. With its removable bivy pad, the 30:30 will transform the remote wilderness or a friend’s lawn into a comfortable sleeping space.

“They are versatile backpacks that can do it all, from ski touring, to mountaineering, to climbing, to lightweight backpacking traverses,” said Tess Golling of Backcountry Essentials. “My Cilo Gear 30:30 worksack will be my best friend this summer.”

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ARBOR TIMELESS PIN BAMBOO LONGBOARD

“The Timeless Bamboo is really lightweight and quite a bit stronger than other boards I’ve ridden. It turns and corners really fast and is an all-around cruiser,” said Wes Shoemaker, Hidden Wave’s buyer and store manager. “It is made for going faster on the streets, cruising in the summer down in Anacortes out by the water with the huge scene of kids out longboarding every day.”

Original artwork makes for a stylish board, but Arbor also uses recycled wood by-product, water-based finishes and recycled glass re-grip on the deck. Sustainable, artistically appealing and a smooth ride make this bamboo longboard, well, timeless.

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LIQUID FORCE ENVY KITEBOARD

The Liquid Force Envy is great kiteboarders of all levels because of its smooth pull, easy relaunch and intuitive safety system. It also happens to be one of the most durable kites on the market,” said David Johnson, store manager of Bellingham Kiteboarding. “It is easy to use when you’re learning kiteboarding, and it also allows for rider progression to a very high level of riding. Many pro riders use the Envy as their go-to kite of choice.” The Envy’s unique design makes this kite perfect for all conditions and types of kiteboarding – whether you are kiteboarding on the water or snow, the Envy will deliver amazing sessions.

EVERGREEN SPIRIT SUP

The 11’2” x 31” Spirit stand up paddleboard by Evergreen Boards has been designed in Bellingham for the Pacific Northwest paddler looking to do a little of everything.

Whether you are catching your first wave or are exploring the waters of the area’s numerous bays and lakes, the stable design of the Spirit makes it easy for everyone to progress. Evergreen Boards are built with bamboo to withstand the rigorous Pacific Northwest climate while maintaining the natural beauty accented by bamboo. Using bamboo eliminates one layer of fiberglass, increases the board’s durability and gives each board its own unique look.

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WHERE TO BUY: Bellingham Kiteboarding 2620 North Harbor Loop Dr., Bellingham 360/775-2741 | bellinghamkiteboarding.com

SPECIALIZED STUMPJUMPER 29ER EVO

A competent climber and frenzied downhill animal are the qualities that make the Stumpjumper so sought after by summer bike junkies. A hydroformed alloy frame with 29er EVO geometry, 135mm of travel and tapered head tube, the Stumpjumper fits into the all-mountain bike category.

“It’s a great do-it-all bike,” a Fairhaven Bike and Ski shop bike mechanic noted. “The geometry is dialed, making it an all around bike that climbs efficiently and then corners really well.”

WHERE TO BUY: Fairhaven Bike and Ski | 1108 11th St., Fairhaven 360/733-4433 | fairhavenbike.com

PERCEPTION EXPRESSION KAYAK

Whatcom County’s many lakes, rivers and position on the Salish Sea affords the local paddler with a wide array of options for paddling. The Expression from Perception is the company’s latest offering for the day touring kayak paddler.

“The Expression blends the stability and comfort of a recreational kayak with the performance and safety of a sea kayak in an affordable package,” said Dylan Rees, Ski and Paddle Shop manager at Yeagers. “The roomy cockpit provides ease of entry and the zone outfitting offers cushy, adjustable seating. Dual hatches provide ample storage capacity and essential flotation for safety in rough conditions. The Expression is rudder capable and comes standard with a drop skeg that improves tracking and minimizes the effect of wind. Whether your goals are short paddles on Lake Whatcom or excursions in the islands the Expression is the boat to get you there.”

WHERE TO BUY:

Yeager’s | 3101 Northwest Ave., Bellingham | 360/733-1080 yeagerssportinggoods.com

DIVINE DIVERGENCE Hiking the Nooksack Cirque ails and Yellow Aster Butte tr AN HASERT STORY AND PHOTOS BY RY

T

he book drops with a familiar thud and joins the many other hiking books scattered across my kitchen table. With summer underway and fall looming around the corner, my hiking companions and I are all too aware of the small window of opportunity to hike some trails within the North Cascades mountain range. We’re anxious to seize it and, after pouring through the guidebooks, we know just where we want to go.

Our long list of “hikes to do” is getting whittled down, but a few still remain – the Nooksack Cirque and Yellow Aster Butte hikes. Not only do they promise some of the most sensational views in the area, but two very different perspectives of it. The books describe Nooksack Cirque as an enclosed canyon-like exploration that meets at the terminus of a cirque at the base of Mt. Shuksan. In contrast, the Yellow Aster Butte offers high alpine views of nearly every peak, valley and river along the Highway 542 corridor. It’s time to find out for ourselves.

NOOKSACK CIRQUE TRAIL #750 We chose the Nooksack Cirque hike to start and, after the familiar eastbound drive out the Mt. Baker Highway, we take a quick left hand turn before it begins to climb up to the resort.

The car follows a forest service road to the trailhead. With not much elevation threatening us, and relatively low mileage, we are traveling light. No one ever complains with a daypack.

The hike begins and our spirits are high. Just a few paces in, however, and the trail forces us to ford a creek. Luckily, a wellplaced log jam allows for a quick crossing and we continue onward. We are led to an old logging road with only a slight grade. It’s a welcome aspect to the hike and allows us to move that much faster. After what feels like a few gradual miles, we transition to old growth forests.

My mind always wanders in these forests.

I feel as though I am walking through an old photograph; the landscape around me is frozen in time. It reminds me why I enjoy hiking this area so much.

The sensation makes this section of the hike a seemingly fleeting moment. Before I know it we’ve reached the end of the trail, and we stare out at the North Fork of the Nooksack River.

We transition again; this time from loamy dirt to scattered river rocks and boulders.

We enter the river basin and the trail ends. Surrounded by the glacial-carved walls, the cirque in the distance reveals our destination. We begin to scramble our way toward it. More focus goes into each step as I realize how hard it is to walk on river rocks, yet it becomes increasingly difficult to concentrate on my steps as the beauty of the valley begins to engulf me.

Our progress is slowed dramatically and becomes even more so when we are forced to either cross the river or bushwhack.

The view is continually improving though, and our efforts are rewarded with a full view of the cirque. We sit and enjoy the moment, but with a lengthy return trip waiting for us, we turn back. We arrive back at the trailhead, completing the more than 10-mile trip as the sun disappears over the foothills.

Nooksack Cirque Trail #750 is best hiked in late summer or early fall. To get there, travel east on SR 542 for 12.5 miles from the Glacier Public Service Center. Turn left on Hannegan Pass Road #32, follow #32 for just over one mile to the junction with Nooksack Cirque Road #34. Follow #34 for one mile to the parking area at the end of the road.

YELLOW ASTER BUTTE TRAIL #699 The next morning, we packed for an overnight trip and at the trailhead in cool morning air and fog. This hardly dampens our spirits, as we are all aware of the 2,500-foot climb ahead of us, knowing sunshine may lie just above the layer of fog. Greeted with steep switchbacks in old growth forest, we ascend quickly, and soon arrive in open alpine meadows. The misty fog has turned to clear skies and sunshine as well.

Less than three miles in, and we are already traversing a ridge line toward the summit of Yellow Aster Butte. Tomyhoi Peak, Mt. Larrabee and the American Border Peak all rise into view as we reach the summit. The panoramic vistas are nothing short of amazing. Realizing that words can hardly convey our wonderment, we sit in silence enjoying the view. A satisfying and solitary moment such as this is hard to come by.

We descend from the summit and down to the tarns that lie between Yellow Aster Butte and the base of Tomyhoi Peak, where we set up camp. We eat a quick dinner as the sun sets, content with yet another spectacular hike under our belts.

We awake to a cool morning, shrouded in fog, which makes getting out of the sleeping bag difficult. We pack up and hike out. The formerly arduous climb up to Yellow Aster Butte turned to a fast-paced descent. With gravity-assisted strides, we reach the end of the trail quickly. Before leaving, I glance up once more towards the now-hidden meadows and peaks.

Gravel churns underneath the tires as the car rolls down the forest service road. As another North Cascades trailhead fades from sight, many are still on the horizon; each promising a diverging divinity that can be found nowhere else.

To get to the Yellow Aster Butte trailhead, continue east on SR 542 for 13 miles after the Glacier Public Service Center.

Turn left on Twin Lakes Road #3065, immediately bear a left at an unmarked junction, and continue on #3065 for 4.5 miles to the trailhead located at a sharp switchback with tight parking.

A backcountry permit is required for overnight camping.

For more information, visit the U.S. Forest Service site at fs.usda.gov/mbs, Washington Trails Association at wta.org, or Day Hiking: North Cascades by Craig Romano (The Mountaineers). X Ryan Hasert is an avid mountain biker, skier, hiker, photographer and writer. Visit him at northwestperiphery.com.

BELLY TIMBER M

ary Goit started producing Stout Granola in 2003, in the kitchen of the Old Town Café in downtown Bellingham. Her dream started small – to sell natural, handmade granola in the bulk bins at the Community Food Co-op. That dream has taken the company much further: The initial recipe for natural granola turned into energy-packed nutrition bars sold not only in northwest Washington, but nationally through REI. So what set these bars apart from the numerous other options available on store shelves? Taste.

“Eating an energy bar is not something you should

have to endure,” Goit says. Not only do Belly Timber bars provide all the nutritionally balanced ingredients needed for a calorie-consuming outdoor adventure, they taste great. All ingredients are high quality, many are organic or locally sourced, and selected to produce the optimum bar for the consumer.

Besides producing nutritious food for athletes, Goit is passionate about sponsoring the athletes themselves.

“The Big Ski” is the latest event she is sponsoring – Anders Morley’s ski traverse from British Columbia to Quebec. Morley will cover 2,800 miles in the first ski crossing of North America, and the second longest on skis. Find out more at bigski.org.

Visit bellytimberbars.com for more information.

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around the mt. baker region

MAY BIKE TO WORK AND SCHOOL DAY: May 18, Whatcom County.

Bike or walk to one of the 30 celebration stations. After party at Chuckanut Brewery. Info: everybodybike.com.

PENN COVE WATER FESTIVAL: May 19, Coupeville. Tribal canoe races, Native American storytelling, and environmental education activities. Info: penncovewaterfestival.com.

POETRY AND CULTURE OF FISHTOWN: May 20, La Conner.

North Cascades Institute field excursion aboard Salish-style canoe in the Skagit River. Info: ncascades.org.

SUMMER RIDES: PETITE PARKS TOUR: May 20, Bellingham.

Narrated, 6-mile ride through Bellingham parks. Info: everybodybike.com.

SKI TO SEA: May 27, Bellingham. Celebrate the 101st year of amazing adventure relay race. Info: skitosea.com.

LOST LAKE HIKE: June 23, Bellingham. Moderate 7-mile hike.

Info: mountbakerclub.org.

BIKE MAINTENANCE 201: May 27, Bellingham. REI: Learn to adjust brakes, derailleur, chain. Info: rei.com/stores/65.

LAKE PADDEN TRIATHLON: June 23, Bellingham. Competitive and recreational divisions, pre-register. Info: cob.org.

RUN FOR WATER: May 27, Abbotsford. Marathon, half marathon, 10K, 5K fun run. Info: abbotsford.runforwater.ca.

MT. BAKER VOLCANO RESEARCH: May 30, Bellingham. REI. Info: rei.com/stores/65.

JUNE GIRLS ON THE RUN: June 2, Bellingham. Nationwide event promoting girls well-being. Info: girlsontherun.org.

DOG AND PEOPLE WALK: May 20, Bellingham. Walk on Lake Whatcom’s Northshore trail. Info: mountbakerclub.org.

WILD EATS FROM LAND TO SEA: June 2-3, San Juan Islands.

Forage/cook with wild Northwest foods. Info: ncascades.org.

BALD MOUNTAIN HIKE: May 20, Bellingham. Six-mile round trip hike, option to scramble. Info: mountbakerclub.org.

LEARN TO ROW DAY: June 2, Bellingham. Learn rowing at Bloedel Donovan Park. Info: whatcomrowing.org.

TOUR DE INDIAN ARM: May 20, Burrard Inlet, B.C. Paddle either 10.5K or 19K course. Info: deepcovekayak.com.

CHUM RUN: June 3, Langley, Whidbey Island. 5K walk or run through the community park. Info: swparks.org.

BACKPACKING BASICS: May 22, Bellingham. REI: Choose and load the correct pack. Info: rei.com/stores/65.

MUDDY MAYHEM: June 3, Bellingham. Race through mud and obstacles at Hannegan Speedway. Info: muddy-mayhem.com.

OUTDOOR PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS: May 23, Bellingham. Presented by Patrick Kennedy. Info: rei.com/stores/65.

RAPTOR RIDGE: June 3, Bellingham. 10K trail run, open to first 100 entrees. Info: bellinghamtrail.com.

YOGA FOR RUNNERS AND WALKERS: June 7, Fairhaven. Free clinic by Kim Sandstrom, ND. fairhavenrunners.com.

WAKE KAYAK SYMPOSIUM: June 9, Bellingham. Symposium at Lake Padden held by WAKE. Info: wakekayak.org.

MYSTERY RIDE: June 9, Bellingham. Moderate 10-15 mile bicycle ride. Info: mountbakerclub.org.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC LIVE AT MOUNT BAKER THEATRE: June 10, Bellingham. Presentation by Peter Athans, “Mr. Everest.” Info: mountbakertheatre.com/events.

MT. BAKER RHYTHM AND BLUES FESTIVAL: August 3-5, Deming. Weekend of live blues, beer garden and camping.

Info: boomkak.com

SUMMER RIDES: TEA TIME TOUR: May 25, Bellingham. Bike tour through Bellingham, stopping at the local tea shops. Info: everybodybike.com.

SUMMER RIDES: FAIRHAVEN HISTORY: June 10, Fairhaven.

Bike tour through history. Info: everybodybike.com.

SHAW ISLAND BIKE TOUR: June 13, Anacortes/ Shaw Island.

Moderate 15-mile ride. Info: mountbakerclub.org.

SAMISH CRUISE AND SHELLFISH SOIREE: June 15, Bellingham. Shellfish dinner fundraiser. Info: taylorshellfish.com.

JOG FOR A JUG: June 16, Point Roberts. Fun 11.2K race starting at Kiniski’s Reef. Info: facebook.com/theruninn.

OYSTER DOME HIKE: May 26, Bellingham. Moderate 7-mile hike. Info: mountbakerclub.org.

SATURNA ISLAND RIDE: June 21, Saturna Island, B.C. Moderate 13-mile ride. Info: mountbakerclub.org.

CAST IRON COOKING AT LARRABEE: May 26, Bellingham. REI hosts cooking demonstrations with cast iron skillets, gas stoves and dutch ovens. Info: rei.com/stores/65.

ANNUAL 5K WALK/RUN FOR LITERACY: June 23, Fairhaven.

Benefits Whatcom Literary Council. Info: fairhaven.com.

28

PHOTO BY JON BRUNK PHOTOGRAPHY

EVENTS

MOUNT BAKER EXPERIENCE | SUMMER 2012

SUBDUED STRINGBAND JAMBOREE: August 12-13.

Two stages of live summer music festival, Deming Log Show Farigrounds. Info: stringbandjamboree.com

JULY THE ROCK 10K AND KIDS RUN: July 1, White Rock, B.C. Activities ongoing throughout the day. Info: tryevents.ca.

SUMMER RIDES: BAKERIES: July 6, Bellingham. Guided bike tour, stopping at local bakeries. Info: everybodybike.com.

ANNUAL CHUCKANUT FOOT RACE: July 7, Fairhaven. Sevenmile race from Marine Park to Larrabee. Info: gbrc.net.

TAYLOR SHELLFISH-TIVAL: July 18, Bellingham. Free family fun day. Info: taylorshellfish.com.

TOUR DE WHATCOM: July 28, Whatcom County. Ride 25, 50 or 105 miles for charity. Info: tourdewhatcom.com.

ANACORTES ART DASH: July 28. Half-marathon, 10K and 5K races. Info: anacortesartsfestival.com

AUGUST STANWOOD-CAMANO COMMUNITY FAIR: August 3-5. Entertainment, food, exhibits. Info: stanwoodcamanofair.org ANACORTES ARTS FESTIVAL: August 3-5. Downtown Anacortes annual don’t miss event. Info: anacortesartsfestival.com.

ORCAS ISLAND BICYCLE TOUR: August 18. Bike up Mount Constitution or the flatter option of Moran state park and Eastsound. Info: everybodybike.com. X

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SUMMER 2012 | MOUNT BAKER EXPERIENCE

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MAP DIRECTORY 1 Blue Mountain Grill

974 Hwy 9, Acme • 595-2200

2 Acme General Store Hwy 9, Acme • 595-2146

3 Everybody’s Store

Hwy 9, Van Zandt • 592-2297

4 Princess Jade

6 Kelley Insurance

103 W. Main St., Everson • 966-3732 619 Cherry St., Sumas • 988-2462

7 Bromley’s Market

315 Cherry St. Sumas • 988-4721

8 Il Caffe Rifugio

5415 Mt. Baker Hwy, Deming • 592-2888

3813 Mt. Baker Hwy, Nugent’s Corner 592-1317

9 The North Fork Brewery

4 Mt. Baker Automotive

10 Paradise Market/Subway

3833 Mt. Baker Hwy, Nugent’s Corner 592-2321

5 Dodson’s IGA

3705 Mt. Baker Hwy, Nugent’s Corner 592-5351

12 Mountainside Gardens Gallery & Gifts

16 Maple Fuels Wash-A-Ton

13 Baker Accommodations

17 Cross Roads Grocery & Video

6900 Mt. Baker Hwy Kendall • 599-2890 7425 Mt. Baker Hwy, Maple Falls 599-1017

14 Cafe 542

7466 Mt. Baker Hwy Maple Falls 599-1347

Corner of Mt. Baker Hwy & Silver Lake Rd., Maple Falls • 599-2222

22 Mt. Baker View Guesthouse 6920 Central Ave., Glacier • 599-2155

23 Wake ’n Bakery

6903 Bourne St., Glacier • 599-1658

7802 Silver Lake Rd., Maple Falls 599-9657

24 Milano’s Restaurant

18 Inn at Mt. Baker

25 Graham’s Store

9990 Mt. Baker Hwy, Glacier • 599-2863

8174 Mt. Baker Hwy, Glacier 877/567-5526

9989 Mt. Baker Hwy, Glacier • 599-2665

6474 Mt. Baker Hwy., Kendall • 599-9108

7463 Mt. Baker Hwy, Maple Falls 599-2463

19 Mt. Baker Bibleway Camp

9989 Mt. Baker Hwy, Glacier • 599-3663

11 Misty Mountains Realty

16 Slide Mountain Bar & Grill

20 The Logs

6186 Mt. Baker Hwy, Deming • 599-2337

8193 Kendall Rd., Maple Falls • 599-2200

15 Mt. Baker Lodging

7471 Mt. Baker Hwy, Maple Falls 656-5833

www.mtbakercamp.org • 599-2921

7577 Canyon View Dr, Glacier • 599-2711

25 Graham’s Restaurant

26 Chair 9 Woodstone Pizza & Bar 10459 Mt. Baker Hwy, Glacier • 599-2511

21 Scott’s Ski Service

9935 Mt. Baker Hwy, Glacier • 599-WAXX

MT. BAKER HIGHWAY MILEPOSTS Mile 1: Junction of I-5 and Mt. Baker Hwy. Mile 3: View of Coast Mountain Range in Canada (left).

Mile 8: Whatcom County Parks & Recreation Dept.

(Right). The headquarters offers a rest area with picnic tables, restrooms and a view of Mt. Baker, elevation 10,778 feet. 360/733-2900.

Mile 9: Deming Logging Show. Nooksack River Bridge – great fishing spot.

Mile 10: Community of Nugent’s Corner. Groceries, gas, bank (ATM), bakery, cafe, services.

Mile 11: Christmas tree farms (right and left).

Mount Baker Vineyards (left). Tasting room/gift shop open Wednesday through Sunday.

Mile 12: Community of Deming. Stewart Mountain – elev. 3,087 feet (right). Sumas Mountain – elev.

3,430 feet (left).

Mile 14: Highway 9 South Junction (right). South to Van Zandt, Acme, Wickersham and Skagit Valley.

B&B, general store, mushroom farm and train ride.

Nooksack River Forks (right) into three segments: the North Fork, which Mt. Baker Highway parallels; the Middle Fork, which heads southeast to the

30

southern face of Mt. Baker; and the South Fork, which heads south into the Skagit Valley. Hwy. 9 follows the South Fork.

Mile 16: Mosquito Lake Road – Bald Eagle viewing spot (right). Dec. – Feb. Turn right onto Mosquito Lake Road, drive to the first bridge that crosses the North Fork Nooksack. Park on left shoulder of Mosquito Lake Road. Look for eagles.

Mile 18: Community of Welcome (left). Grocery store, fire station, senior center and other services.

Mile 21: Kendall Creek Hatchery (right). Turn right onto Fish Hatchery Road. The hatchery raises chinook, coho and chum salmon as well as steelhead, rainbow and cutthroat trout.

Mile 22: Slide Mountain – elevation 4,884 feet (right). Highway 547 North Junction/Kendall Road (left). North to Kendall, Peaceful Valley, Paradise Lakes, Columbia and Sumas.

Mile 23: Kendall. Grocery store and gas (left).

Mile 25: Maple Falls, post office, pay phones, lodging, restaurants, gas, groceries, liquor, library. Silver Lake Park, Silver Lake Road, 3.5 miles north (left).

Park sits on 411 acres around Silver Lake.

MOUNT BAKER EXPERIENCE | SUMMER 2012

Mile 29: View of Nooksack River (right). Highway ascends a ledge overlooking the North Fork of the Nooksack River.

Mile 30: Mt. Baker Scenic Turnout (right).

Mile 33: Glacier – elev. 932 feet. Last community along the highway. Fire department, post office, library, general store, restaurants, snowboard shop, lodging, phones.

Mile 34: Glacier Public Service Center (right). Open Memorial Day to October. Rangers assist with hikes and camp planning, and issues permits. Restrooms, picnic area. 360/599-2714, www.fs.fed.us/r6/mbs.

Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Boundary National Forest Scenic Byway. Glacier Creek Road (Rd. #39) to Mt. Baker Vista (right). Mostly paved, 9.5 mile road leads to Mt. Baker view.

Mile 36: Douglas Fir Campground (left). National forest camp built by the CCC in the 1930s. Fees charged. Reservations accepted: 877/444-6777 or at www.recreation.gov. Horseshoe Bend Trail (right).

Access for guided river rafting tours. Washington State Sno-Park (left). Permit required for snow mobiling or cross-country skiing.

Mile 37: Church Mountain – elevation 6,245 feet (left). High elevation trails on the southern slope are often the first in the area to open for summer hiking. Turnouts to view North Fork Nooksack River (right).

Mile 40: Excelsior Group Camp (right). National Forest Campground. www.recreation.gov. Nooksack Falls, Wells Creek Road Road #33 (right). Take Wells Creek Road a half mile down to parking area and fenced viewpoint. Fall plummets 100 feet.

Mile 41: Excelsior Pass Trail (left).

Mile 43: North Fork Nooksack Research Natural Area (left). Established in 1937, this is a 1,400-acre preserve of old-growth Douglas Fir, Hemlock and Western Red Cedar.

Mile 44: Nooksack River Viewpoint (right).

Mile 46: Twin Lakes Road (Road #3065) at Shuksan Highway Maintenance Sheds (left). Twin Lakes is not accessible until early to mid-August.

Hannegan Pass Road (Road #32) (left). Popular cross-country skiing area in winter. Shuksan Picnic Area – Hannegan Pass Road (left). Tables, restroom, Nooksack River views. Mining cabin nearby.

Silver Fir Campground (right). Fees charged.

Reservations accepted: 877/444-6777 or at www. recreation.gov.

Mile 47: Goat Mountain – elevation 6,891 feet.

(N.E.). Summer grazing range for one of four bands of mountain goats.

Mile 49: View Mt. Shuksan – elevation 9,038 feet.

(East). + View Mt. Sefrit – elevation 6,015 feet. (Southeast).

Mile 52: Mt. Baker Ski area White Salmon Day Lodge (left).

Mile 53: Entrance to Heather Meadows.

Mile 55: Picture Lake (road forks – stay to the right). Picture Lake – elevation 4,100 feet, provides a postcard view of Mt. Shuksan – elev. 9,038 feet.

Vista picnic area (right). Picnic area; no restrooms.

Mile 56: Austin Pass Picnic Area (right). CCC-built area sits in a bowl-shaped valley with glorious views.

Mile 58: Artist Point – elev. 5,140 feet. (End of highway). Parking lot surrounded by Mt. Baker’s peak (south), Mt. Shuksan (east) and Table Mountain – elev. 5,628 feet.

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Scott Peterson Glacier, WA

360-599-WAXX

www.scottsskiservice.com