We enjoy a view of Mt. Erie from our home in Anacortes, except for those foggy or smoky days when it hides. After a weekend of downpours and drizzle, followed by a nighttime snowy gale, we awoke to see Erie rising above it all, wearing a winter coat of white. It beckoned, enticing in its holiday attire. Let’s hike up to the summit, we said! The downside was the temperature, hovering at barely above freezing, with winds bitingly crisp, whitecaps whipping down Rosario Strait. Dress appropriately, we told each other. Layering up with long-johns and leggings, hoodies and fleece, parkas and puffies, wind pants, stocking caps, mittens and everything else in the closet, we then downed some hot tea and headed to the mountain. Getting on the trail, the cold air invigorated us. There’s a scintillating feeling of adventure to be on a mountain in winter weather, the elements more primal, the senses heightened and alert. The forest had been transformed with its white blanket. Snow crystals danced around us, sparkling in the sunlight filtering through trees. Be careful, we reminded each other. Be sure of our footing. The rocks and roots will be frozen and slippery, the snow slick. We listened for the potential sound of branches breaking overhead, always a concern in the woods. Other than the wind still bending some of the treetops on the ridge, the forest was quiet. Muffled. Silent in the snow. No birds sang of summer here. No squirrels chattered away. The only sound was the crunch of our footsteps and a little labored breathing as we climbed the steep trail towards the top. An occasional golden maple leaf fell atop the snow. That’s when we heard it. A crack, a crescendo of sound, and a ‘whoomph’ on the forest floor as a tree trunk broke and fell, hitting hard. We rounded a bend in the trail and there it was, fallen straight across the trail, the top half of a dead tree, its bottom half still standing nearby where it has stood for decades. We stepped over the log where it fell, reminded of the danger that is here at any time of the year, but especially in winter weather. The trail climbed quickly from this point, over bare slick rocks requiring a helping hand in places, up tree-root steps, always climbing, ascending to the highest point on Fidalgo Island. We reminded each other to go slow, be careful, be sure of our steps, and at the same time delighting in the wild wonder all around us. Soon we came to the salal-covered bench just below the summit. A trail sign encourages us here, stating “Summit” with an arrow to the left. We climbed the last stretch of rock and emerged at the top. The view fell away before us, islands, lakes and bays, and a big blue sky above. The Cascades sparkled in their finery of winter white. The sun warmed us and bathed a golden trail across the Strait. The northerly winds couldn’t reach us here. We basked in the beauty all around. The sun continued to drop lower; the temperature did too. We walked the ice-slickened roadway back down, stopping at the western overlook to see our home in Skyline. I slipped and fell on a steep stretch of black ice; we walked carefully on the soft snowy shoulder the rest of the way down. Summer hikes are pleasant and relaxing. But in fall and winter, safety concerns are amplified, and adventures can become misadventures with a simple misstep, or an unexpected act of nature, or any other unfortunate surprise. Be alert as you walk, of course, and don’t go if the conditions are not safe. Still, by taking appropriate precautions, the rewards of winter walks are distinctly memorable and worthwhile. It’s a joy to behold the transformed world of winter. But try not to fall! jack Directions: From Anacortes take H Avenue to Heart Lake Road. From Whidbey Island follow Highway 20 north of the Deception Pass Bridge, drive about four miles and turn left on Campbell Lake Road, then turn right onto Heart Lake Road. Look for a parking area on the east side of the road just south of Heart Lake.
By bus: there is no direct service to this part of Fidalgo Island. By bike: Campbell Lake Road, H Avenue and Heart Lake Road are low volume, hilly but doable, to Heart Lake. Highway 20 has high volume traffic and some challenging shoulders on some of the Fidalgo Island route. Mobility: The trails on Mt. Erie are steep in places, filled with rocks, roots, downfall, and other challenges, to say nothing of snow sometimes. Alternatively there is a road to the top, steep in places but with low volume traffic. But beware of ice this time of year! I am a good example of how easy it is to slip and fall. Comments are closed.
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Maribeth Crandell has been a hiking guide in the Pacific NW for over 20 years. She's lived on Whidbey and Fidalgo Island for decades. As a frequent bus rider she easily makes connections between trails and transit. Archives by date
April 2024
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