After wind, rain, and winter storms, last Saturday beamed like a beacon drawing me outside. When I arrived at the 120 acre Saratoga Woods there were no cars in the parking lot… which lasted about half a minute. Cars pulled in on both sides of me. A couple opened the back, put their dog on a leash and started for the trail. Another couple did the same. They started up the Indian Plum and Meadow Loop Trails, while I investigated a field of young, blue collard trees and shrubs just outside the entrance. They’re part of a wetland restoration project. I admired the little sprouts and wished them good growth in the New Year. Then I discovered an active ant hill conveniently located near a picnic table. They were bustling about in the sun. No one had told them it was January. Finally I entered the forest and began my climb up the Wintergreen Trail between tall cedar, fir and alder trees toward the top of the forest. I employed my kick-a-stick-a-day trail maintenance techniques as I walked. One tree had split and fallen across the trail but was easy to step over. This forest is magical with deep shade and serpentine trees that seem to be in a very slow motion dance with each other. Many look like shape shifters that might take a different form as soon as you turn your back. In places the trail narrows with tall hedges of salal and evergreen huckleberry towering over my head. There were bright, glowing fungi and dark, damp slugs. Kinglets sang from the crown and Pacific Wren were busy in the brush. One trail named Spring Board Alley reminded me of Harry Potter and one huge, mossy stump brought to mind his friend, Hagrid. I made my way up until I emerged out of the dark, mysterious forest into the bold light of day on a long, flat, wide stretch of trail which was once an airplane runway. Trees and shrubs have crept in along the sides but it still has an unnatural feel to it. I turned north and followed the ridge, or drumlin, a geological term from an Irish word (droimnin) meaning little ridge, molded by past glacial action. I began to meet other hikers, joggers, dog walkers, horseback riders and mountain bikers as I neared the main attraction, the Waterman Erratic. There is no sign, except a well beaten path that dips off the ridge to the west. I parted some branches as I came upon the huge rock, thirty-eight feet high and sixty feet long, left by the glacier as it melted thousands of years ago. Scientists believe this rock was transported by the ice (or magic spells) all the way from Orcas Island. A friend told me he brought his grandson here to see the rock that’s as big as a house. The boy circled the stone and asked, “Where is the door?” People come from near and far to see this enormous rock. On this particular day I met visitors from Hawaii, Kansas City, California, North Carolina and others from the local neighborhood. We reached out to touch the moss and ferns growing right on the rock lit by a heavenly glow. I left the rock encircled by many hands. On my way down the hill, shadows closed in on the Bent Tree Trail, a breeze stirred the branches, and I could sense the wizardry of the forest. Directions:
From Highway 525, turn north on Bayview Road toward Langley. As you enter town turn left at Saint Hubert's Catholic Church and left again on to Saratoga Road. Drive another 2.5 miles. The entrance and trailhead is on the left. For a trail map visit: www.islandcountywa.gov/PublicWorks/Parks/Pages/saratoga-woods.aspx
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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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