First impressions can be important. But sometimes what we first perceive is only the shell of what lies beneath. True meaning and beauty might be hidden by outward appearances, or by what doesn’t fit our preconceived expectations and experiences. Maybe it takes a change of perspective, a meditative prelude, or an open mind that has no expectations at all other than to be open to surprise, to wonder, to beauty, however it may appear. That can happen with trails. We expect a certain kind of experience or view or environment or destination, but encounter something different, something unexpected. First impressions are not always accurate. This can happen at the Beach View Farm Trail. It’s different. It’s not forested at all; there are hardly even any shrubs. It’s all meadow and farm field. You can see the end from the beginning, whichever end you park at, so at all times you know exactly where you are in your explorations. It does not wend or wind, it goes property-line straight from one end to the other. And yet I find the trail to be an absolute joy every time I hike here. I brought a friend of mine along with me this week, someone who had never been here before. We started at the west end, at West Beach, on a bitingly cold but sunny day. The sunshine warmed our spirits after another stretch of steady rain. I pointed out the eastern end of the trail as we stood at the western trailhead, and we could see the entire route right there in front of us. As we walked through the prairie meadow along the lakeshore, the open meadows and long-distance views welcomed us, so different from being among sight-obscuring trees and shrubs. Waterfowl swam in the lake, pintails and widgeons and mallards and more. A couple eagles soared high above. A northern harrier hovered a few feet above the grasses, looking for an easy meal, floating easily, lazily. Kath looked at me and said “I like this, it’s so open, a meadow environment so different from the usual deep woods of these islands.” The stresses of our day and the season fell away as we followed the trail, watching geese flying above us, seeing the Olympics rising behind us, and the nearby farmlands around us resting for the coming spring. At the footbridge, half a mile in, the terrain changes from meadows to farmland. Dozens of chickens foraged the pasture, protected by a movable fence, so they could add their fertilizer over the entire farm through the course of the year. Cattle grazed on the hill beyond, also rotated across the farm as needed. In 2015 a new generation of Fakkema family farmers began focusing on regenerative agriculture here with pasture cropping, grazing rotation, composting and mobile animal shelters. This replenishes the soil, retains water, and reduces climate impacts, while providing healthier livestock, improved yield, and sustainable food production. Eventually the trail arrives at Wieldraayer Road, which leads to the eastern trailhead. We turned around and headed back down the trail toward the beach, past the farm, across the bridge to the tall grasses and wildlife of the meadow and lakeshore. From here we saw open fields framed by distant forests, open views of the farms, the Strait to the west, the lake to the north, and the sun above. Back at the beach, waves crashed ashore. The Olympics posed for us, modestly draped in coverings of clouds. We took one last look at this trail of farm and field, of sun and water, grass and wildlife. Of all the good gifts given this time of year, ours was the sky and wide-open wanderings. jack Our heartfelt thank you to the Whidbey Camano Land Trust, the Fakkema family, Island County Parks, and all the others who helped make this trail opportunity a reality. For a 9 ½ minute visual bath in beauty and gratitude, enjoy this Ted talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/louie_schwartzberg_nature_beauty_gratitude?language=en Directions: West end: park at West Beach Park on West Beach Road, about a mile south of Joseph Whidbey State Park. Walk south a hundred feet or so then east a hundred yards along an unnamed road to the trailhead. East end: From Highway 20 in Oak Harbor take Swantown Road about 1.4 miles west to Wieldraayer Road. Turn into the church parking lot and find signed spaces at the northwest corner reserved for hikers.
By Bus or Bike: Island Transit does not serve this area directly from Oak Harbor. West Beach Road and Swantown Road are usually not very busy roadways, and have about three-foot shoulders in most places. Mobility: The trail is generally flat and even, graveled through the farm area, mown grass through the meadows. Currently there is standing water in places in the meadow area. Pets: Dogs are allowed on-leash in the meadow area. Dogs are not allowed at all on the farm portion of the trail. Murphy had to turn around at the bridge separating the two. What's Your Favorite Trail? Send a photo and a few lines describing which of our trails you like best and why, and we may include it in our top 10 list on New Year's eve! Deadline is Dec. 26th. Email: [email protected]
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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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