[Elvis]

A number of weeks ago I wrote a report about the Hertz Trail, aka the North Lake Whatcom Trail. Today's trip report starts at the same place, but heads up above the lake on a gated logging/DNR road. The family has been out of town for the week and I need to pick them up in SeaTac tonight. With all the driving I really didn't want to spend MORE time in the car but I still wanted to go somewhere new. This was close enough and has been on my 'places to check out' list for a while now. Round Trip was about 6 miles or so, with about 2,000 ft elevation gain. My plans were to go further and higher, but I called it quits when the snow became deeper than about 9 inches. I had my Stabilicers, which worked great... but forgot the gaiters. Thus, the deeper snow started to cause me some issues. Only saw 3 others on the road, everyone else stuck to the trail along the lake. It seems this is a really popular place for people with dogs. The trail is actually a logging road and it follows alongside, or under, the huge powerlines. So, while it's not wilderness, it is quiet and can offer some nice views of Lake Whatcom, Bellingham and the San Juan Islands. Took lots of pictures, but most of them include power towers or power lines. There were some snow doughnuts, much to my surprise. Despite the weather forecasts, I stayed dry and comfortable. First, the 'close up' pics:

Insulator... big

More Insulators

You Have Snow!

Stabilicers+Shoe Shot

Melting Doughnut

Snow Doughnut, or a pig or a Scion B?

The Aliens Have Landed!

Power Tower

Funk'd up tree

Spring being sprung

And then the 'further away' pics:

View will disappear in summer

View from down low

Road and Lk Whatcom and Sudden Valley

Targeted Destination Area

More View

Tower, Wire, Road

Doughnut Producing Hill and blue sky

Road finally levels out

San Juans beyond Chuckanuts

Tracks

View from Power Corridor

San Juans over Lookout/Galbraith Mtn

Lk Whatcom, Bham, Bham Bay

I stopped at Bloedel Donovan park (located at the end of Alabama Street from Bellingham at the north end of the lake) and took this shot. My turnatound point (I believe) was at the left side of the snowfield in the center of the photo.

View from Bloedel Donovan Park at N. end of Lk Whatcom

Ultimately I was looking for a high point at 3087 ft, expecting it to give me better views to the west and to the east, but that will have to wait for another day. ~E

[Eric]

Ah a familiar place. That 3087 spot is known as Whacme or Whatcom-Acme and it does have good views to the east. The actual summit is a torn up logging area but has good views to Baker and Twin Sisters. If you go a little bit further than you did, you will be on Sierra Pacific Industries logging land. Technically I believe you need a permit to enter their land but I don't think it would be the end of the world if a person walked up there when they weren't logging. Or at least I did it and the world hadn't ended yet. I was glad I had my iPod with when I did that one as it drowned out the buzz from the powerlines.

[yew]

Thanks for writing up this TR Elvis because I was wondering what the snow situation was like up there. This hillside you walked up is highly visible from southbound I-5 around the Northwest Dr. exit.

[Mega-Will]

With a 35 pound pack, that steadily graded road is probably the best workout hike in NW Washington. It's had snow on it for much more of this winter than usual though. Definetely bring the tunes though!

[Elvis]

Eric - thanks for the peak name. I guess I can't name it myself. Y.B. - Just enough snow for snowshoeing at about 2,200 ft, IMO, but it's probably short lived now. There were tracks from 1 other person that had been up there since the most recent snow. That person brought snowshoes and made good use of them. He/She continued on past my turnaround point, staying to the right at the 2,400 ft 'Y'. I did see a couple trails branching off the road but was unsure where they were to/from. One was a short ways from the TH that headed southward (see following pics). There was another one at a slightly lower elevation that came in from North of the road. Up higher (at 2,000) I didn't see anything that resembled a trail, but it could have been obscured by snow.

0.6

0.6

There were signs marking off a DNR Timber Sale area at about 1,600 feet, just before the snow became consistent. Finally, as I was heading down, a truck came slowly up the road, following a big dog. Inside the cab was a young adult (young = younger than me) and a young child. They were taking the dog for a walk, but I noticed he had a snowboard in the back of the truck. It was a peculiar combination. Meganerd - definitely a good workout. Might not be quite as steep as the Pine/Cedar Lakes trail in the Chuckanut area, but the extra length is a plus for training. Agreed... Ipod isn't a bad idea on this trail. Saw lots of deer tracks up in the snow, but not much else.

[Mega-Will]

[Elvis]

Had some free time this afternoon, so pumped up the bike tires and recruited CHawk to make a second attempt at reaching Whacme peak (3,087 ft). Less snow than before, but ultimately decided to ditch the bikes as the snow was too soft for riding in when we encountered it at about 2,500 feet. Foiled again... only made it a quarter mile or so after the second road intersection, about a mile short of the summit and hopeful views of Baker and the Twin Sisters. Third time will be a charm for sure. Due to the steep grade of the road, we walked the bikes up the majority of the way but enjoyed the quick descent. Estimated 2.5 hours up, 30 minutes down. Flies and mosquitoes are starting to make their presence known, but were still far from becoming a nuisance. Saw three others on the road today. Pictures pick up from where I turned around on the initial trip.

Auto-Park

Road Conditions 5-4-08

Ditched the bikes

Road and Ridge 5-4-08

Distant scenery

San Juans

Bham and San Juans

[GaliWalker]

Elvis, "Distant scenery" and "San Juans" are beautiful!

[Elvis]

Thanks GW. Too much haze, lack of a solid black and a solid white... but I enjoy them too... especially from a distance.