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Karen
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Karen
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PostFri Oct 17, 2003 7:22 pm 
This is a hike that is so easy it hardly qualifies as a hike but it is interesting and the fall color is at its peak along the trail. It's called the Coal Mines Trail and runs between Cle Elum and Roslyn. I'd been wanting to hike the trail for a long time after hearing about it and since the weather forecast was dire, we thought it might be raining a little LESS on the east side today. We were SO wrong. It turned out to be warm and almost sunny and the sucker holes kept getting bigger and bigger the further we drove from Seattle out of the so-called rain we were expecting. We didn't need to drive away from the rain at all it seems but it was sweet to have another day of hiking in warm, partially sunny weather. The trail passes various coal mine artifacts (mostly pieces of mangled metal and concrete edifices) and several old slag heaps. On one of the slag heaps a whole punch of Calfornia poppies were in bloom. We felt like we were walking on the moon. Peekaboo glimpses of Roslyn outskirts along the way but the best part of the trail (today) was the brilliant color and the contrast with the black gritty slag heaps. There are several benches along the way and signs designating sites of mining disasters and long-gone structures. We hiked about 4-5 miles round-trip and started from Cle Elum. We finished the day with a treat at Dairy Queen and drove back to Seattle expecting to have a head-on collision with the rain but it was dry all the way back. Trail is open to bikes, horses, and dogs. Many of you have probably been there but if you have not you can find the start of the trail in town at the intersection of Second Street West and STafford Street (one block off the main drag once you leave I-90 and pass Safeway). Turn left at Stafford Street and you're there. Karen
Vine Maple 3 Coal Mine Trail
Vine Maple 3 Coal Mine Trail

stay together, learn the flowers, go light - from Turtle Island, Gary Snyder
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Allison
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Joined: 17 Dec 2001
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Allison
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PostFri Oct 17, 2003 7:35 pm 
Nice one Karen! Hope you brought that weather back with you. curse.gif ing it was too hot all summer, now curse.gif ing that it's not time to ski yet. curse.gif clown.gif

www.allisonoutside.com follow me on Twitter! @AllisonLWoods
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Larry
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Larry
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PostFri Oct 17, 2003 7:52 pm 
Karen! Two stunning images. (I use the word "stunning" a lot when you post). Man, those are nice. The vine maple image is so rich in color. The slag heap image has a "dream" quality to it. Nice, nice work. Exhibition quality, both.

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Bob K
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PostFri Oct 17, 2003 8:00 pm 
I agree with Larry. Two very creative and artistic photos. They both have that fresh, clear feel you get after a storm. Well done!

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Newt
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Joined: 21 Dec 2001
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PostSat Oct 18, 2003 7:20 am 
Cool photos Karen. I really like the red of the Vine Maples. I think you got the real color. Nice. NN

It's pretty safe to say that if we take all of man kinds accumulated knowledge, we still don't know everything. So, I hope you understand why I don't believe you know everything. But then again, maybe you do.
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Karen
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Karen
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PostSat Oct 18, 2003 8:45 am 
Coal Mine Trail
Wow! Thank you all for the comments regarding the photos -- I really appreciate the positive feedback. Indeed, that trail is one I have driven by hundreds of times on my way to "somewhere else", one that I always meant to visit and never got around to until yesterday. We were so amazed by the weather -- we were actually shedding our clothes as we hiked (well, not ALL our clothes) it was so warm. I couldn't believe it when I got home last night and saw the news about the flooding up north and Highway 20 being closed. What a contrast! The weather never fails to impress, baffle, and amaze me. Karen

stay together, learn the flowers, go light - from Turtle Island, Gary Snyder
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