[Sabahsboy]

This Snohomish County Regional Park has but one dedicated trail. It descends from parking area to beach, about 4oo vertical feet. The second growth forest is mostly Douglas fir and red alder, some big leaf maples and miscellaneous other species including one Sitka spruce beside the trail. The stream is a designated salmon habitat. The already numerous storms of these recent weeks have leveled more than a few trees. Waters have fought back the salmon; and the salmon have succeeded to spawn. Ruthless rainfall during Thursday's storm scoured the streambed and left gravel washed anew. Silt is high on the banks. I fear the spawning was for nought; a terrible loss for the first successful run on the stream. One moderate size tree uprooted the trail and requires a little scramble over it. Aside of that, the park rangers have done a splendid job in just a day of work. Where the stream dives into a culvert (there is a wire weir), gravel was cleaned out; silt is washed high up the paved paths. My guess is the wind pushed high tide through the tunnel to the beach and sent the flooding stream up , depositing silt where one would never expect to find it. Walking through the tunnel under the railroad to the beach one sees transformation. The beach is scoured, plants mostly gone. A silvered, driftwood "fort" still stands! Gulls still are gathered at the outlet of the stream on the beach, dining on the remains of washed down salmon. A bit of luck: a very nice, though modest, sunset complete with a misty pink veil over the Olympics. Then the trudge back to the truck and exit before the warden locks the gate at 5 pm. Even small places change very fast during these weather events. Returned on Sunday afternoon. The crowds returned. This trail is multi-cultural. The usual numerous dogs were bounding about. There were some friendly folks along the way. The wonderful sunset of Saturday was lost to the blue haze that has engulfed the region since Friday.

[Sabahsboy]

As I understand, the park was closed yesterday and remained closed today. Walked from residential area where other park hoofers parked and around the locked gate. Once on the formal trail, there was a great deal of small debris from shredded Douglas firs. Further, saw a number of newly felled trees, then more and more. The park staff appears to be actively working to reopen and have the trail cleared. Missing is the giant cottonwood at trailside, now laid out a seeming 200 feet across the gently slope of the ravine. This one had an identity sign for visitor instruction; its gone. Further along, a tree uprooted a section (12 feet or more) of trail. There will be need for trail rebuilding here. At the greensword a large cedar, Cedrus deodara, fell...it surely is impressive as it is sad. Took out a picnic table. Another, smaller tree fell. The beach has been reshaped since last Sunday. This seems to occur during each storm, since the duration of the windstorms is usually long enough to include a high tide. The tunnel under the railroad tracks has new sand; water is bubbling up through the floor boards (board walk over the stream that flows down the ravine). The weir that is supposed to catch debris before the stream drains into the contained channel and goes through th tunnel, is nearly blocked by gravel and debris. Further heavy rains will send the stream flowing over the wood walkway in the tunnel. It is impressive as it is disheartening to see so much accumulated damage along this short trail. The trail is so very popular and will surprise many users. This newest damage surely is greater than all the damage of previous storms this winter. Likely culprit: saturated soils.

[captain jack]

Lots of deadfall in Saint Edwards State Park today too. A quick run around the perimeter revealed large chunks of trail missing, and plenty to climb over, as well as significant erosion of some of the more steep sections near the south end. The park and the trail system is open as of today though, that may change with new weather events coming this week.