[Quark]

The RR grade that runs parallel 530 near Darrington is a nice little winter snow stroll. We picked up the grade near MP 41 (the French Cr road to the Boulder Rv trail). Fortson Mill Pond at one time was a holding tank for logs dropped off by the railroad to await processing at the Fortson Mill. It is now a salmon spawning-and-dying pond. The creek was teeming and boiling with big, bright red salmon yesterday. It's a great place to take the younguns to see nature at her best. There were many dead ones too, providing feed for many birds. Life and death. Further on, toward Darrington is another set of natural ponds. On clear days there's an unobstructed view of Whitehorse Mountain here. Yesterday, the pond had a thin skin of ice on it, interrupted by confused skittered animal paw prints that eventually terminated in a bloody mess in the snow on the opposite bank. Our guess is that the eagles that hang around there had a good hunt and a meal. Nature's terrible beauty at work on this silent winter pond. This is a great stroll to see the salmon at work.

RR Grade pond, cattails & Whitehorse

[McPilchuck]

Fond memories of these ponds...use to fish them when a kid many years ago. Enjoyed reading your report. McPil

[salish]

I've spent some time up there, too. It's a beautiful place. I love tracking four-leggeds in the snow.

[McPilchuck]

"All things share the same breath-the beast, the tree, the man ...the air shares its spirit with all the life it supports." -- Chief Seattle Salish, I can surely relate to this. Good words! McPil