Joined: 09 Jun 2004 Posts: 1390 | TRs | Pics Location: Livin' on a prayer
Sat Dec 15, 2007 8:48 pm Boulder River 12-15-07
Today I visited Boulder River for the first time.
For the most part, it was all that I expected it to be: a pleasant, easy, forest walk that was beautiful. Nice water works at about the 1 mile point.
Also, one stretch of the trail has a lot of logs laying across it (at least 12), but they are anchored at the top of the rock ledge, so the trail goes right underneath them. Pretty cool. With all the recent precipitation, one of these downed logs had turned into almost a curtain of water that you have to walk through to proceed. Probably not an issue when it's not so rainy.
Somewhere along the way I must have confused myself with some other river trail because on my approach I was expected a closed road and walking around some washout before getting to the trail. Going to have to look for whatever trip report that was to figure out what caused my confusion. Maybe it was the Sauk river. Regardless, whatever it was it wasn't the Boulder River trail.
The weather was forecasted as 'sprinkles' or 'showers', but at Boulder River it was all out Rain. So, the camera stayed in the pack most of the time, except at the water falls.
Had hoped to locate a geocache, but didn't want it bad enough to crawl around in the muck in search of it. Plus, I left the details of its location at home.
No cars at the trailhead, no one encountered on the trail. Just as I was reviewing my photos in the car afterwards did another vehicle with two hikers arrived. Chatted briefly with them and then headed toward civilization. Road was managable in a passenger car, but there are a few moderate potholes to avoid.
Will definitely come back another time when the weather is better and will probably bring the kids with me. They'd enjoy this trail a lot.
Stopped for a unique coffee at a new place in Mount Vernon (I'll add the name later when I remember what it is). They brew you your own individual cup of coffee. It was quite tasty, but required some patience as they went through the process. Very interesting, but also a bit pricey.
-------------- Sedro-Woolley: Where butter is a spice and gravy is a beverage.
"Ill habits gather unseen degrees, as brooks make rivers, rivers run to seas." ~John Dryden
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Joined: 09 Jun 2004 Posts: 1390 | TRs | Pics Location: Livin' on a prayer
Sat Dec 15, 2007 9:04 pm
Sorry PIB.
Other than the long-lasting downers in the photo, trail was obstacle free, at least as far as I travelled (which really wasn't all that far).
On a different topic, it could have been the Suiattle approach that I was expecting.
-------------- Sedro-Woolley: Where butter is a spice and gravy is a beverage.
"Ill habits gather unseen degrees, as brooks make rivers, rivers run to seas." ~John Dryden
My Trip List
Joined: 25 May 2004 Posts: 3127 | TRs | Pics Location: El. 162'
Sat Dec 15, 2007 9:08 pm
Did you get to the campsites at the end of the trail ?
Are ther still lots of sucker holes to twist an ankle in in the last mile ?
By yourself huh. Been there done that. Awful lonely up the very end there, you can feel the Sasquatch stares burning into the back of your head in that area, no roads or paths up that valley beyond trails end. Same with the far north side of Myrtle lake across the way by Higgins, Squatch central.
Joined: 09 Jun 2004 Posts: 1390 | TRs | Pics Location: Livin' on a prayer
Sat Dec 15, 2007 9:44 pm
Cap'n J -
No, I didn't proceed to the end. Wet... and lonely - so true!
I did explore the fire pit and point that exists before the waterfalls and went a ways beyond the falls.
While looking at the area on Google Earth last night I found numerou BFRO* reports which gave me the heebie jeebies, but I didn't have that feeling while on the trail (thank God!).
Today was likely my shortest hiking day, ever.
At least now I can start my '2007 Favorites' posting.
-------------- Sedro-Woolley: Where butter is a spice and gravy is a beverage.
"Ill habits gather unseen degrees, as brooks make rivers, rivers run to seas." ~John Dryden
My Trip List
I'm glad you got out, Elvis, even if it was a short and easy day. Cheer up, the days will be getting longer soon, and we always have a stretch or two of glorious weather in February to look forward to.
Joined: 15 May 2003 Posts: 12260 | TRs | Pics Location: Truth or Consequences, NM
Mon Dec 17, 2007 9:57 am
Elv, those 12 trees at the biginning are new. There have always been a few big ones that created that waterfall thingy (which is cool when it freezes - they're like giant prison bars). The others are new, and not likely to be ever cut out, unless they're a hazard.
But yeah those at the end of the trail were left over from last year - I guess a trailcrew never got back there.
-------------- "The next couple of miles smelt like burnt turkey and kept reminding me of thanksgivings with my ex-wife. "
chris-mbhc, NWHiker's Bulwer-Lytton contestant for 2011
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Yup, that's Boulder River! 
