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ree Member
Joined: 29 Jun 2004 Posts: 4399 | TRs | Pics
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ree
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Tue Mar 18, 2008 4:34 pm
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Mt. Erie sounded just like the kind of hike Kleet and I were craving - island views, a decent workout, and no snow. My book "Winter Hikes In Puget Sound and the Olympic Foothills" gives Mt. Erie a very favorable write up. I also checked out Karen Sykes' Hike of the Week report on it as well. The forecast was excellent, so off we went to explore a new area for us.
The Anacortes Community Forest Lands area which encompasses Mt. Erie has quite the network of trails. We followed Karen's advice (and the advice in "Winter Hikes") and bought a ACFL map. We were really glad we did. There were plenty of forks and intersections to get us confused, but with the map, we managed to not get lost.
The trail meandered through forest that obscured almost all views until we reached the top. For a gorgeous Saturday, we were surprised to run into few hikers.
The top, of course, was a different story. Since you can drive to the top of the peak, there was quite a bit of company.Still, the views were fantastic. We sat on the granite slabs warming ourselves in the sun and enjoyed the views of Mt. Baker, Deception Pass, Camano and Whidbey Islands.
I asked Kleet what the name was of a particular lake I was staring down at. "I don't know. Smegma Lake!" I always like asking Kleet dumb questions because I never know what smartass reply I'm going to get. He kind of blurted it out loudly though, and as I gazed around us, I noticed a woman was staring right at me. I could tell she'd heard Kleet's reply. I just rolled my eyes and smirked. She did the same. That was non-verbal female speak, for sure. Women can have an entire conversation with each other and not say a word sometimes.
We watched a hang glider take off the side of the mountain. That was pretty fun. Made me want to take up the sport.
We sauntered around the north side of the mountain for views of the San Juans and beyond. We were feeling energetic enough to take a different route down to the car, so we bagged Sugarloaf Mtn. on the way down.
We had seen a park off on the Fidalgo Island headlands (Washington Park) so we decided to check it out after a light supper in Anacortes. What a cool park! We thought it'd be great for a social sometime. (I've since seen RB's post about a family social there.) Looks like a great place for a picnic!
I thought this area was a great place to explore, and pretty close to Seattle. It only took 2 hours to get there, and there was plenty to do to fill our day.
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goats gone wild Mr. Goat
Joined: 19 Aug 2007 Posts: 2524 | TRs | Pics Location: Vampireville |
.....leaving me wanting to return over and over in what ever capacity that may be, even if one day my knees are too old and I can only see the mountains from my porch.
Jason Hummel
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More Cowbell Warrior Princess
Joined: 01 Jul 2006 Posts: 5657 | TRs | Pics Location: Alive on Earth |
Is Smegma Lake the one that Crotch Rot Creek feeds into?
“If you want to forget all your other troubles, wear too tight shoes.” - Unknown
“If you want to forget all your other troubles, wear too tight shoes.” - Unknown
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goats gone wild Mr. Goat
Joined: 19 Aug 2007 Posts: 2524 | TRs | Pics Location: Vampireville |
.....leaving me wanting to return over and over in what ever capacity that may be, even if one day my knees are too old and I can only see the mountains from my porch.
Jason Hummel
.....leaving me wanting to return over and over in what ever capacity that may be, even if one day my knees are too old and I can only see the mountains from my porch.
Jason Hummel
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goats gone wild Mr. Goat
Joined: 19 Aug 2007 Posts: 2524 | TRs | Pics Location: Vampireville |
Right-O MC. I hear say it is a very productive creek....with millions of spawners.
.....leaving me wanting to return over and over in what ever capacity that may be, even if one day my knees are too old and I can only see the mountains from my porch.
Jason Hummel
.....leaving me wanting to return over and over in what ever capacity that may be, even if one day my knees are too old and I can only see the mountains from my porch.
Jason Hummel
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ree Member
Joined: 29 Jun 2004 Posts: 4399 | TRs | Pics
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ree
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Wed Mar 19, 2008 7:47 am
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mike Member
Joined: 09 Jul 2004 Posts: 6397 | TRs | Pics Location: SJIsl |
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mike
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Wed Mar 19, 2008 8:16 am
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Maps are still online on the PNT site under <the trail> drop down
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ree Member
Joined: 29 Jun 2004 Posts: 4399 | TRs | Pics
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ree
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Wed Mar 19, 2008 6:03 pm
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Layback Cascades Expatriate
Joined: 16 Mar 2007 Posts: 5712 | TRs | Pics Location: Back East |
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Layback
Cascades Expatriate
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Wed Mar 19, 2008 6:09 pm
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Lame-ass immodium junkies don't go to Mt. Erie without a harness, a rope and rock shoes. But thanks for thinking of me.
Looks like you had a nice hike. Mt. Erie is a beautiful place. I can't think of anywhere else in the state where one can look straight across Puget Sound at Mt. Rainier and see the Cascades to the east and the Olympics to the west. Glad you had fun.
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More Cowbell Warrior Princess
Joined: 01 Jul 2006 Posts: 5657 | TRs | Pics Location: Alive on Earth |
Dang, I had a pic of the Pustule Pinnacles all ready to post.
“If you want to forget all your other troubles, wear too tight shoes.” - Unknown
“If you want to forget all your other troubles, wear too tight shoes.” - Unknown
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ActionBetty Im a dirty hippie!
Joined: 06 Jul 2003 Posts: 4807 | TRs | Pics Location: kennewick, wa |
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ActionBetty
Im a dirty hippie!
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Wed Mar 19, 2008 6:56 pm
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"If you're not living good, you gotta travel wide"...Bob Marley
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