Forum Index > Trip Reports > Howard Miller Steelhead Park rail-trail
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Quark
Niece of Alvy Moore



Joined: 15 May 2003
Posts: 14152 | TRs | Pics
Quark
Niece of Alvy Moore
PostSat Mar 14, 2009 9:46 pm 
I can’t stay away from this area. First, some business. I passed by the Oso General Store on 530 where there’s a banner that says, “Opening Soon!” I immediately got on the horn and called PiB to dispatch the information. After the appropriate “yippies!” and “hoorays” were exclaimed, we made a pact to shop there often, to help keep it open.
Looked inside, yep, they're working on it
Looked inside, yep, they're working on it
Stopped at C Post road to see if I could best a photo that PiB took of the coloring salmon berry stalks a few years ago. Nothing doing. But I did get a nice photo of the road.
C Post Road.  This has nothing to do with the trip report but oh well
C Post Road. This has nothing to do with the trip report but oh well
I then stopped at a secret forest location near D’town, where there old growth trees are all over the place. They’re practically right f**king next to the Hampton sawmill, which is pretty funny.
oops
oops
Light in the forest, secret locale
Light in the forest, secret locale
That's not really me sitting there, just my jacket to show scale of doug fir on secret locale location
That's not really me sitting there, just my jacket to show scale of doug fir on secret locale location
Finally I got to Howard Miller Steelhead County Park (Skagit) in Rockport. The map at the information kiosk shows the trail beginning at the Maintenance Shop, which is true. But DON’T PARK AT THE SHOP!!!! When I returned to my truck hours later a kindly parks guy said folks aren’t supposed to park there. Park in a little parking lot and walk to the trail at the shop, or wander to the farthest campsites at the park and find the trail there. He and I chewed the fat awhile - about one cigarette’s worth. Nice fellow. He said that this trail is the old railroad bed, recently purchased by Skagit County for the park. The County got a good deal on it. The heavy rains this past January washed it out in 2 places, and they'll be working on it this summer.
January 2009 damage
January 2009 damage
The trail goes through a wetland area that boasts brand-spanking new information boards explaining the life cycle of salmon and all about bald eagles. At the farthest end of the wetland, the trail “T’s, and you have a choice of “Dead End” or “Back to Park.” Of course, “Dead End” is prime facie more intriguing than “Back to Park,” plus I learned a long time ago that dead ends could be 100 feet, or 10 miles. In this case it’s about 5 miles, according to the nice State Park guy. I wandered about 2 miles down the rail trail at a washout that required a little steep but easy scrambling uphill, but by then I was ready to return to my rig and the bum parking spot in which I placed it. It was raining quite heavily when I got back, but I stood at the banks of the Skagit and listened to the myriad of red-winged blackbirds and robins singing their little hearts out. Ton of birds. It began to slush and rain on the drive back to town.
Beaver hors d'oeuvre
Beaver hors d'oeuvre
Gee, Beave, dad's really going to give you The Business
Gee, Beave, dad's really going to give you The Business
Busy big leafed maple
Busy big leafed maple
Creeklet
Creeklet
Draped1
Draped1
Lichen and moss
Lichen and moss
RR Grade1
RR Grade1
Really bright moss on dark rock with red-brown leaves
Really bright moss on dark rock with red-brown leaves
River view
River view
Swamp2
Swamp2
Wetland walk1
Wetland walk1
Wetland2
Wetland2
Nice place, this rail-trail. I highly recommend it.

"...Other than that, the post was more or less accurate." Bernardo, NW Hikers' Bureau Chief of Reporting
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GaliWalker
Have camera will use



Joined: 10 Dec 2007
Posts: 4916 | TRs | Pics
Location: Pittsburgh
GaliWalker
Have camera will use
PostSat Mar 14, 2009 9:55 pm 
Quark wrote:
C Post Road.  This has nothing to do with the trip report but oh well
C Post Road. This has nothing to do with the trip report but oh well
I'm glad you posted this, I love it. I was out for a walk in the rain today and couldn't stop oohing and ahhing at the vividness of the colors in the rainy conditions. It was gorgeous, but I didn't take my camera with me, so I am really pleased you managed to capture some of the flavor of what I saw.

'Gali'Walker => 'Mountain-pass' walker bobbi: "...don't you ever forget your camera!" Photography: flickr.com/photos/shahiddurrani
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aywolfpac
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Joined: 27 Jan 2008
Posts: 1286 | TRs | Pics
Location: Burlington, WA
aywolfpac
Member
PostSat Mar 14, 2009 11:13 pm 
Quark wrote:
Gee, Beave, dad's really going to give you The Business
Gee, Beave, dad's really going to give you The Business
This brings to mind one of the funniest moments in TV history when June asked Ward, "Don't you think you were a little hard on the Beaver last night?" eek.gif Good stuff.

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Hulksmash
Cleaning up.



Joined: 20 Apr 2008
Posts: 7113 | TRs | Pics
Location: Arlington
Hulksmash
Cleaning up.
PostSat Mar 14, 2009 11:31 pm 
Wow! so much color! I'd go there tomorrow, i wasn't working frown.gif

"Bears couldn't care less about us....we smell bad and don't taste too good. Bugs on the other hand see us as vending machines." - WetDog Albuterol! it's the 11th essential
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Jimbo
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Joined: 14 Feb 2005
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Location: Arlington
Jimbo
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PostSun Mar 15, 2009 7:09 pm 
Oso store to open again ?? It shut down a few years back as gas price's rose. They were on KZOK one morning, I to will stop in. Such potty mouth Missy.
Quote:
They’re practically right f**king next to the Hampton sawmill
You must have talked to Rusty @ the park. That guy is the nicest parks dude you'll ever meet running a camp ground. Now, how come U didn't park at the bath room below ? This summer the pinks will be so thick up there. This is the off shout of the main river that the walking area runs next to. It was full to the brim with Chum's last fall. Was cool watching them dig bed's to lay there egg's in. Well I don't know how to get that pic in there.
Yippy I did it, I'm a dork eyes.gif Quark, didja see were the Sauk dumps in. It's at the end of the loop trail. I agree that someone ells go there and have a look around. Great place to walk the dog to. I give you up.gif up.gif on the T/R..

Guns only have two enemies; rust and politicians
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Quark
Niece of Alvy Moore



Joined: 15 May 2003
Posts: 14152 | TRs | Pics
Quark
Niece of Alvy Moore
PostSun Mar 15, 2009 8:48 pm 
Jimbo, I don't know if it was Rusty I spoke with, but he looked like a Rusty to me. A bodacious head of hair - Hollywood hair. Yeah, nice fellow; the sort that you wouldn't mind sitting down at a pub and having a beer with. He gave me a couple of tips on nice view drives to take around Concrete, too. I parked at the Maintenance Shop area 'cause the map showed the trails start there and I figured if the trails start there, I can park there. I was too lazy to walk from the little parking areas. Which is stupid, 'cause I was there to walk. I did see where the Sauk and Skagit meet - that's a wide, wide confluence. Beautiful place. There are lots of folks at the campground. Some looked like they're planning on being there awhile. What kind of fishing is going on now? I assumed they are there to fish; might be workers of some sort though. Maybe working on the wetland revegetation project, but it's prolly to early in the year for that.

"...Other than that, the post was more or less accurate." Bernardo, NW Hikers' Bureau Chief of Reporting
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Hiker Mama
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Joined: 25 Jun 2006
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Hiker Mama
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PostSun Mar 15, 2009 10:15 pm 
Quark, you always find such interesting places to explore, and interesting folks to talk with and gather information. Oh, nice pics, too.

My hiking w/ kids site: www.thehikermama.com
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Jimbo
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Joined: 14 Feb 2005
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Location: Arlington
Jimbo
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PostMon Mar 16, 2009 6:39 am 
Must have been rusty, live's around Concrete. Think the fishing is closed till June 1st unless C/R Steelhead is going on. That place is always packed, then need to open that Damb State camp ground across Hwy. 20. rant.gif

Guns only have two enemies; rust and politicians
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