Coming Back Up North!

[+The Jester]

My schedule looks clear. I should be able to make it - where is it you want to go again?

[+Pepper]

So anybody around and free next Tuesday/Wed for a morning hike?

 

No solid plans yet but its looking like Tues/Wed/Thurs.

I sure do want to get a hike in with you before I head back to TX, and this might be my last opportunity, so if it's a hike I think I can handle without holding up the gang to much I'm in!

 

Pepper

[+AndrewRJ]

So how early we talking? I might be able to get away but it depends on my schedual at work next week.

[+Kealia]

Moun10Bike suggested Tiger Mountain - that sounded good but I'm still open for what the majoprity wants to do.

 

Latest from client: meeting may be Thursday which means the hike could be Friday.

 

Sorry for the changes - out of my control. Keep your eyes here for the latest.

[+Kealia]

Ok, the final is Thursday client meetings and I'm free Friday (3/25) for caching.

 

Let the ideas/times flow!

[+AndrewRJ]

Ahh, Friday now that is even better. I can most likely go now. Tiget would be fine with me, Although just about anything would be fine with me.

[+Allanon]

I may be able to make Friday, but I'll have to clear it with the boss.

 

Same as Pepper though for me. I'm not going to go if I'm going to hold up the rest of the group. I feel too guilty when that happens. I was actually hoping for the GeoRoo caches north of Goldbar & Index.

 

How about this - there are lots of high altitude drive-near caches for views, and if we get started early enough we can get a bunch of those out of the way...then for those that want something a bit more vigorous, there are some hikes to various mines and other peaks (the virgin Mt Persis cache for example). And there's a brand new Canyons resturant here in Monroe for an after party as well.

 

What do you think?

[+Kealia]

I'll go along with the group - I don't know the area that well so I'll have to defer to you guys anyway.

 

My flight home Friday is around 5 so I'd have to be done hiking araound 3 or so.

[+evergreenhiker!]

the persis one....well, it's a big undertaking.....

[+LittleBlue]

Ah bummer, a friend and I take turns watching our 4 yr olds and today was my turn to be 'off'. Next Friday I will be watching them. Darn!

[+Kealia]

Sorry I'll miss you this time LittleBlue....

[+Prying Pandora]

I sure do want to get a hike in with you before I head back to TX, and this might be my last opportunity, so if it's a hike I think I can handle without holding up the gang to much I'm in!

 

Pepper

Same here. Friday is good for me but I go up long/steep hills really S-L-O-WWW. I'm staying tuned to see where you decide to go...

[+Allanon]

the persis one....well, it's a big undertaking.....

Believe me, I wasn't suggesting that as the only option.

 

Here is a sample of the caches available...

[MarcusArelius]

Whoo hoo a Friday hike!

 

Tiger is closer to where Kelia will be but I'll try to make it where ever it is decided to go.

[+Allanon]

I know we're out in the boonies, but I was hoping.

[+Kealia]

MA - Glad to see you make it - it will be nice to see you again.

 

Just to reiterate - I'm game for anything. We don't need to do anything with elevation - I just prefer to go along one trail/hike than a bunch of park and grabs (especially with a group) .

 

So if anybody has other suggestions besides Tiger Mountain - please throw them out.

 

On one of my trips I want to do the long tunnel cache and the APE cache but I hear it's snow trekking up there right now....

[MarcusArelius]

On one of my trips I want to do the long tunnel cache and the APE cache but I hear it's snow trekking up there right now....

We are planning for the second annual Iron Horse bike ride this spring. The tunnel doesn't usually open until May. But this year it may open early. We'll see. I hope that the schedules work out such that you could come along.

[+Kiersolvd]

If it's Friday, then my interest in joining y'all in a hike goes up.

[+paul2tele]

Another opportunity missed. Tiger is just minutes from my office, and I've only done a few around the edges. Unfortunately, I will be driving back from Reno/Tahoe on Friday afternoon. On the good side, my count of rest area caches should increase this week.

[+Stump]

Wife has given me permission to join y'all. As long as my rib holds up (broke it couple weeks ago) I'm in.

[Moun10Bike]

I unfortunately am not going to be able to join you this time. That's the Friday before Easter, and we'll be leaving early to head over to Spokane and Coeur d'Alene to be with family for the holiday.

[+AndrewRJ]

Ok for a suggestion how is this. I believe it is called the Redmond Watershed Preserve. There are 4 caches in it

 

GCB130

GCB562

GCMTT4

GC2912

 

Just and idea.

[+Allanon]

GCB130

 

GCB562

 

GCMTT4

 

GC2912

[+Kealia]

I unfortunately am not going to be able to join you this time. That's the Friday before Easter, and we'll be leaving early to head over to Spokane and Coeur d'Alene to be with family for the holiday.

Sorry I'll miss you this trip Moun10Bike - but I am jealous that you get to head to Spokane. (Off topic - I would LOVE to see a coin or other sig item that hs Riverfront Park or Spokane Falls on it - know of anybody that has such a thing?)

 

New faces, too - cool.

[+AndrewRJ]

Thanks Allanon I still havn't tried to figure out that link thing

[+Kealia]

Ok for a suggestion how is this. I believe it is called the Redmond Watershed Preserve. There are 4 caches in it

 

GCB130

GCB562

GCMTT4

GC2912

 

Just and idea.

So how long will this take (how far is it)?

 

I ask not out of concern about a long hike; just so that everybody can gauge thier time investment and start to plan.

 

Any other suggestions for places to hike?

[+hydnsek]

I unfortunately am not going to be able to join you this time.  That's the Friday before Easter, and we'll be leaving early to head over to Spokane and Coeur d'Alene to be with family for the holiday.

Sorry I'll miss you this trip Moun10Bike - but I am jealous that you get to head to Spokane. (Off topic - I would LOVE to see a coin or other sig item that hs Riverfront Park or Spokane Falls on it - know of anybody that has such a thing?)

 

New faces, too - cool.

Alas, I will miss you this time, too, Kealia. Friday I have both a critical project delivery and a doctor's appt {followup from my recent surgery}. Hope to catch you next time - enjoy your visit!

 

hydnsek

[+Prying Pandora]

Any other suggestions for places to hike?

Where are you staying and how far away from that are you willing to go?

[+Kealia]

I'm staying at the Doubletree in Bellevue (SE 112th).

 

Don't care where we go but I'd rather spend more time hiking than driving.

[+Allanon]

So how long will this take (how far is it)?

 

I ask not out of concern about a long hike; just so that everybody can gauge thier time investment and start to plan.

 

Any other suggestions for places to hike?

Here is some information I found on this park:

 

Redmond Watershed Preserve - The Issaquah Alps

My plans for a grand day touching snowlines in the Cascades were taken to the cleaners at the last moment. But being home with Christopher all day in the sun got us out the door for a hike anyhow. Since I needed to get by the park anyhow, we headed to the Redmond Watershed Preserve park east of Redmond on Novelty Hill.

 

This 806 acre oasis of forest is part of the city of Redmond's park system and it now greatly enhanced from about 5 years ago when it was a mess of user conflicts. In other words, it was one big mud pit due to massive overuse by bikers and horses and no place for hikers. Now it has designated hiker only trails, and those trails for bikes are in much stronger shape to handle them. All trails are excellent hiking especially mid-week now through winter. Even with the huge parking lot we were the only people there all morning.

 

We started with the short 1/2 mile Treefrog Loop which takes you on a nice stroll to a lake and is also wheelchair accessible. From there we headed north on the trail system which in all can result in very nice 5-7 miles of hiking! We hiked up through golden yellow trees and stopped often to photograph mushrooms which are now beginning to fruit up everywhere. I now have some GREAT photos of him taking pictures behind my tripod with my Nikon gear! I had our digital camera with me to get images for an article I'm writing that is due Friday. But he likes now to be able to push the button to take a REAL picture, so I hid beside him and shot him. Will be fun images in 25 years no doubt. We hiked about 2 miles and saw belted kingfishers, varied thrushes, both downey and hairy woodpeckers, and other cool 3 year old things like slugs, snails, salamanders, and leaves on the ground. And, now that he isn't in diapers, he got to pee on his first tree today! He thought that was a riot! So, he also got the talk that this is only done when way out in the forest away from toilets---not in schoolyards, church parking lots after sunday school, Grandma's front yard, etc.... : )

 

We hiked longer than expected, so rather than just eat the customary cheese and breadsticks on the way home we really splurged and both had happy meals at the golden arches. He got the Bashful dwarf head keychain in his, I got Sleepy. Alas, I was sleepy by the time we drove back out to Fall City in time to fly kites in the howling east winds we had today. Yawn....

 

and

 

Redmond Watershed Reserve - The Alpine Lakes

We have been exploring this nice lowland area while I rehab a bad knee, thus making it more than a one day trip. It is on the ridge above (to the east) Redmond- Novelty Hill Road to the south and 133rd NE, off Avondale Road, to the north. The south end has a nice restroom complex- locked- and big parking area. Most importantly there are nice paper maps available. All trails are well marked so easy to explore the loops and one could go 6-8 miles doing them all. We like the area in the NE corner best so far as it has a nice beaver area. We have not seen the NW corner yet. This is a pretty, not heavily used area, for those of us longing for the forest this time of year! Mixed use- horses and bikes allowed on some of the trails. Pleasant!

 

Don't know the exact distance for all the caches listed, but 'as the crow flys' it was about 2.5 miles. I'm sure it's longer on the actual trails. And my Topo software shows it's only a couple hundred feet elevation gain/loss. I might even be able to handle it.

[MarcusArelius]

There are several around McDonald park in Carnation. Some are level and some are hikes. We could do the level ones first and than the die hards could take the hill.

 

Wow, what a view!

Confluence

SG # 60 - Thing "1" & Thing "2"

Old MacDonald

Carnation Tree Farm Treasure

Simple Cache in Tolt . . . Not!

Tolt River Crossing

etc.

 

Nolenator's trail map would come in handy.

[+Kealia]

There are several around McDonald park in Carnation. Some are level and some are hikes. We could do the level ones first and than the die hards could take the hill.

 

Wow, what a view!

Confluence

SG # 60 - Thing "1" & Thing "2"

Old MacDonald

Carnation Tree Farm Treasure

Simple Cache in Tolt . . . Not!

Tolt River Crossing

etc.

 

Nolenator's trail map would come in handy.

At first glance all I saw was McDonald's!

[+Prying Pandora]

There are several around McDonald park in Carnation.  Some are level and some are hikes.  We could do the level ones first and than the die hards could take the hill.

 

That sounds cool. I didn't do too bad climbing up Squak last weekend so maybe I'll be able to keep up with you on the uphill ones.

[+Kealia]

So how long is the drive from Bellevue to here (in time, not miles). I can't believe how bad the Seattle traffic is!

 

More concerned about the Friday afternoon traffic back to the airport....

[+AndrewRJ]

Traffic... Friday..., Maybe some a little further south is in order.

[+Kealia]

What's the weather supposed to be like?

I assume grey and cloudy but is it supposed to be raining?

[+Allanon]

As of right now, Partly Sunny/Cloudy...rain returning on Saturday.

 

Here's a link...Eastside Weather

[+LittleBlue]

Wow, there's *lots* you could do in Tolt MacDonald Park! I think it would be about 30-45 minutes to Bellevue depending on the traffic in Bellevue. There's no traffic in Carnation! [] If you go that route, I would show up with the girls and do some of the lowland walking with ya'll.

[+Kealia]

I'm game for anything as long as we plan accordingly so I can get back to the airport by 4:00.

[+Prying Pandora]

Woo! Phil is off on Friday so we can both go.

[+Allanon]

So, somebody make a decision...Tolt/MacDonald or Redmond Watershed or Tiger?

 

I vote for T/M or RW...if time is a factor (since I don't know when everyone else wants to start), I'd suggest RW for ease of access to freeways back to the airport.

Edited March 23, 2005 by Allanon

[+Kealia]

I'm game for an 'anytime' start. I've got nothing to do all day (until I head for the airport).

 

I'll defer to you guys on where to hike - knowing that you'll take care of me on the timing.

 

Thanks!

[+AndrewRJ]

I am not sure but I think there is a parking fee in the RWP. I would be inclined to vote for the RWP despite that.

[+LittleBlue]

No fee for parking at the Redmond Watershed Park. And be sure to solve this puzzle before you go!

[+AndrewRJ]

thanks Little Blue, I have been in so many parks recently I have started to run them together.

[+runhills]

Okay, I am guilty of lurking to see where this group was going. Since the two areas being discussed are my normal stomping grounds I have decided not burn valuable vacation time this time.

 

The Redmond watershed is pleasant but I recommend Tolt/McDonald; it will be more of an adventure with the bridge crossing and hill climb to some views. There are also lots of possibilities in the valley if time permits. The commute to the airport from the Carnation Valley would be fairly fast by going south to Fall City and I-90 rather than through Redmond.

[+Allanon]

Sounds like the majority are leaning towards Tolt/MacDonald for the Friday adventure. Andrew and I will just have to get RWP another time.

 

And I'll probably hit the long sought-after milestone of 100 that day as well...

[+AndrewRJ]

Hey that sounds great to me as well. I really don't care I just love an excuse to get out with good poeple and have some fun. I think that I will be able to get out of work around 11 or 12.

[+Kealia]

So what time should we plan the hike for?

 

I'm up for anytime - so I'll throw out 10:00 AM as a start time.

 

Anybody have coords for the parking/meeting spot so I can get the right maps/PQs running tonight?

 

Thanks!

 

EDIT: Sorry, didn't see the time in Andrewrj's post. Will an 11:00 or 12:00 start time allow for us to do the hike and give me time to get back to SEA-TAC by 4:00?

Edited March 23, 2005 by kealia

[+AndrewRJ]

I am... cough, hack,... feeling ill,... wheeze... 10 is fine with me. I got a half day blocked off with the lady who does the schedualing and I will work a long day today and tomorrow. No problem.

 

Where are we meeting first?