Ebey's Landing, Fort Ebey & Fort Casey State Parks

 Yesterday, we took the ferry from Port Townsend to Whidby Island, it was so foggy we couldn't see anything on the crossing over. The fog was lifting along the beach at Ebey's Landing by the time we arrived. We did the 3.5 mile loop hike, going up to the cliffs then returning along the beach.

 As we headed up toward the cliff walk from the beach at the south end, we had great views of Mt Baker looking across the fields on Whidby Island and Skagit Bay.

















About half way along the cliff walk.

















Descending along the trail from the cliffs at the north end, down to the beach.

Panorama from mid way down the cliffs. The clouds and fog obscured our views of the 

Olympic Mountains across Admiralty Inlet for most of our morning walk.

 Next, we drove a short way up to Fort Ebey State Park for another beach walk. Here the fog stayed on the beach the entire time we were hiking.

 The cliffs along the beach were beautiful colors, and were eroding (not a safe place to climb).

We heard sea lions barking and saw lots of birds: seagulls, harlequin ducks, cormorants, mergansers, and

  oyster catchers!

 Fort Ebey State Park also has 28 miles of hiking trails. We walked along a trail that went by Pondilla Lake, where we saw a variety of ducks and











young bald eagles.

There was plenty of time before catching the ferry back, so after a brief stop in Coupeville for coffee and ice cream, we headed to Fort Casey State Park to walk and enjoy the views. There is a beach here, but we decided to stay up on the cliffs.

 The ferry with some of the north Cascade peaks in the distance.

 Mount Rainier in the far distance, beyond the old emplacements. Deer grazing in the grass.

Admiralty Head Lighthouse

We watched the sunset over the Olympic Mountains across Admiralty Inlet

There were several rabbits, they quickly hid in the shrubbery

grazing deer, as we drove out of the park, we several leaping in the field.

Some of the flowers and berries we saw along our hikes today:

 

 

Cowlitz Rocks Snowshoe

A beautiful  sunny March day took us back up to Paradise on Mount Rainier. This time our destination was Cowlitz Rocks, located past the Paradise Glacier Trail near Little Tahoma on Mt Rainier. Our hike today was 7 mile round trip with about 1600 ft of elevation gain. From the parking lot at Paradise we hiked down the Paradise Valley Road and up Mazama Ridge via 4th Crossing. We used micro spikes until we were atop Mazama Ridge, then switched to snowshoes.

On Mazama Ridge, looking toward Mt Rainier 

Hiking above Mazama Ridge along the Paradise Glacier Trail.

There was some new snow since we hiked up here last Sunday, but fortunately, there was still a packed down trail to follow. Here we are following fresh animal tracks towards Mt Rainier on the Paradise Glacier Trail.

 continuing on the Paradise Trail, looking south, Mt Adams behind the Tatoosh Range.

 Looking toward Cowlitz Rocks. The climb goes from the saddle to the north of Cowlitz Rocks, then ascending Cowlitz Rocks to the south. We saw some boot tracks going up Cowlitz Rocks from the south. We hoped this was a winter option up to Cowlitz Rocks and headed that way.

Climbing up to a shoulder (?) to the south of Cowlitz Rocks. Great views of Mt Adams, Mt Hood and Mt St Helens to the south behind the Tatoosh Range.

Close up of Mt Adams,

Mt Hood in Oregon (a ghostly image behind the Tatoosh)

 and Mt St Helens

 The boot track led up to this smaller prominence on Cowlitz Rocks, but ended on the left side where it was rocky, steep and very exposed. I got within 20 yards of the rocky section and turned back. Uncomfortable to take any photos until I returned back to the shoulder.

 My hiking companions were unable to find a way across this slope.  I want to return another day to take the regular easy scramble up form the north side of Cowlitz Rocks. Meanwhile, we enjoyed the views and lunch from the saddle. We did not see any other hikers today on Mazama Ridge or the Paradise Glacier Trail.

Panorama to the north, from Mt Rainer, Little Tahoma and Cowlitz Rocks.

 Panorama to the south, Mt Adams, the Tatoosh Range, Mt Rainier and Little Tahoma


Close up Cowlitz Glacier














Cowlitz Rocks on the left, promontory extending from the shoulder with views to the south

Heading back, it seemed like we were hiking to Mt Adams, then turned and heading toward Mt St Helens.

Descending down the Paradise Glacier Trail toward Mazama Ridge, looking back at Little Tahoma and Cowlitz Rocks.

Water cascading down along 4th crossing on our hike back.

Partially waterfall, seen along the Paradise Valley Road as we neared the parking lot at Paradise.

Mazama Ridge & Paradise Glacier Trail Snowshoe

Beautiful, sunny March 1st, so we headed up to my favorite place, Paradise on Mt Rainier. The view of the mountain was stunning from the parking lot.

 We started out by taking the snow covered road from Paradise to 4th crossing up Mazama Ridge. I think our total trip was about 6 miles.
It was nice to see more snow than when we where up here about 4 weeks ago.

 Heading up Mazama  Ridge. The trail was packed down, so we used micro spikes until we where on top of the ridge, then switched to snowshoes.

 View of Mt Rainier from Mazama Ridge.














View of Mt Rainier from along the Paradise Glacier Trail. First, we are heading up to the ridge line to the east for great views and a lunch break.

View of a cornice, part of the Tatoosh Range and Mt Adams in the background.

Panorama looking south to west. Mt Adams, Mt Hood and Mt St Helens to the south.

 Panorama looking west to east.

After lunch, we continued up the Paradise Glacier Trail. View of a snow bridge over Stevens Creek. The top of Mt Rainier peaking above.

 We did not cross the snow bridge, but continued snowshoeing on the south side of the creek. We reached our turn around time about where the summer trail ends. Here looking towards Little Tahoma.

Snowshoeing back, the views where spectacular!

 Looking towards the western Tatoosh and Mt St Helens.

Mt Adams and the eastern Tatoosh.

As we hiked down to Mazama Ridge, the gathering clouds over the Tatoosh Range made a striking photo.