And here are some pics from a new hiking area I found closer to home than the park I was going to.
Some of these are from November and some from last month.
I've been out there 3 times exploring different trails.
The first leg starts along an old rail road bed and crosses the river, then branches out in three directions right after crossing the river.
This is the western end of the Whitehorse Trail. Going east it runs up to Darrington some 25-30 miles distant.
I dread this part of the hike because of the large gravel/rocks and the length.
It seems to take forever to get to the river with just farm fields on either side to look at.
Boring and hard on the feets.
Though I did spot some New York Elk out grazing in the grass.
Looking back at the bridge from the center trail.
I met a fellow hiker the second time out and he told me two men died building the bridge.
On up the trail.
This end of the Whitehorse follows the river for a ways before joining up with the Centennial Trail which is partially on another old RR bed and runs north/south.
On the left after crossing the bridge there is a short trail that runs along the river bend with a couple of low spots with river access.
I found where some bushwhackercrafter practiced their shelter building skills.
The first time out here I went to the right after the bridge and followed a gated road until I found a trail that branched off towards the river and found a few old shacks and some huge stumps on the bluffs overlooking the river.
The view from the bluffs.
The buildings in the center are where I catch the trail at.
The hiker I mentioned before also told me there was an old log holding pond back in further so I went looking for it the last time out.
Up the road I went.
And I found it.
What a pretty little pond.
And the back side of the pond where it's vewy vewy swampy.
The road leading past the pond ends up at some buildings with keep out signs so I didn't trespass.
The road forked down below the pond so naturally I went and explored the other fork after running into the forbidden area up past the pond.
After a bit I could hear a creek running down to the river and found a trail going downnnn.
And a muddy trail it was with water running down it in places to join with the creek.
The creek rushing to get to the river and it's end.
Back up to the old road.
And I run into a tree farm.
But just before the tree farm there is this big old water holding tank right next to the old road.
Okay...th,th,thats all folks.