Oyster Dome
Jan 18, 2009
by
whitebark
—
last modified
Jan 18, 2009 10:03 PM
- Type of Outing
- Day hike
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Oyster Dome
- Region: Puget Sound and Islands -- North Sound
- Agency: Department of Natural Resources, Northwest Region
- Avg Rating: 3.81
- Be Aware Of
- Blowdowns
- Mudholes
- Snow on trail
Oyster Dome summit view
We hiked up to Oyster Dome via the Lily Lake Trail from Blanchard Hill Trailhead. There were no problems driving up to the trailhead, but snow still covered much of the upper parking area. The first two miles of the trail were in good shape. As the trail approached the junction with the Incline Trail, snow appeared, first patches then a continuous pack of 1 to 2 feet deep.
Thick snow covered the trail around the Lily Lake basin, with stretches of frozen deep postholes difficult to walk in. The snow became thinner again near the Oyster Dome trail junction. Some snow remained on the Oyster Dome Trail around the creek crossing, but the final climb to the top was bare and dry. Summer-like conditions prevailed on the summit, and the view was magnificent. A happy crowd of Bellinghamsters, most of whom hiked here via the route from Chuckanut Drive, were laying in the sun and restocking their depleted supplies of Vitamin D.
We returned via Max's Shortcut, which is no shortcut at all to the Blanchard Hill trailhead--it takes about 15 minutes longer than the Lily Lake trail. The first quarter mile of the Shortcut near Lily Lake was buried in snow. After the trail crossed onto the south side of Blanchard Hill, the snow disappeared for the most part and the going was easy. The crossover trail that connects Max's Shortcut with the Lily Lake trail was kind of annoying, featuring a tiring series of ups and downs due to tread slumping. It would be nice if this trail were rebuilt. There were a few blowdowns to contend with on Max's Shortcut and the crossover trail, nothing serious.
Thick snow covered the trail around the Lily Lake basin, with stretches of frozen deep postholes difficult to walk in. The snow became thinner again near the Oyster Dome trail junction. Some snow remained on the Oyster Dome Trail around the creek crossing, but the final climb to the top was bare and dry. Summer-like conditions prevailed on the summit, and the view was magnificent. A happy crowd of Bellinghamsters, most of whom hiked here via the route from Chuckanut Drive, were laying in the sun and restocking their depleted supplies of Vitamin D.
We returned via Max's Shortcut, which is no shortcut at all to the Blanchard Hill trailhead--it takes about 15 minutes longer than the Lily Lake trail. The first quarter mile of the Shortcut near Lily Lake was buried in snow. After the trail crossed onto the south side of Blanchard Hill, the snow disappeared for the most part and the going was easy. The crossover trail that connects Max's Shortcut with the Lily Lake trail was kind of annoying, featuring a tiring series of ups and downs due to tread slumping. It would be nice if this trail were rebuilt. There were a few blowdowns to contend with on Max's Shortcut and the crossover trail, nothing serious.
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