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Nature on Trail: Red-Breasted Sapsucker, Pika, Bitterroot
by Tami Asars
Bird: Watch for red-breasted sapsuckers at the top of conifers
Captain Obvious had some fun naming this bird. Not surprisingly, this colorful bird with a breast of brilliant red feathers is known for sucking sap from the wells it drills in living trees.
In spring, the females lay 4 to 7 snow-white eggs that eventually produce naked and helpless little chicks. Both parents play a role in feeding and protecting the young and in 26 to 28 days, the fledglings are ready to leave the nest.
Interestingly, hummingbirds have developed a symbiotic relationship with sapsuckers and rely on their holes for feeding sources.
This spring, when you hear a pecking sound high in the conifers, look closely. Often you’ll see a hummingbird hovering nearby, waiting for its turn at the feeding tree.
Beast: Keep your ears perked for the warning call of the pika
“Eeeeepp!” This is the warning call of a small mammal called a pika, and is commonly heard near talus slopes. This rock-dwelling rodent, closely related to the hare, is 6 to 8 inches long with a round body and little ears. Pikas are active day and night, and do not hibernate.
In summer, pikas work on building a “haystack,” a pile of grasses, heather and wildflowers on which they feed through the cold winter months. Drying their haystack is key to keeping it preserved, so if you look closely, you may see a pile drying in the sun.
If wet weather comes along, they move it to a drier location.When they aren’t working on gathering food, they are often guarding their tunnels, keeping a close eye out for predators.
Bloom: Bitterroot add a touch of color to hikes amongst Washington’s sagebrush
The fragile, colorful and unexpected blooms of the bitterroot plant shout “spring is here” from hilltops in arid desert climates.
The root, bitter unless cooked (hence the name), was usually eaten with berries or meats for meals by Native Americans who depended on this plant for an extremely nutritious food source. It was claimed to sustain an active person for a whole day. Medicinal uses included infusions of the root to help relieve heart pain, to counteract the effect of poison ivy rash and even as a treatment for cold sores.
Today, the plants are used for landscaping in rock gardens or seen growing wild in Washington’s dry scabland and sagebrush areas.
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Hikers' Amazing GiveBIG Show of Support for Trails
"Washington Trails Association has a huge impact on health and happiness in our state -- one hike at a time." -- Cristie A., Everett
Thanks, Cristie. And thanks to each and every hiker -- 446 in all -- who joined her in making a gift to trails during The Seattle Foundation's GiveBIG event on May 15. Your amazing outpouring of support truly will help stretch our impact this year.
Your gifts will help clear, repair or build 35+ trails in the next 30 days
More about that in a moment. But first we can't help celebrating the fact that WTA ranked #7 by number of donations out of 1,300 participating nonprofits. You gave an astounding $55,805 to trails -- putting WTA at #27 by amount received.
The 24-hour online event raised a staggering $11.1 million to help make our region a better place to live, work and play. An additional $1 million matching pool will "stretch" these dollars even further and we're eagerly awaiting word from The Seattle Foundation about how much your gifts will be matched by GiveBIG sponsors.
Your GiveBIG contributions will help WTA go where we're needed most, right now.
In the next 30 days, WTA will be working to clear, repair or build more than 35 different trails across the state -- places like Lake Serene near Stevens Pass, Marmot Pass in the Olympics, and the Wonderland Trail at Rainier. Your generosity has increased our ability to say "yes" when a land manager asks for our help to repair winter storm damage.
Your generosity keeps WTA a strong voice for hikers
You'll keep us advocating for State Parks during the special legislative session in Olympia, advocating for King County trail funding, working to keep access to trailheads open. And, as always, your gifts will keep the great ideas for hiking coming your way on our website.
More thanks to GiveBIG sponsors
Memorial Day Hiking, Backpacking and Camping
Memorial Day is always a scramble for day hikers, backpackers, and car campers. The criteria of a crowd-free location, trails without snow and decent road conditions easily stymies even the most experienced hikers. Below are a few tips for staying safe and ideas of where to hike, backpack and camp.
Weather and spring safety tips
Check the weather
- This weekend forecasts call for relatively cool and showery weather, mixed with sunbreaks throughout much of the state. That means great flower, forest and dramatic cloudscape photos -- and experiencing the true meaning of “rain” forests on the coast. It also means you'll want to make sure to pack your rain gear and take measures to keep your campsite comfortable in cool, drizzly weather.
- If you're seeking warmth and the sun, you may want to head to east of the Cascades into desert and coulee country, where showers are less likely and temperatures are likely to reach into the 70's.
- Check the National Weather Service website to ensure you're prepared for whatever conditions you might encounter.
Check conditions and consult a ranger
- Snow is still the name of the game in the high country, and hikers can easily encounter slick and dangerous conditions on snowy slopes and from overhanging cornices. All of that snow has to go somewhere when it melts too. Rivers and creeks are running at their peak levels right now.
- Read WTA's Spring Hiking Tips to refresh what you need to bring in your pack and how to stay safe under these conditions.
- Always check with a ranger before heading out. Give them a call, or, even better, plan to stop by a station on your way out of town.
Hiking and backpacking
Columbia Gorge
Wildflowers still adorn the southern slopes of the Columbia River Gorge on the Washington side, making for spectacular day hiking:
- The popular Dog Mountain is covered in wildflowers right now.
- Day hikers will enjoy the meadows and views of the relatively unknown Weldon Wagon Road in the White Salmon Valley.
- Or give Catherine Creek and Coyote Wall a go.
- Want some elevation gain? Hamilton Mountain in Beacon Rock State Park has wildflowers, waterfalls and a workout.
South Cascades: Mount Rainier and Mount St Helens
- Most of Mount Rainier National Park is under snow, but not the Carbon River area. A wilderness walk-in campground is open (after a 5-mile hike) at Ipsut Creek, which provides ample opportunities to explore this lovely area. For a day hike, try the trail up to Ranger Creek Falls and Green Lake.
- One volcano down the chain, the South Coldwater Lake trail at Mount St. Helens is often one of the first places in the Monument to melt out. (You'll need to check snow levels, at 3,500 feet at last account, and get a backcountry permit to overnight here.)
Pacific Coast
If hearing the crash of ocean waves is more your style, head to the rugged Washington Coast.
- There are great backpack trips to Toleak Point and Shi Shi Beach. Be sure to get a wilderness permit from Olympic National Park for either of those.
- Day hikers will enjoy beach-walking at Browns Point near Kalaloch and Third Beach near La Push.
North Cascades
Highway 20 is open for the season, providing access to the wonders of the North Cascades.
- Driveway Butte near Washington Pass can be an excellent early season hike (be the first to write a trip report this season). There's likely still snow at the top, but it is worth the effort.
- Another early favorite of backpackers is Thunder Creek, a long and gentle trail through old growth forest where a few eager folks have already started backpacking.
- Or how about East Bank Baker Lake with awesome views of Mount Baker and Shuksan (though you may need to endure a few motorboats on the lake).
Central Cascades
Savvy Memorial Day hikers seek the sunnier southern and eastern slopes of the Central Cascades. The wildflowers are really showing their stuff here. As long as you stay below the snowline, there are lovely day hikes and overnights to be found:
- There are many options in the Icicle Creek area near Leavenworth, including two ways to ascend Icicle Ridge: the gentle Icicle Ridge trail or the Fourth of July Creek butt-kicker. A recent trip reporter had this to say about Fourth of July Creek, despite running into a lot of rain: "Best wildflowers I've seen, so many species, all at their peaks. Swaths of balsamroot and lupine, and the lupine was so fragrant. Different species at each elevation: orange paintbrush, penstemon, Lewisia, Jacob's ladder, mahonia, phlox, desert parsley, columbine, avalanche lily, and more."
- Alternatively, off of Blewett Pass, try a hike or backpack up Ingalls Creek. It features a raging creek, abundant wildflowers and plentiful backcountry campsites starting a few miles in.
Central Washington
Wildflowers are still going strong in the desert steppe country.
- Check out one of the ten great desert hikes.
- Follow in the footsteps of trip reporters as they seek out wildflowers and sunshine, recently spotted at Breezley Hills, Black Canyon, Steamboat Rock, and farther north, the Whistler Canyon Trail.
Strategies for last-minute camping on Memorial Day weekend
Camping can be tricky this time of year, though most campgrounds are opening in advance of the Memorial Day weekend. You can still try to reserve a spot, but if you go into the weekend without a reservation, then a first-come, first-served campground and dispersed camping areas are for you.
Here are some tips for finding a great spot:
- If you have the flexibility, the best course of action is to arrive a little earlier than Friday night for campgrounds that do not accept reservations, like most of the campgrounds in Olympic National Forest .
- Go farther afield and check out areas with lighter usage, like the Colville and Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, which only have first-come, first-serve campgrounds on them.
- Try dispersed camping on National Forest land, a great way to find a little solitude and practice your Leave No Trace ethics. Dispersed camping means there are no toilets, no picnic tables, no trash cans, no treated water, and no fire grates. Typically, dispersed camping is not allowed in the vicinity of developed recreation areas such as campgrounds, boat ramps, picnic areas or trailheads. (For the best information on dispersed camping opportunities, contact the ranger district offices.)
- Try your first backpack. Try packing a little lighter and consider converting your camping plans into a short backpack with an overnight.
Water in the Woods: Keeping it Clean
When I went camping as a kid, purifying water meant either boiling it for at least one minute or using those unpleasant iodine tablets. Those options are still available of course, but now we have several other ways to treat our water in the wilderness.
UV rays and gravity filter: alternatives to boiling or iodine
The SteriPen Ultra is the newest UV treatment device from the Hydro Photon folks in Blue Hill, Maine—and the first to let you know if your water is safe or not by actually smiling or frowning at you. USB-chargeable and weighing a scant 5 ounces, it treats a liter of water in 90 seconds, and can treat up to 50 liters of water per charge.
The easily-interpreted display shows battery state, treatment countdown, and either a smile or a frown to tell you whether you had the microbe-killing lamp completely submerged in the water for long enough to do its job. I appreciated the compact simplicity of the Ultra, and my hiking friends admired its sleek design.
Tired of pumping all that water with those tried-but-true hand pump filters? The new Platypus GravityWorks 2.0 will deliver 1.5 liters of pump-free water in 60 seconds, and the basic setup weighs just over 7 ounces. It took me some experimentation to figure out the simplest setup, so be sure to get acquainted with it at home before you take it on the trail.
As one of your Ten Essentials, you should always carry a water filtration device. These are just a couple of the current options available for ensuring you have safe, clean drinking water on all of your backcountry adventures.
Volunteer on National Trails Day (Jun 1)
This June 1, rally together with hikers across the nation to celebrate National Trails Day –- a single day reserved for trails everywhere. Like any other day, we'll be hauling our dirt-encrusted shovels to the trailhead and turning the gritty trail-duff with our grub-hoes – but this time, we'll be doing it with thousands of other volunteers across the country.
This year, spend National Trails Day (June 1) giving back to the trails that give you access to your favorite natural spaces. Consider signing up for one of the following WTA work parties in regions across the state.
Cougar Mountain, for youth and families (Issaquah Alps)
Enjoy a day in the great outdoors with your family! Youth and parents alike will enjoy digging around in the dirt to improve tread and drainage on one or two trails in the area.
> Sign up for the youth and families work party on Cougar Mountain.
Pratt River (I-90 near Snoqualmie Pass)
This new trail through shady forest just weathered its first winter. Lend a hand getting rid of mud holes, fixing drainage and repairing rock walls to make sure this trail performs like new.
> Sign up for the Pratt River work party.
Ape Caves (Southwest Washington)
Learn how to build trail on this cool new route that will link the Ape Caves Trailhead with a scenic vista featuring Mount St. Helens’ southern flank. When you return to hike this completed 1-mile trail later this year, you’ll be able to pick out the section of trail that you built with your hands! Volunteer for the weekend or just for the day.
> Sign up for Ape Cave work party.
Beckler Peak (Skykomish District)
The first part of Beckler Peak Trail follows an old road bed through old-growth forest. Help convert it from feeling like a road to more like a trail, for a more pleasurable hiking experience. Use natural materials and trail construction techniques to help narrow and define this section of trail.
> Sign up for the Beckler Peak work party.
South Fork Skokomish (Hood Canal)
The Skokomish River has such a bad habit of changing course, taking old sections of trail with it. So our battle to rebuild and harden an important Olympic Peninsula trail continues. Help out for the weekend or just for the day.
> Sign up for the South Fork Skokomish work party.
Excelsior Pass (Mount Baker area)
It’s no wonder this hike is so popular since its expansive views of the North Cascades are so easily accessible. But with popularity also comes wear and tear. Join this work party to help clear and repair the trail to Excelsior Pass to prepare it for hordes of summer hikers.
> Sign up for the Excelsior Pass work party.
Liberty Lake (Eastern Washington)
Just 30 minutes outside of Spokane, this 7.5 mile loop trail is undergoing some major improvements. As a result, hikers will be able to easily enjoy destinations along the trail, including a beautiful waterfall and large cedar grove. Help cut back brush, level tread and realign the trail.
> Sign up for the Liberty Lake work party.
Washout Closes Glacier Creek Rd to Heliotrope Ridge Trail
On Tuesday, May 14, the Forest Service closed Glacier Creek Road (Forest Service road 39) to vehicle traffic at mile 1.0 (Thompson Creek) due to a washout at mile 2.7. There is no estimated repair or reopening date at this time.
Closed road leads to popular Heliotrope Ridge Trail
The road leads to the Heliotrope Ridge Trail, which WTA crews have worked on the last three years. Hikers who had Heliotrope in their plans this summer may need to turn to other spectacular Mount Baker hikes, like Skyline Divide Trail, for volcano views and August wildflowers. If the road to the trailhead remains inaccessible, hikers may miss out on one unique feature of the trail, the chance to get up close the icy blue foot of Coleman Glacier.
Because Heliotrope Ridge Trail climbs so close to the volcano's glaciers, it is a major jumping off point to several popular routes for climbers aiming for the summit of Mount Baker.
"It's just terrible news for climbers," says Karen Daubert, WTA's executive director, a hiker and climber who has been up Mount Baker from Heliotrope Ridge three times.
Road's future is uncertain
The Bellingham Herald reports that 18 inches of asphalt had fallen away:
"It's still moving," Jim Mitchell, roads manager for Mount Baker Ranger District, said of the washout.
He said the cause could be heavy rainfall or Glacier Creek, which is running high, undercutting the slope on which the road sits.
"We don't really know how it started yet," Mitchell said.
Citing, in part, a lack of funds, Mitchell told the Herald that vehicle access will be restricted, and that no fix to the road is planned at this time.
Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest road budget in free-fall
Funds available to maintain and repair roads on the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest have been in free-fall the last few years. Road maintenance dollars declined from $680,000 last year to $250,000 this year.
In 2009, road funding for the forest hit $1.4 million and has been heading downward since.
More information
>> Read the Bellingham Herald article.
>> Read about the 2009 winter washout on Glacier Creek Road.
>> Read more about WTA's work on road access to trailheads
WTA Endorses Funding For King County Parks
As parks and trails in King County have been developed for recreation over the past dozen years, area residents have come to rely more and more on these lands for hiking, trail running, mountain biking and equestrian use. Levy funds have contributed significantly to the development of the Grand Ridge, Cougar Mountain and Soaring Eagle trail systems, among others.
Now the King County Council has approved a property tax levy to fund King County Parks through 2019. This measure will be going to King County voters in August.
Levies have been a critical element of the funding mix for King County Parks. The 2013 King County Parks Levy will fund ongoing maintenance on recreation facilities in King County Parks, as well as planning and implementation of potential new trail connections in the South Sound. This is a continuation of a current levy, not new money. If approved, this levy would replace two voter-approved measures that will expire in 2019. Raising 18.7 cents per $1,000 of assessed value -- or about $56 on a property valued at $300,000 -- the levy will raise between $59 million and $70 million annually.
WTA volunteers have worked hard to maintain King County trails over the years, and we've enjoyed a strong relationship with the County. This levy is essential to maintaining and improving the vital trail systems throughout the King County Park system.
YES on the King County Parks Levy
WTA strongly supports this lid lift, and we encourage WTA members to vote YES when you receive your ballot in the mail, likely in mid-July. Everyone who loves King County Parks will be grateful that you did!
Garden Veggie Couscous: Three Cooking Methods
by Sarah Kirconnell
Looking for a quick meal for an easy overnight? Garden Veggie Couscous is a fast, light fill-you-up dinner that can be fixed in the freezer bag, insulated mug or one pot methods.
Serves: 2
Pack in a quart freezer bag
- 1 cup freeze-dried vegetable blend
- 2/3 cup couscous
- 1/4 cup shelf-stable parmesan cheese
- 2 Tbsp. dry milk
- 1 Tbsp. low-sodium bouillon powder
- 1/2 tsp. granulated garlic
- 1/2 tsp. dried parsley
- 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
- 1/2 tsp. onion powder (not onion salt)
- 1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
- 1/4 tsp. fine sea salt
Also take:
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1 packet or 1 Tbsp. olive oil
Freezer bag method:
Bring 2 1/2 cups water to a near boil. Place bag in a cozy, add in water and oil, stirring well. Seal tightly and let sit for 10 minutes.
Insulated mug method:
\Bring 2 1/2 cups water to boil. Add dry ingredients to a large mug, stir in water and oil. Cover tightly, let sit for 10 minutes.
One pot method:
Bring 2 1/2 cups water and oil to boil, add in dry ingredients, stirring. Take off heat, cover tightly and let sit for 10 minutes.
Notes :
Find freeze-dried Just Veggies at grocery stores and REI, or Mountain House freeze-dried vegetables
at REI. Get olive oil and parmesan cheese packets online at packitgourmet.com
Share your variations
If you have a similar backcountry recipe or try this one and give it your own spin, tell us about it in the comments below. What worked? What didn't? Which method do you use?
Sarah Kirconnell is the author of Trail Cooking Made Simple. For more trail-worthy recipes for your next adventure, visit trailcooking.com.
Hikers Give Big
UPDATE 5/16/13, 6:35am: The preliminary results are in: 446 hikers contributed $55,805 to trails during yesterday's GiveBIG challenge. The community-wide total reached $11.1 million - all to help make our region a better place to live, work and play. We can’t wait to find out from The Seattle Foundation how much your gifts will be "stretched" by GiveBIG sponsors. THANK YOU!
UPDATE 5/15/13, 5:45pm: What an amazing day for WTA and so many great organizations, thanks to you! So far, 278 hikers have helped us raise an astounding $34,000 for trails. Give now to help us reach 365 donors and $40,000 by midnight TONIGHT. The bigger your gift, the more matching dollars will go to protect trails and wildlands you love.
UPDATE 5/15/13, 12:30pm: A huge thanks to the 182 hikers, volunteers and incredible members who have already made a GiveBIG contribution to trails today. Because of you, we just surpassed the $22,000 mark! Haven't made your GiveBIG gift yet? All donations made on WTA's page on The Seattle Foundation website today will be stretched by matching funds from GiveBIG sponsors.
Today you can grow your impact on trails thanks to a special challenge from The Seattle Foundation.
Just make a gift to Washington Trails Association through The Seattle Foundation website before midnight tonight, May 15! The more you and your fellow hikers give, the greater WTA's share of matching funds -- and the more we can achieve for trails. Every dollar you give will be "stretched" by matching fund from GiveBIG sponsors -- all to benefit the trails and wildlands you love.
When you GiveBIG to Washington Trails Association, you invest in the largest state-wide volunteer trail maintenance program in the country. Your gift helps ensure that WTA remains a powerful voice for the hiking community.
On top of everything else, every hour The Seattle Foundation will award a "Golden Ticket" worth $1,000 to the non-profit that is selected by random drawing from all donations made in the last hour. Honor the trails you love by being that donor!
GiveBIG now -- the first $2,500 WTA receives will be DOUBLED thanks to the Eleanor Morton Trask Advised Fund!
How to Choose and Plan a Backpacking Trip
Figuring out what area to visit is half the battle. The other half is planning your adventure, evaluating your distances and elevation gains and determining the best timing.
Map and guidebook
Start your trip planning by thumbing through a good trail guidebook. This will stir up the imagination with photos and trail descriptions, as well as give you a good idea of distance and elevation gain.
Search for trails with "established campsites" in WTA's Hiking Guide and search "overnights" and "multi-day trips" in Trip Reports for the month you are planning to go.
Once you make a destination decision, a good topographic map will help you identify trailheads along with where you’ll camp each night. Learn more about which maps we recommend in our Backpacking 101 section.
Timing and permits
Rarely, even in a normal snowpack year, does the high country melt out before mid- to late July. Lingering snow can make for hazardous crossings on steep slopes or swollen creeks.
Check with the appropriate land management agency (National Parks, U.S. Forest Service, State Department of Natural Resources, State Parks,etc.) for suggestions on the best times of year to visit and information on snowpack, trail and road conditions.
Tip: Ask if the area of interest requires a special permit or if there are any restrictions on camping.
Set an itinerary
When selecting your backpacking trip, decide if you want to base camp or pack up camp and migrate each day.
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Base camp backpacking: Base camping is a good option for those who might not want the hassle of breaking down camp each day. Base camping also allows you to fill your days with lighter, local explorations of surrounding lakes, ridges and peaks.
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A different home, every night: The other option is to migrate from location to location and set up camp at a different site each day. This opens up the possibilities of going farther, seeing more scenery and making longer loops out of connecting trails.
Either way, if you're new to backpacking or it's early in the season, remember to take it easy and not plan days that are too long or too difficult.
Consult with the pros
Check trails and conditions with the latest trip reports, and get info on all of the best trail destinations for each season.
Also, talk with service staff at your local outdoor store. They can offer insights on local trails, make suggestions and help you select what you need, and what you don’t, to ensure that you have a memorable, not miserable, experience.
Destination ideas for your planning your backpacking adventure
- Fourteen overnight adventures under 14 miles
- Classic backpacking loops for a weekend
- Ten backpacking trips for kids
- Where Trip Reporters are backpacking now
- Backpacking on WTA-improved trails
- Backpacking the Wonderland Trail
- Early backpacking trips on the Olympic Peninsula
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