Our group did a short hike in Schmitz Preserve in West Seattle. The small park is a real gem and one I did not know about until my wife gave me a book on Puget Sound lowland park walks by Craig Romano.
The preserve is amazing as once you go into the woods; its hard to believe your in the city. The trail starting at Schmitz Park Bridge goes down into the ravine. Along the trail there is a bridge that must be circumvented but other than this minor obstacle the trail is wide and an easy, but muddy at times, walk. We headed to 53rd Ave. SW and then back under the park bridge to Alki beach and lunch (excellent food) at Sun Fish.
As I thought about the park, I was reminded of a line (song) from the Phantom of the Opera, to paraphrase "Welcome to a strange new world". The dark damp forest of the park in stark contrast to the homes and sunlight surrounding it.
We then back tracked to a staircase which gave us access to the bridge and our cars. This is truly and worthwhile walk in the city and does allow entry to a strange, beguiling world of trees, damp and darkness.
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