One of these days I should learn how to snowshoe, but for now most of the mountains are closed to me. So a fantastically beautiful day for a trip to the coast!
The 3.5 mile Ebey's Landing loop (turn west on Ebey Rd from Coupeville) on Whidbey Island provides a stunning outing in any weather, with views spanning the Sound through a hundred and eighty degrees. Dramatic stormy seas and skies, a wide expanse of mirror-like blue, it just can't look bad whatever the weather. The day didn't clear up as much as predicted, but the mist gave way to thin, hazy sun and rippling lines of high cloud.
I do the loop climbing up the bluff from the car park, along the top of the cliffs and down beyond Perego's Lagoon to return via the beach. I imagine doing the reverse loop would make a hard climb up to the bluff on slippery sand - that's a steep section of trail.
At this time of year, there are many visiting waterbirds off the beach at Ebey's Landing, mostly various species of ducks and grebes, with a few waders around Perego's Lagoon. Between the wildlife and the huge accumulations of driftwood, there's never a lack of something to grab the eye on the walk back along the beach to the parking area. Loops are always good for increased interest, and this is a quick hike that can be easily fitted in on a short winter day even when you have to take the ferry!
More pictures at http://eelpi.livejournal.com/30103.html#cutid1
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