2021 marked our first full year living in the PNW. We had a ton of visitors who helped us navigate the city, find our neighborhood favorites and experience a lot of new things in the greater Seattle area. We were also very fortune to travel and see the greater PNW from Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Washington and back again a few times! We set out to complete 52 hikes in 2021 and though we didn't make it to 52, 34 hikes and 184.63 miles isn't anything to shake a stick at I guess. So here we are in 2022, already at the end of January with another goal of completing 52 hike in 2022 with an average of 6 miles per hike or 260 miles by the time we are ready to ring in a New Year.
Discovery Park and Lighthouse Loop Trail
One of our go to spots to take visitors because of the easy interurban trails and quick access to views of Rainier, the Olympic Mountain range, the Sound and purveying the beach for sea glass. On this sunny January day the trail was muddy and busy, but it did provide us with our first wild life sighting of the year!
Ebey's Landing Trail
With Carole in town, we checked out the Van Gogh exhibit, Two Beers Brewery - which makes Seattle Cider (yes you can get this in Wisconsin) and a handful of other new spots in our neighborhood. Before we headed down to Pioneer Square to check out a few galleries, we stopped at Golden Gardens Beach (another great Olympic Mountain Range spot) because we heard about recent whale sightings. With our luck we were able to spot a handful of seals and a fin whale! Though we only saw it's dorsal fin and its blow hole aftermath several times, it was exciting to watch! Unfortunately a little to far off of the shore to capture with an iPhone.
With the extended weekend and the weather in our favor, we hopped on a ferry and headed over to Whidbey Island. Ebey's Landing was a quick 4.4 mile walk with great views of the sound all day long! Though there wasn't much for sea glass, the variety of rocks, crab remains and the washed up kelp was fun to investigate.
Sugarloaf Mountain and Mount Erie Loop Trail
This hike had a lot of Tiger Mountain vibes, but the overlook view on the Mount Erie Loop Trail made up for it! On a clearer day Mount Baker, The Cascade Mountain range, Mount Rainier, and The Olympic Mountain Range could all be in clear view! Though it was mid afternoon the sky had an odd fire haze feel to it. We have reservations to camp at Deception Pass in July and will be back for either a sun rise or a sunset to take in this view again! And realizing that you could drive to the over look, rather than hike like we did... makes the early rise or late drive even better for take two!
Until next time, pack it in and pack it out. And greet the days good tidings.
I enjoyed all of it, so much beauty out there!
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