New boots go hiking

New boots

Finally new hiking boots.  The new boots were worn around the house and outside a little since purchasing them and no sore spots.  Extra waterproofing went on them and then Tuesday I went with a group of people to try them out on a real outdoor trail. 

The destination was Cedar Butte.  This is near the Cedar River/Cedar Falls watershed.  It is in the Olallie State Park not far from North Bend, Washington and is about a 5 mile round trip hike with an elevation gain of 900 feet. 

We did see Salmon Berry blossoms, the buds on a very few Oregon Grape plants, one tiny little yellow stream violet, several Trilliums, Indian Plum, lots of lacy moss both on the ground and growing on the trees.  Not yet blooming but recognizable from their tiny new leaves were Wild Rose, Bleeding Heart, low growing blackberries and Huckleberries. 

Lacy moss growing on a branch

Bob standing by a moss covered Vine Maple tree

Another view of the Vine Maple covered in moss

Trilliums

Most of the Trilliums were so sodden from the rain that they were drooping and needed some assistance in order for me to take a photo.  Usually they seem to grow more or less separately but there were several plants clustering together in little patches along the trail. 

Conks

These are very small “conks” a fungus that grows on trees.  They sometimes grow to be quite large on old stumps and big trees.

Rattlesnake Lake from a distance

Near the summit there is a place that has a view of Rattlesnake Lake.  The water was a beautiful blue green color.

Zooming in on Rattlesnake Lake

There was a small bench and a benchmark at the summit.   Bopa was always looking for benchmarks so it was fun to find this at the top.

Benchmark

This was a “step” above in difficulty from the Twin Falls hike a couple of weeks ago.  It starts out flat along the John Wayne Trail, an old railroad bed, and then moves into the forest becoming narrow and steep at times.  The last portion is quite steep and I did have to stop and catch my breath a couple of times before proceeding upward.  There were not as many wildflowers on this hike as it is still early in the season and this trail, at almost 2,000 feet elevation, was slightly higher and colder than the one at Twin Falls.  Most of the group reached the summit and had started back down as we were still going up.  It had snowed a bit at the top and was raining lower down.  I kept stopping to take photographs and to rest.  This was Bob’s first real trip out since his foot surgery and he needed to go slow which I appreciated very much because it meant I was not all alone at the tail end of the group.    Next week’s hike is supposed to be a little easier.

Views from Cedar Butte summit