Rutledge Corn Mace

A few hardy souls braved the Rutledge Corn Maze, and here's proof that we were able to get out before having to call 911! Thanks to Donna Vermillion's grandson Corey, we made it! And, it was fun and not rained out. Pretty cool all the way around!

Walkie Talkies Portland Train Trip 2011

WALKIE TALKIES HIKING SCHEDULE 2011

CELEBRATING THE 28TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FORMER HOOD CANAL HIKING CLUB

Look for your hiking boots, air them out and get ready for another season on the trail. A few things to remember: Start times vary depending on the length of the drive, the length of the hike and/or the time of year; we leave meeting places at the times listed; don’t bring your dog but do bring your grandchildren, if you intend to supervise them. Intermediary meeting places are listed for carpooling purposes but there may not always be someone there, as frequent hikers may have arranged for rides ahead of time. It doesn’t hurt to anticipate your need for a ride and make arrangements accordingly. A Northwest Forest Service Pass is required at some trailheads but your Interagency Pass (Golden Age) can be substituted. Please contact the leader of a hike if you don’t have email access and want to be certain that plans haven’t changed since the schedule went to press, or if you have questions, such as “will I need supplemental oxygen”?

FREQUENT MEETING PLACES

FISH HATCHERY – junction of Highway 101 and Skok Valley/Purdy Canyon Road

HOODSPORT VISITOR’S CENTER

BELFAIR – QFC parking lot

ALDERBROOK AREA – Texaco station at intersection of McReavey and Dalby Roads

SHELTON – Fred Meyer parking lot

APRIL 6 CLEAR CREEK TRAIL with a TWIST Jan McMullen 427-8087

9:00 Texaco 9:30 QFC, Belfair

Voted the Best Hidden Hiking Trail in western Washington by Evening Magazine. Over 5 miles of stream and wetland sensitive trail through Silverdale. We’ll meet at the interpretive center on Bucklin Rd at 10:00 am. Lunch at the Silver City Brewery.

APRIL 13 Turner Joy Tour Myron Skubinna 898-7313

Tour of the ship, Turner Joy, docked in Bremerton led by Turner Joy tour guide and Walkie Talkie, Myron. Enjoy the Bremerton Waterfront and eat at Anthony’s. Tour fee $7.00 per person.

APRIL 20 LAKE ISABELLA Marilyn E. 877-5711 Erlyn J. 877-9329 Phyllis K. 877-9820

9:30 Fred Meyer Parking Lot

Nice walk near Shelton-area lake with 162 acres of farmland and 20 forested acres. Nice views of the lake and the Olympics.

APRIL 27 STAIRWAYS OF QUEEN ANNE HILL

Melinda H. 377-8847 Deborah R. 898-9820

Meet at QFC at 8:30

We'll take the 9:15 ferry to Seattle and take the bus to Queen Anne Hill. There are a number of hikes available, so your leaders will go on a reconnaissance mission to sort things out. It is unlikely that this will involving unrelenting stair climbing as the 121 staircases on the hill are scattered all over the place. Hopefully we will at least be able to walk by the Coleman House, a sight to behold, which might have once belonged to Deborah's grandmother. If you aren't interested in hills, you might consider coming along for the ride and camaraderie. Take a little stroll down town and eat a big lunch.

MAY 4 LAKE SYLVIA STATE PARK Charles and Valerie Johnson 545-6621

9:00 Texaco 9:30 AM Fred Meyer in Shelton

Hike around a lovely park in Montesano. Bring a picnic to enjoy in the sunshine, which of course we’ll have, right?! There are five miles of trails in this former logging camp which has been a State Park since 1936.

MAY 11 RIDGE HIKE AT TIMBER TIDES Myron and Kaye Skubinna 898-7313

This hike starts at Skubinna’s house. There is plenty of parking. Bring a sandwich and they will provide coffee. Let's start at 10:00 and hope for a sunny day and that the rhodies are blooming.

MAY 18 HARSTENE ISLAND HIKE (KAYAK) Jan McMullen 427-6393

Hike from Jarrell’s Cove State Park to Indian Cove (Harstene Pt. Marina) for lunch and kayaking. Hike back or car will return you to Jarrell’s Cove. We need low tide to do this hike, which will be 3.6 at 12:58. Meet at the Park & Ride on HWY 3 and Pickering Road at 10:30 am. Liz Thomas may have an alternative hike available on Harstene if you don’t wish to hike as far.

May 24 - 26 MT RAINIER OVERNIGHT Melinda Halvorsen 377-8847

Details to follow. The plan is to stay near the Ashford entrance to the park so that those who don't hike can relax in comfort at the lodge at Longmire.

JUNE 1 WEST SEATTLE HIKE Jan McMullen 427-6393

Hike to Alki Point from the Water Taxi Dock along Alki Beach in West Seattle. We’ll take the 8:45 am ferry from Bremerton and return on the 3:00 pm ferry. You’ll need $3.50 each way for the Water Taxi plus walk-on ferry fare. We can picnic or have lunch at Salty’s.

Meet at QFC in Belfair at 7:30 am.

JUNE 8 LOWER LENA LAKE K. Petrie 877-6723 J. Frantz 877-0266

F. Barnes 877-5342

8:30 Texaco 9:00 Hoodsport

Beautiful lake at the end of a popular hike.

Helpful information from a trail reviewer on the world wide web:

“…the trail switchbacks gently and endlessly in the forest.” Plan on hiking 3 miles and gaining 1250 feet of elevation to the really big rock above the lake. Forest Pass Required

JUNE 15 AMTRAK TO PORTLAND Judy B. 898-2640 Deborah R. 898-6393

7:00 Texaco 7:30 Fred Meyer, Shelton

This year our trek to Portland via Amtrak calls for piling on the train and heading for the Portland zoo via the MAX light rail. Lots of animals and trails await us. Later we can head for lunch (Jake's is always a favorite) and Powell's bookstore before hopping the train back home. Without Gordon P heading up the trip this year, we will all be responsible for getting our own train ticket (details to follow). Plan on leaving Texaco at 7:00 and Fred Meyer, Shelton at 7:30 A.M.

JUNE 22 KENNEDY CREEK Thad and Liz T. 426-4083

Leave Fred Meyer in Shelton 9:00 am

Thad and Liz will lead us on a hike at Kennedy Creek with the possibility of adding on a visit to the Squaxin Museum, taking Old Olympic Highway on the way home.

JUNE 30 BIG CREEK LOOP Kay P. 877-6723, Jane F. 877-0266, Frances B. 877-5342

9:00 Texaco 9:30 Hoodsport

This is a Walkie-Talkie perennial favorite near Lake Cushman. Make the nice, wooded loop along and across the streams, with an option to hike on up to a view point.

JULY 6 TUBAL CAINE Melinda H. 377-8847 Frances B. 877-5342

8:00 Texaco 8:30 Hoodsport

What could be better than an old mine and plane wreck to explore on a beautiful hike?! The option to hike on to beautiful views up the hill beyond the campground is available for those who want more.

We’ve backed up our time of departure to 8:30 this year, since it’s a pretty good drive to get there.

JULY 13 ELK LAKE Melinda H. 377-8847 Frances B. 877-5342

9:00 Texaco 9:30 Hoodsport

Here’s a repeat adventure from last year for us. We’ll figure out how to do it without jumping the stream back to the parking lot this time!

JULY 20 STAIRCASE (SHADY LANE) Marilyn E. 877-5711 Erlyn J. 877-9329

Pie Day!!

9:00 Texaco 9:30 Hoodsport

Lovely walk along the river with the special treat of homemade pie at Erlyn’s afterwards!

JULY 27 DUCKABUSH HIKE Judy and Paul Board 898-2640

8:00 Texaco 8:30 Hoodsport

Let’s get an early start, as it’s a long drive. It’s a fun hike up Little Hump, maybe on to Big Hump, and if you’re up for it, Five Mile Camp on the river.

AUGUST 3 BARK SHANTY Judy and Paul Board 898-2640

8:00 Texaco 8:30 Hoodsport

Another longish drive, so another early start. Hike along the Lower Big Quilcene Trail through 2^nd growth forest to virgin Doug firs to Bark Shanty Camp at 2.4 miles. Hike continues on to Camp Jolley (5 mi), if you just haven’t had enough hiking yet.

AUGUST 10 SUMMER PICNIC Myron and Kaye Skubinna 898-7313

2:00 PM

Bring food to share, and Kaye and Myron will provide the meat and coffee. Meat will be London Broil and hot dogs or brats, and we will also have buns and rolls. You all bring salads, hot dishes, dessert, wine and lots of smiles to share. Also bring friends, neighbors or houseguests - the first 2 groups that might want to join the Walkie Talkies. Arrive at 2:00 p.m., and those who want can have a hike out back with Myron before we eat. Others can chat and tell tall tales while we wait for the hikers to return.

AUGUST 17 STAIRCASE RAPIDS TRAIL Michael Moore 898-3367

9:00 Texaco 9:30 Hoodsport

Pleasant walk through old growth timber with a 200 foot elevation gain. Of course the bridge has been out as long as most of us can remember, so instead of a loop this is a 2 mile round trip. Forest Pass Required

AUGUST 24 MURHUT FALLS AND RANGER HOLE Melinda Halvorson 377-8847

8:30 Texaco 9:00 Hoodsport

Beautiful falls and exciting rapids at Murhut and Ranger Hole up the Duckabush River road. Bring a picnic lunch to eat at Interrorum Cabin at the Ranger Hole trailhead. Melinda has booked the Interrorem cabin for this Wednesday night, so we can tour the cabin and maybe eat our lunch there if the weather isn’t as nice as I’m sure it will be for picnicking.

AUGUST 31 UPPER BIG QUILCENE TRAIL

OPTIONAL MARMOT PASS Melinda Halvorson 377-8847

7:45 Texaco 8:15 Hoodsport

This trail is described in my hiking book as “the champagne walk of the Northeastern Olympics.” It goes through old growth and rhodies and large mossy boulders along the river. Destination Shelter Rock at 2.6 mi for lunch. Hikers going on to Marmot Pass (10.4 mi round trip) are in for gorgeous views and possible marmot viewings.

SEPTEMBER 7 McCLANE SWAMP/McKINNEY NATURE TRAIL

Marilyn E. 877-5711 Erlyn J. 877-9329

9:00 Shelton Fred Meyer parking lot. Easy jaunt on a level trail through the forest with lunch in Olympia afterward. This takes us very close to the Blue Heron Bakery, so we might be drawn that direction for a treat before or after our exercise!

SEPTEMBER 13-14-15 OVERNIGHT IN STEVENSON, WA

Deborah Reis 898-6393

Lots of hikes on the Wind River for all levels. Accommodations include the Sandhill Cottages in Carson, WA. Darling retro auto court cottages at reasonable rates. Call early for these -- 1-800-914-2178. Across the road the Carson Hot Spring Resort has plenty of rooms for the overflow (1-800-6073678). Both have websites. As usual, you should make your own arrangements for carpools and room sharing. Tuesday night potluck at Sandhill Cottages and dining out at the Skamania Lodge in Stevenson on Wednesday night. Might want to bring your own breakfast or head into Stevenson (which is close by) early in the morning.

SEPTEMBER 21 LOWER SOUTH FORK, SKOKOMISH Frances Barnes 877-5342

9:00 Texaco 9:30 Fish Hatchery

Big trees, big river, big chance of seeing elk. Meander through the bottomlands of the Skok river by descending at LeBar Creek or take it easy by doing the Horse Camp Loop.

Forest Pass Required

SEPTEMBER 28 UNION BACK ROADS Gordon & Janelle Personius

898-4538

Details to come….

OCTOBER 5 PLANNING MEETING/OLYMPIC VISTA

The Boards 898-2640 and Personius’ 898-4538

9:30 BP Station 9:45 Olympic Vista Come to our annual planning meeting to organize the hiking schedule for next year. Hike with Paul and Judy at 10 or just bring your lunch to the Olympic Vista Clubhouse and be prepared to volunteer to lead a hike or two in 2010.

OCTOBER 12 SEATTLE DAY TRIP – WATERFRONT WALK – LUNCH OUT

Valerie and Charles Johnson 545-6621 Donna Vermillion 898-8234

Ferry from Bremerton to Seattle and enjoy a day on the waterfront. We’ll meet at the Bremerton Ferry Terminal (form your carpools in advance) and plan to take the 10:15 ferry to Seattle. Once off the boat we’ll walk along the waterfront as far as Myrtle Edwards Park where those who wish can enjoy their bagged lunch. Others may want to have a meal out in a nearby restaurant.

OCTOBER 19 RUTLEDGE CORN MAZE

Kay Petrie 877-6723 Jane Frantz 877-0266 Frances Barnes 877-5342

Meet 9:30 Fred Meyer parking lot in Shelton to carpool to the maze. Let’s get lost in the corn together!

OCTOBER 26 SOUP PARTY/TWANOH HIKE All Hands!

Meet at Twanoh State Park at 9:45 Hike up the hill at 10 We’ll assign tasks at the planning meeting on October 5, so be prepared to help make our year end get-together a success. We need soup – one can each, not cream soup – and firewood, coffee pots. WT’s have bowls, plates, table coverings, etc. on hand.