An Afternoon Trek to Franklin Falls

June 9, 2017 / Lian / Leave a comment

One of my friends recently got into hiking and the outdoors, so we decided to plan a short, weekday trek to Franklin Falls after work. It was a rainy day, so we came prepared with raincoats, gaiters, hats and waterproof hiking boots. The drive to the trailhead was easy once we hopped on I-90, and after taking Exit 47 there was almost no traffic at all. We parked in the Denny Creek lot, but soon realized that there was no connecting trail that would allow us to get to Franklin Falls from that trailhead. Luckily, it was a short drive to the correct lot (the Franklin Falls lot is very well painted and is a quick walk to the start of the trail), where we hung our Northwest Forest pass and started trekking. The hike is very easy, coming in at 2 miles round-trip and a total elevation gain of only a few hundred feet. With its well-maintained path and consistent river views, the hike to Franklin Falls would be a great outdoors activity with children, although they may need some assistance navigating the slippery rocks near the end of the trail. Between the raging waterfall and the waves from the river crashing up against the rocky shore, the view at the end was spectacular. I’m sure this hike would be just as beautiful on a sunny day, but there was something particularly Pacific Northwest about the fog hugging the trees and the looming gray skies. All in all, I would rate this hike a solid 7/10 if you want an easy jaunt to a gorgeous payoff.

This was my favorite stopping point on the way to the falls.

These reminded me of Disneyland.

Thank goodness for waterproof boots!!

The Meetup Mix-Up: Coal Creek Falls

June 4, 2017July 10, 2017 / Lian / Leave a comment

In order to fully delve into the craziness that was today, I have to start at the beginning. I downloaded an app called Meetup a while back, which brings together all sorts of people with the same hobbies and interests. I immediately joined several hiking-related groups in the Seattle region, and quickly found a hike I was interested in–an 11.4 mile round-trip trek on Wright Mountain*. The hike is described on wta.com as being “a scramble up a peak near Snow Lake,” which is something I had never done before. The requirements to RSVP included traction (microspikes, crampons, snowshoes, etc.), trekking poles, pants that allow for glissading down snowy slopes, and being in good physical shape. Meeting all but one of these, I signed up and planned on buying snow pants, which I ended up purchasing the day before the hike from a nice lady on Offer Up (Burton DryRides for $80).

Fast-forward to this morning at the Bellevue Park and Ride where I found the crew ready to go. I confirmed it was the Meetup headed to Wright Mountain and we got into our carpool groups, but by the time we arrived at the trailhead, I was certain this group was not headed to Wright Mountain. The person I had asked at the Park and Ride must not have heard me correctly–I was on the wrong trip! I didn’t want to ask my driver to turn back, and I was definitely too late to join the Wright Mountain hike anyway, so I went with it (if you were on today’s SOA Coal Creek Falls Meetup, now you know the real reason my bag was so heavy!). So, if you ever do a hiking meetup, triple check that the hike you’re joining is the correct one. Continue reading →

Rattlesnake Ledge

June 2, 2017July 10, 2017 / Lian / Leave a comment

Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned hiker, Rattlesnake Ledge is my go-to suggestion for an introduction to hiking in Washington. In fact, Rattlesnake was the very first hike I did in the Greater Seattle Area, and it set the stage for a lifetime of trail wanderlust. Rattlesnake is located in North Bend off I-90, an easy drive east of Seattle. The main reason this hike is so popular is that the view is a spectacular payoff for short and non-strenuous. The entire trek comes in at 4 miles round-trip and an elevation cap of around 2000 feet. It has such a clearly marked trail that it’s impossible to get lost if you follow the path, and it continues to be well-maintained. Another reason for Rattlesnake’s popularity is that it is one of the trails that does not require a parking pass to visit, which is huge in this state. I do recommend getting to the parking lot early in order to beat the crowds–this hike can be especially crowded on clear, sunny days–and make sure that you go to “Rattlesnake Ledge” rather than “Rattlesnake Mountain” or “Rattlesnake Ridge.” If you end up at the Snolqualmie lot on the other side of the mountain, it will be a 21-mile round-trip trek to the view shown here. Rattlesnake is one of my favorites in the Pacific Northwest, and I’m looking forward to visiting the top with all sorts of people in the coming years.