North Fork Sauk River Road Adventure

The falls empty into the river

A drive up the Mountain Loop Highway last Sunday focused on my destination- the North Fork Sauk River Road. It had been many years since I had been in this area so I wanted to check it out. My first stop was the North Fork Falls. The hike down was short, a bit steep, and a bit slick.

The falls

 

The falls were rushing and no one was around. The sun was out and the temperature was quite cold. I had left the lowland fog to explore.

 

Along the way I stopped by a silent beaver pond. It may have been quiet during the day but I could tell from the beaver sticks there were times when the beavers were actively chewing away at the surrounding vegetation.

 

 

Mountain views along the Mountain Loop Scenic Byway on  a sunny autumn day.



Monte Cristo lake

Once again the only birds were varied thrushes and a few chickadees and wrens. Not to worry, I am open to anything and nothing because something is always happening.

I completed the entire loop with very few vehicles seen. The most interesting was the giant RV fallen off the road. Bummer for the tow bill on that mess!

Icicle Creek Autumn

 

 

 

 

Two weeks too late I decided to go up to Icicle Creek out of Leavenworth to explore and look for some fall color. There was definitely an abundance of yellow left however most of the trees had lost their leaves and the larch were past their prime. A few were still a lovely bright yellow.

 

Wandering along the Icicle Gorge trail I was stopped by the silence of falling larch needles. They fell so silently I was reminded of snow falling softly on a winter day.

Fallen larch needles on the trail

Fruiting mushrooms were everywhere. There were far too many to photograph and I couldn't identify most of them. Unfortunately, my field guides are somewhere in my storage unit. The most impressive one is about the size of two dinner plates! I have seen dinner plate sized mushrooms but this one was enormous! There were several others closer to the size of a typical dinner plate in the same area.

 

 

 

The streams were also picturesque. Clear and clean like the air surrounding them.

Roadside stream

Icicle Creek
 

I pulled over in a dispersed camping area to do some writing and wandering and found what appears to be a bear track. Funny how finding one makes you look over your shoulder even though it was a bit old.

Bear track

I'm enjoying my weekend mountain wanderings inhaling the fresh crisp air, walking around streams and through the forest, listening to the rush of waters, and hoping for a sign of wildlife. Refreshed I return home.

 



A Cascades kind of day

I have been dealing with a traumatic change in my life; unable to write. Today I pulled myself up and out for a trip to the Cascades. I had a full tank of gas, peanut butter, crackers, an apple, and water, what more do you need?! I checked the map and decided to head up the Beckler River Road and wander along the Rapid River Road in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.

Leaves rained down along all the valleys I drove through. In many areas along Index-Galena Road were so covered with leaves you could barley make out the road.

My main stop along the Rapid River Road was Meadow Creek at milepost 4. Noisy rushing stream that allowed me to disappear in the rush. 

Meadow Creek

mossy boulders and old growth stump and log

It felt good to finally get out and soak up some autumn scent, bird calls, cascades and rushing streams, and falling colored leaves. I was pretty much alone the whole day. There weren't many folks out on this cold clear day.

 

I decided to drive up and over Jack's Pass to the North Fork Skykomish River valley. The road is washed out between milepost 6.4 and 6.9. the only way to access the upper end is via the Beckler River Road. I stopped along the way reveling in the views, taking a quick photo here and there, and just being outside.

A mountain on fire with Autumn colors


At the end of the road I wandered the riverbank overwhelmed by the scent of decaying flesh. The pink salmon (AKA humpies) had washed up on shore making their final act of love nourishing the wildlife and soil.

male and female pinks

The view from milepost 6.9 is pretty spectacular. Someday the road will be repaired and the road moved above the flooding but until then the wildlife get a break from cars and people.

It's amazing how refreshing a day in the outdoors can be. I didn't go for a big hike or to focus on photography. I didn't go to watch anything in particular or kill anything. I simply went to "be". May you find the time and the ability to get out and soak up some nature and healing for yourself.