Four Great Trails off Hwy 20.

View of Upper Skagit, i.e. Ross Lake, Jack Mountain from the new Happy Creek Trail

I hiked a few trails on the way to Methow last week.  The first snow of the year made for nice pictures above 5000 ft.  Hiking these trails will help me in making a map and guide for Hwy 20.

View of Mount Baker from Sauk Mountain

High above Cascade River on the Lookout Lake Trail

Trail running bliss on the little used Ruby Creek Trail.

Going to talk at Fairhaven Runners

Steve asked me to talk to his customers about the local trails.  The talk will be at his store, Thursday, December 15 at 7:15 – 8:15 pm

Darrell, a Bellingham-native and trail enthusiast, will present a slide show on
the Whatcom County trails from a mapmaker’s perspective.  Four years ago,
Darrell began making maps and guides for runners, bikers, and skiers that could
be folded to fit in a pocket.  He will share stories of his favorite spots, best
seasons, and what it takes to create his recreation trail maps (RightMAPS)

Quick Map for the Anna Brulotte Memorial's Lake Padden Classic

Today, I made a map to help explain the route for the Lake Padden Trail Classic 13.1.  The 3 interconnecting loops made it a challenge to show.  I used colors outline the 3 major loops and arrows to show the direction (counter-clockwise or clockwise) one is suppose to run.  Maps like this are easy for me to create, having completed in some 400 races in my life I have lots of experience in what makes a good map.  With more time we could add a profile, mile markers, etc.

Using aMAP Lidar Maps for a Northwest Geological Society Field Trip

Kathy Troost and I have been working together to identify landforms from outburst floods in the South Puget Sound.  They floods were gigantic and occurred during the rapid recession of the last regional glaciation, Vashon Stade.

 Kathy invited me to co-lead a field trip she organized with Matthew van der Ahe for NWGS members.  We visited the CalPortland's Dupont gravel mine, and 6 other stops in Pierce County that overlooked the erosional and depositional features of these floods.  I created LiDAR images that we used during the trip.  Hugh Shipman wrote a nice blog that recapped the trip

http://gravelbeach.blogspot.com/2011/10/sequalitchew-delta.html.

With permission, I took pictures of these historical pictures hanging on the gravel mines office wall.  They are from now closed Stellacom Pit. 

Hugh keyed me into a historical archive at the northwest collections in the Tacoma Library.  It includes these and many other historic photos of the mining era.  http://search.tacomapubliclibrary.org/images/dt6n.asp?krequest=subjects+contains+Pioneer%20Sand%20Gravel%20Co.%20and%20Steilacoom%20

Thanks Kathy, Matthew and the NWGS members for fine day of learning and sharing.

Logging closes trail and provides view of Lost Lake

 High on the top of burnout hill, RightMAPS! Chuckanut/Blanchard Map, a private landower clearcut his rectangle of land.  The logging tookout the trails Overlander and Ender.  However the logging road can be follow to make a connection between South Lost Lake and Burnout Trails.  And the road has views to the north (Chuckanut Ridge, lost lake, raptors ridge, etc) and to the bay.

For the geologist, a small quarry opened, exposes some carbon-rich sections of the Chuckanut Sandstone.

Fine Rides on Bear Mtn, Methow Valley

Joe Brown showing me the new trail work near Loup Loup

 Sweet tread and great fall goundcover color.

 Family Ride: Ruth, Ryeli and I on piece of the Middle Beaver Creek Trail.  

 If you like these trails, AmazingMaps RightMAP!, Methow East Trails Map will show you where to park and provide an accurate topo map to help you follow the trail. See the side-bar for who sells them.

Don’t Forget your WA Discovery Pass.

Don’t Forget your WA Discovery Pass. Starting in September 2011.  All State Parks and Recreation Lands require you have a car park permit the fine is $99.  The pass is $35 for an annual pass or $10 for a day.  You can pick them up at most sporting good stores and online.  Until we change our view on taxation, we will have to pay for every privilege

Note:  RightMaps, shows the land managers.   So you know if you need a Pass.  Weather is it a WA Discovery Pass  or  NW Recreation Pass

For more info the WA Discover Pass http://discoverpass.wa.gov/

For more info the NW Recreation Pass http://www.discovernw.org/store_recreation-passes_1PASS/

aMAP heading to the Methow for the MVSTA's Bike Fest

Hope to see you there.  http://www.mvsta.com/bikefest.html

Calling all trail lovers . . Preserve Galbraith Fall Fundraiser and Amateur Video & Still Contest

 Preserve Galbraith Fall Fundraiser and Amateur Video & Still Contest
Save the date! Saturday, October 15th at 6pm, Depot Market Square
Video and Photography Contest
More info here

What is your favorite viewpoint? Why?

Ross Dam viewpoint with Jack Mtn. in the background, from the Lake Diablo Trail.

Amazing Maps fans, we want to create a list of the best Viewpoints. We have ours, but what is yours? Send us an e-mail or post a comment here.

Angels Staircase: Snow Free

Word on the street is that Angels Staircase, featured on our Golden Lakes Map, is rideable. This trail, topping out at over 8,000 feet, is the last of the Methow Trails to melt out.

Ross Lake Trails: Super wildflowers!

Lake Diablo and the Thunder Creek Drainage from Sourdough Mt.

The bugs are out, but so are the wild flowers. Everything is a month behind due to the cool July. There was snow on top of Sourdough, but it was easy to find our way on top of the mountain to the fire lookout.

Ross Lake National Recreation Area Map and Guide is Available

Buy them at Mazama Country Store, Trails End Bookstore, Winthrop Mountain Sports, and all the North Cascade Visitors Centers. If you want to sell them let us know!

See our page for more details and sample cartography.

Galbraith / Padden Map Update

As you may or may not know, Galbraith Mountain Trails in Bellingham, WA are on Private Timber Lands. WhiMPS for many years has worked out arrangements to use and build trails on the land with the understanding that the forest may be logged. AmazingMaps has mapped the trails and prepared a map to add to its series. However, with the amount of logging taking place in the winter/spring of 2011 it is not worth printing the maps for 2011. We will address the conditions again in 2012 and keep you posted.

WhiMPS website has updates on what is rideable. http://www.whimpsmtb.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=30&Itemid=71