Hike #1: The Owl Place Hike
Challenging but lovely
In the process of reaching Owl Place, the gentle hiker will wind uphill through dense stands of alder and fir. A sign by the parking lot notes that the region around Owl Place gets 91 inches of rain a year. That is two and a half times the Seattle amount, even though the city is only 30 miles distant. The sounds of singing birds and flowing, dripping water are a gentle music that washes out the constant noise of Interstate 90 which runs around the northern base of Mt. Washington. First turn around. Really out-of-condition folks should at least go to the first stream which is reached about 10 minutes into the hike. You will know that you are at the place when the path, as a wide, rocky "dam" passes over the stream. If the day is sunny and warm (pray hard), weary walkers will find this a lovely place for a picnic before returning to their cars. The second turn around is at the halfway point. The magic thing about this spot is that a jet of water is shooting out of the rock. Moses didn’t have anything on hikers who get this far. A cliff borders the trail on the left. Keep your eyes open for the water jet. It is about 2 feet off the ground and is safe to drink. Third turn around. If you have just a little bit more energy, walk a "half block" beyond the water from the rock. You will reach a usually dried up stream bed that runs through a small clearing. This is a wonderful rest and picnic area with broken views through the tree trunks. "In shape" people should enjoy these places but keep on going right to the Owl Place. You will know that you have reached Owl Place when the trail suddenly emerges from the forest and opens up for you a view looking over North Bend and beyond Seattle to the distant Olympic Mountains (presuming it is a clear day). The trail goes on for another four miles or so to the summit. After Owl Place the trail is much less defined. People without a sense of the woods and the ability to camp overnight if lost should not venture beyond Owl Place. How to get there
The Owl Place trail head features a large parking area that sports a generally clean toilet but no potable water. From the parking area take the marked pathway uphill to the old railroad grade. This looks like a roadway now. Walk the roadway west (toward Seattle) for about a block. About 50 feet past a small sign that reads "Iron Horse State Park - no motorized vehicles allowed" the unmarked Owl Place trails breaks off from the left side of the roadway. Unless someone takes it down, Fr. Chuck will fix an "arrow" to a tree trunk will point the way. What to wear and carry
Family members must hike together. Carry drinking water in a back pack, along with snacks, sweaters or umbrellas — all depending on the weather. A light weight jacket or sweater is good thing to put on while eating lunch since one’s body could easily get chilled if there is a mountain breeze. Don’t carry cans of soda. Once a can is open you have to drink all the contents or else carry a half-filled can. That is hard to do when hiking uphill. One should take frequent sips of water and not wait until reaching a turn around. Proper hydration is essential. On hike day there will be a message on the parish recorder at 360-886-2229 giving a "go" or "no go" status by 6:00 am in case the weather is marginal. |
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Owl place hike is frequently used as one of the first hikes of any hiking season. The trail is low enough in elevation that winter snows have melted off and trees are budding out by time July comes around. Owl Place is located part way up the much longer trail that eventually works its way to the summit of Mt. Washington, just outside of North Bend, WA. If the day is clear, people look out from the Owl Place, over North Bend, all the way to the Olympic Mountains. A lovely stone bench has also been created along the prominent cliff at Owl Place so that weary hikers can sit with their backs resting against the cliff base.