Outings

The pristine sounds of deep forest silence that can only be experienced on a mountain top or in the depths of Olympic National Park are the highlight of this trip. We will take the ferry from Edmonds to Kingston and then travel to the north side Olympics for a delightful snowshoe hike and soak in the Olympic Hot Springs. Wear good winter clothing, dress in layers; bring a towel and suit if you want to join the hot springs soak. You provide snowshoes & poles. The water is fairly hot, and with the cool winter air and the solitude of the old growth forest, this one is a charmer. Note leader will possibly travel to the Olympics on Friday and stay in the Olympics for the holiday weekend. Signup deadline January 14, 5 pm. Meeting time of 9 am is at the Port Angeles Olympic National Park office. NOTE participants required to contribute to ferry cost & gas for all drivers. Contact leader Terese to sign up & for directions, at terrasolutions@hotmail.com or 253-334-2157. (MB/ CH)

2 days, 15 miles, 2000 ft. elevation gain Beginners backpacking --Moderate. This is a great opportunity to learn the fundamentals of winter backpacking. We will set off from Bagby Hot springs, spend the first evening at the hot springs, and get an early start for higher elevation and snow. Saturday, we head up to find snow and camp at higher elevation. Sunday we return, stopping at the springs for another well-earned soak. Requires back-country skis & skins (leader has a few loaners.) Reservations and fee ($15.00) due by January 9. Maximum 12 participants. This outing is open to the public. For more information, contact leader for meeting location & directions, and to sign up - David Burdick at (503) 654-2070 or by email to david.burdick@oregon.sierraclub.org. (Columbia)

A birdwatchers delight - the ever popular Skagit Eagle Festival has come around again. A tradition with the Mt. Baker Group, the festival starts at the Concrete High School. Eagle watching tours run along the Skagit up-river to Rockport and Marblemount, with trained interpretive guides. Stay for just the day, or into the evening for a salmon dinner, Native American storytelling and drumming. For optional outing at 1 pm on Saturday, please contact Terese at 253-334-2157 or terrasolutions@hotmail.com. (MB)

 Here's a chance to see teeming flocks of Snow Geese and Trumpeter Swans at the Reifel Island Bird Watching and Owl Rehabilitation Center near the mouth of the Fraser River in British Columbia. This is one of the largest waterfowl migrations in North America. Hike around refuge is 6 miles RT with little elevation gain. Crossing the border to Canada will require proper identification & sharing of gas costs with the driver, entry fee of $4 per person to be paid by individual participants. Group may stop for a meal on the return, but please bring a lunch, drinking water & snacks. Birding books & binoculars and spotting scopes welcomed. We will meet in Bellingham at 10:30 am. To sign up & for directions, please contact leader Terese VanAssche at 253-334-2157 or terrasolutions@hotmail.com. (MB) 

This is a moderately strenuous, 18 mile loop, 3,000 ft. elevation gain backcountry experience. Beautiful snow filled lakes, in alpine setting, will be witnessed on this excursion. Starting from Odell Lake, we head east towards Diamond Peak, connecting into the PCT and transverse Diamond Peak for a few miles,camp below its majestic peak, then ski down the gentle terrain back to the car. Requires back country skiis and skins (leader has a few loaners.) Preregistration and fee ($15) required by January 23. Maximum 12 people. This outing is open to the public. To sign up and for more information on meeting location & directions, please contact leader act David Burdick at (503) 654-2070 or by email to david.burdick@oregon.sierraclub.org. (Columbia)

Meet at Gateway Transit Center located at 9900 NE Multonomah in Portland. This is a beginner-intermediate 4 mile 1,000 ft. elevation gain outing. We'll stop on the way to rent snowshoes for those that need them (Cost = $11.00), and then climb to the top of Ghost Ridge for beautiful views. Preregistration required by February 6. This outing is open to the public. For more information and to sign up, contact Jeff Fryer at (503) 452-1535 or by jeff.fryer@oregon.sierraclub.org. NOTE this outing is at least a 3 hour drive from the Seattle area. (Columbia) 

 Join us for a fun day of skiing! Total distance six miles or less with minimal elevation gain. Outing is oriented toward advanced beginners and intermediate nordic skiers (basic skills required, no instruction included). No skis? Rentals available at various ski shops in Vancouver-Portland area. Signup deadline 5 p.m. Feb. 6. Outing is open to the public. To sign up and for more information on meeting location and directions, contact leader Lehman Holder, tripsguy@aol.com, or (360) 944-7957.

 Join us for a fun day of skiing! Total distance six miles or less with minimal elevation gain. Outing is oriented toward advanced beginners and intermediate nordic skiers (basic skills required, no instruction included). No skis? Rentals available at various ski shops in Vancouver-Portland area. Outing is open to the public. Signup deadline 5 p.m. Feb. 19. To sign up and for more information on meeting location and directions, contact leader Lehman Holder, tripsguy@aol.com, or (360) 944-7957. For Seattle-area skiers: Outing location is near Portland, Oregon.

 Join us for a fun day of skiing! Total distance six miles or less with minimal elevation gain. Outing is oriented toward advanced beginners and intermediate nordic skiers (basic skills required, no instruction included). No skis? Rentals available at various ski shops in Vancouver-Portland area. Outing is open to the public. Signup deadline 5 p.m. March 5. To sign up and for more information on meeting location and directions, contact leader Lehman Holder, tripsguy@aol.com, or (360) 944-7957. NOTE Seattle area skiers: Outing location is at least a 4 hour drive from the Seattle area.

This is a strenuous, 30 miles and 10,500 foot elevation gain backcountry experience. Starting from Wallowa Lake, we head into the mountains of the Wallowa for five days of adventure into pristine back country wilderness. Superb vistas and great snow. Exploratory trip - requires experience snow camping, back country skiis and skins, abilitiy to backpack 15 miles/day and references. Preregistration and fee ($15) need to be made by February 26. Maximum 12 people. This outing is open to the public. For more information on meeting location & directions, and to sign up, contact leader David Burdick at (503) 654-2070 or by email david.burdick@oregon.sierraclub.org. (Columbia)