| Hiking Ministry -
Do you enjoy the outdoors and enjoy hiking?
We are having the time of our lives hiking trails in the diverse
terrain found in our beautiful valley and are inviting you to
join us on the second Saturday of each month for our Hiking Ministry.
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Got Cabin Fever? Hike Ancient
Lakes
Feeling a little exercised deprived?
Tired of the treadmill? Join the Hiking crew for another
winter hike to the Ancient Lakes in Quincy.
It is a 5
mile round trip excursion with the elevation of 100 to
200 ft. If you want more, Glen will take you up a fairly
steep ravine for a spectacular view of the valley below.
It has been
described as a "particularly curvaceous lady: scalloped
hills ringing deep blue/green lakes with smoothly
rounded shores, each one more beautiful than the next,
enticing me onward and inward."
We will make
sure and take some time to explore the entire lake
basin. This wetland area provides habitat for many
species of birds and mammals. And it’s entertaining to
watch the swallows flit in and out of the basalt cliffs.
Meet us at
the church parking lot on Feb. 13 at 8:45 am. We will
depart at 9:00 am. Carpooling is strongly encouraged,
but there is plenty of parking at the trail head.
Wear plenty
of warm clothes just in case and pack water and a
healthy snack or lunch. Let’s have some fun!
Your Hiking Crew, Tom, Glen, Sue,
Chuck and Tracy.
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Dry Gulch Preserve Hike
Offers Majestic View of Columbia
River Valley
January 9 the hiking crew will be
discovering what was once the second largest gold
operation in the United States, The Dry Gulch Preserve.
This area still shows the scars from its mining past,
though there are plenty of pretty places on the property
and with a winter hike planned we will see little of
those scars and mostly beautiful terrain. Many of the
overlooks will provide us with solid-gold views of the
Columbia River Valley. This hike is perfect for
beginners and always fun for those that have hiked this
many times in the summer. Come see it covered in white!
The elevation gain is only 1,300 feet in 2.5 miles.
Total trip is 5 mi.
What to bring; Hiking sticks are
good, in case there is lots of snow; snow shoes would be
great, or Yaktrax type boot covers, but none are
mandatory. Water and snacks. Dress warm! We will
be hiking for approximately one and a half to two hours.
We will meet at the church parking lot at 9:00 AM and
plan to be back no later than 11:00am
Our local Dry Gulch expert, Chuck Largent, will be
leading us on this incredible local hike.
Hike Away! Glen and Tracy Carlson, Tom Pattison, Sue
Neff and Chuck Largent
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We Hiked Back in
Time to the Spanish Castle
November 14, 2009
This month we stretched out and
touched history during a five-mile jaunt to the site of
the Old Spanish Castle on the Columbia River west of
Crescent Bar.
The trail starts in the Colockum
Wildlife Area at the end of the Malaga Highway. We followed an old dirt road that leads from the basalt
highlands down to the river. The elevation change is
about 400 feet and portions of the trail are rocky, so
heavier footgear is recommended.
Lester Coffin built the Spanish
Castle in 1918 at a cost of just over $20,000. Coffin
and his brother were Yakima-based cattlemen and known as
the, "lords of the Tarpiscan range who counted their
horses, cattle and sheep by the thousands," according to
a May 21, 1927 Wenatchee World article. Coffin dreamed
for years of having a home along the Columbia River that
resembled the residence of a Mexican president of the
early 1900s.
The location he chose was on the
river at the mouth of Tarpiscan Creek. The site was, and
is, remote and almost inaccessible.
Much of the construction material for
the new house was hauled in over the rough Colockum Pass
Road in covered wagons. The house had 13 to 17 rooms,
including a spacious entrance hall, a reception room,
living room, five bedrooms, two bathrooms and an indoor
pool.
When dams on the Columbia caused the
water to rise, the Spanish Castle was torn down. What
remains is the partially submerged foundation and
several old outbuildings.
You'll enjoy this interesting hike.
October Hike Explored
Alpine Wilderness
Our Fall hike was fabulous! It was
cold but absolutely beautiful! We were gifted with a few
snowflakes to remind us of just how close our winter
season is. A few of us got a thrill out of feeding wild
birds (some people call them Gray Jays), while others
got a thrill out of watching us feed the birds.
All are welcome to
join us on our second Saturday hikes. Our next one is
scheduled for November 14 to the Spanish Castle,
a great early winter hike.
Steppn’ Out Together, Glen
Carlson, Tom Pattison, Chuck Largent, Sue Neff, and
Tracy Faulkner-Carlson.
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Clara Lake Circle Tour
Our August 8 hike was closer to home, but still registered on the Wow factor. This hike is designed so both beginners and
seasoned hikers can participate.
Up Squilchuck to the Beehive Reservoir Road (#9712) and follow
it for four miles to the Devil’s Gulch Trailhead.
At the trailhead
(Elevation 4900 feet) hike 2.30 miles along the Pipeline Trail
to the Clara Lake cutoff. Stunning vistas of the Wenatchee Valley are
around most every bend. This section of trail is flat but rocky so
sturdy footwear is encouraged. This junction is an excellent turnaround
point for beginner hikers. The next section of the hike is more
demanding.
It is only ¾
mile from the Pipeline cutoff to Clara Lake, but it is a steep climb
rising almost 600 feet in a half mile. The return journey from Clara will take
you up and down a
series of hills and across a number of windfalls that fell during a
recent storm. After a mile reconnect with road 9712 a mile above
the parking lot. It will carry you back to the trailhead while granting
impressive views of The Enchantments and Glacier Peak.
The full circle
route is about 5¼ miles. Hiking poles are helpful for this circuit.
The beginner’s hike provides great views and a pleasant workout (no
elevation!) during its 4½ mile length.
So there you go, there’s something for everyone on the
Clara Lake Circle Tour! If you have any questions
about this trail, feel free to contact Glen Carlson @ 679-1863.
LAKE
VALHALLA HIKE JULY 11
Our
third hike of the season to Lake Valhalla in the North Cascades was
incredible. After a couple of warm up hikes, or walks as some
called them, this was a true
hike of 5.5 miles, with an elevation gain of about 1000 feet. We hiked to a
beautiful lake with stunning views in the Henry Jackson Wilderness.
An early start and the promise of
hot weather did not thin the ranks of hikers who showed up for
First UM’s July outing. Seventeen expectant souls laced boots,
hoisted hiking poles and slathered on mosquito juice at the
trailhead near Steven’s Pass before setting out on the 2 ½ mile
jaunt to Lake Valhalla.
The
price of exertion was worth the reward. Lake Valhalla is a
treasure for the eyes and a treat for hot bodies… just ask Joe
Morrison and Tom Pattison! The entire group enjoyed a well
earned rest on the lake shore before striking out for the
downward journey. A wonderful time in God’s great creation was
had by all.
We have had some
great adventures together. Hope to see you at our next hike coming soon.
Watch this site for more details.
Keep on Trekking ~
The Hiking Crew
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