The Wild Nearby

Do you love wilderness, literature, and photography? Then you’ll enjoy the latest book from Braided River, The North Cascades: Finding Beauty and Renewal in the Wild Nearby. The 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act provides us with a reason to look back and ahead.

Join us for the book's launch party at the Mountaineers Program Center on October 10 to celebrate what’s been preserved in the North Cascades and to hear Pulitzer Prize-winning author William Dietrich’s take on where stewardship needs to go next.

Event Details

WHAT: Book launch of The North Cascades: Finding Beauty and Renewal in the Wild Nearby
WHEN: Friday, October 10, 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.

WHERE: Seattle Mountaineers Program Center, 7700 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA‎ 98115

WHO: Hosted by The Mountaineers and supported by NPCA

TICKETS: You can purchase your tickets here.

OTHER INFO: Free parking is available at The Mountaineers Program Center. Or, take bus 75 which drops you off directly in front of the Program Center. Additional launch parties will be held later in North Cascades National Park, Everett, Twisp, and Bellingham.

Camping at Colonial Creek? Backpacking in the Sawtooths? Out for a stroll in Stehekin? Share your photos with the hashtag #wildnearby and they’ll be displayed at the book launch party.

We hope you will join us,

Sincerely,



David G. Graves
Northwest Program Manager

P.S.: Check out the Northwest Regional Office's most recent field report here (PDF, 371 KB).

A Cherry Hike

Cherry Creek Falls
hike north of Duvall, Washington




What a wonderful trail, and so close to the big cities Bellevue and Seattle, a very convenient romp in the wilderness.  Our first animal sighting was an adorable chipmunk.  It's a 5 mile round trip, nice and easy trail although it does narrow in spots.  It's a great trip for families with kids and also for groups of friends.

Look at the beautiful, sunny day we stumbled into.  Not a cloud in the sky and in fact it was in the 90's, but we did not suffer because this forested trail is mostly shaded, spotted with just a few open sunny spots and some odd humid spots along the way.  We frolicked most comfortably.

Here we go.  We enjoyed nature, and the lively company.

We made sure to stop and notice all the beauty around us.  There were plenty of butterflies along the way, including this one having a little rest.

There were several creeks that crossed the trail.  In September they were all small and no obstacle at all.  At other times of the year they could be more of a challenge.

Thank goodness for the Boy Scouts!  They have made several markers along the trail to be sure you find your way to the waterfall, including this giant rock arrow.  Of course, as you can see there's always one hiker who leaves a vivid trail marker open to interpretation.

The Cherry Creek Waterfall, wow we're already here!  This is the overlook of the beautiful falls.  This was the site of a logging camp back in the early part of the 19th century.  The falls are a 25 foot drop.

At this time of year it's split into a double falls, and there's even a small fall-let just out of the picture to the right.

One of our hikers is cooling her heels in the middle of the calm pool created at the foot of the falls.

And thanks to the Boy Scouts, nicely carved chairs for those who prefer.

Four bumps on a log in a beautiful glen.
 

A moment for reflection

Back on the trail, heading home, fashionable in red, toes point to what looks like a weed, doesn't it?  No, don't let the red cloud your judgement.  This is a northwest plantain.  The leaves can be eaten raw.
best when finely chopped or when cooked with fibers removed. Leaves are very rich in vitamin B1 and riboflavin. The plant contains anti-toxins as well.  The leaves and the seed are medicinal used as an antibacterial, antidote, astringent, antiinflammatory, antiseptic, antitussive, cardiac, demulcent, diuretic, expectorant, haemostatic, laxative, ophthalmic, poultice, refrigerant, and vermifuge. Seeds can be dried and ground into flour/meal.  In the Northwest it grows in a wide range of areas, including disturbed/cultivated soil in plains, foothills, and montane regions.

Creeping Bellflower along the trail is a pretty splash of color.  This was originally introduced to the Northwest from Eurasia.  It's now naturalized across the northern two-thirds of the United States and the lower half of Canada

Here we stopped for a brief orange/red flower conference.  These are actually spotted touch-me-not impatiens.  These plants can grow up to 5 feet tall.  This species can be found across the eastern United States, across Canada, and in the Pacific Northwest. The tube-shaped flowers are 3/4 to 1 1/4 inches long and attract butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds.

And this trail is delightfully not just for hikers.  This happy rider and his horse named Blue were also enjoying the day, just like us!