Aggie Alum Out On a Rattlesnake Ledge

UC Davis alumni living in the Puget Sound hiked Rattlesnake Ledge and made it to the top.  Go Ags!  UCD alumni living in the Seattle area, join us at our next fun event - check us out on facebook  Notice our exhausted friend Sadie in the forefront.  She knows when to enjoy her trail, and when to rest.

This hike has a couple of extended uphill sections, so just take it easy and take advantage of enjoying the forest views at pause points on the trail.  It's a short trail, just 4 miles round trip.  Our group included ages from late 20's to late 60's and we all did well.  You'll love the view, although on our hike it was a little hazy from the terrible fires in eastern Washington.

Here we are enthusiastically starting into the forest.

There is wildlife all around on this hike, including also chipmunks and at the lake we visited after the hike there was a beautiful large blue heron that swooped over the lake and into the forest trees.  I've never heard a heron call until today.  That is a very loud and beautiful bird.

Douglas fir, western red cedar and western hemlock are throughout this forest.  These are protected remnants of old growth along with 2nd and 3rd growth trees

Smiles on the trail and lots of fun conversation along the way made the uphill seem so much easier.  You can see how wonderfully well maintained these trails are.

The history - not long ago Native Americans journeyed each year to this forest from lands surrounding Snoqualmie river to the north and Green/White rivers to the south, the Duwamish to the west, and the Yakima and Wenatchee rivers to the east.  They were interested in the salmonberry thickets, red alder, and blackberries.  A prairie of camas used to grow in the shadow of Rattlesnake Ledge, and that was most coveted.  Camas tubers are like potatoes, rich in carbohydrates and easy to store.

The view we sought.

And you can climb even higher up the rocks if you want.  If you look closely you can see an orange shirt on a person enjoying the view from an even higher spot.

So many hikers enjoying the view at the top of the trail.

Headed back down the trail.  Going back is so much easier.

From the bottom you can imagine the Rattler's face in the giant rock ledge.

Next stop, enjoying a little picnic at the lake.  Here's a view of enjoying the outdoors without the hike, rowers on the lake.

Rattlesnake lake is so beautiful, it's sadly shocking to see it at such extraordinarily low levels this year.

The low water levels leaves uncovered these eerie tree stumps all over what is usually the lake floor.  Five species of salmon make it all the way to this lake from the Puget Sound each year on their migration.

Ghosts of trees past.  In the distance, kayakers.

Mini rock climbing

Pretty little snowberries on the bush.  Small, pink blossoms in early summer turn to berries that can last well into winter on bare twigs, since the bushes are deciduous. People find these berries bitter and mostly inedible - they can cause vomiting, diarhea, dizziness, and sometimes unconsciousness, so don't try them. Snowberry thickets provide cover for wildlife, including small birds and mammals as well as game species like sharp-tailed, ruffed, and blue grouse and wild turkey. Large mammals like deer, elk, moose, and bighorn sheep all browse on snowberry, although it is not a preferred food.

Enjoy your next hike!  And go Ags!