Random Stuff by Ruth: Oyster Dome

In November I traded not having a car and 'saving the environment' in for having a car and being able to appreciate the environment. I've only been on a couple hikes with friends since I moved here and although there is a lot to see in Bellingham by foot, bike or bus there is so much I've missed out on that is best reached by car.

This winter I bought a little pocket book called "Hiking Whatcom County" by Ken Wilcox. And now that the weather is acting like summer weather I've started trying to pick a hike each week. The book designates the difficulty level with sets of footprints. One is the easiest and four is the most difficult.

Last week I did the Stimpson Nature Reserve hike which is two sets of footprints and 2.8 miles. It is a forested area just outside city limits in the hills above Lake Whatcom. After deciding that a two footprint hike was easily doable, I upped it yesterday to a three sets of footprints hike. For awhile, I'll stick with three or less and save four for a more distant future!

I went to the Oyster Dome which I have wanted to go to for a long time. It was the perfect day for hiking. It requires about a half hour drive down Chuckanut Drive to get to the trailhead from my house. This is a scenic, windy road that meanders above the Bellingham and Samish Bays.

My guide book said it was a 3.6 mile hike up to the Oyster Dome (7.2 round trips) which is mainly a huge rock from which you can see the San Juans and the Olympics spread out below and beyond. In my enthusiasm to see such a spectacular view I skimmed over some key words in the description of this hike. Mainly, that it was 'steep' and the view at the top is the 'reward.'

The initial half of the hike is steep. But I would also conclude this portion of the trail is pleasant, manageable, not too bad and fairly easy. Although I was sweating and breathing deeply on the way up. Just when I was wondering how much further I had to go I came to a fork in the road and a sign pointing left. I read this sign enough to see 'Oyster' and 0.5 m. Sweet! I thought, only half a mile to go. This hike was easy!

So I charged off excited to see how quickly I could go the last half mile. Soon enough the words I would use to describe the trail changed to WTF!, OMG!, No way!, you've got to be kidding me! It was now extremely steep and the trail changed to finding foot holds in twisty, gnarly tree roots mingled with rocks. I was huffing and puffing. And fairly certain I had gone many times over a half mile. Finally at the top of the steepest part I came to another fork in the trail with another arrow pointing left to Oyster Dome. A group of people also sweating buckets and gasping for breath came up behind me. I commented to one of the women that I was fairly certain I had passed a sign saying it was only half a mile away and that it had been much further than that distance to where we were. She explained that sign said it was a half mile to the trail head to Oyster Dome and that now it really was only a half mile to the Oyster Dome from where we stood.

Let me tell you, 'reward' is a fitting word for the view. Especially yesterday! Every drop of sweat and struggled step was worth it! I just felt so filled with wonder and joy and appreciation for the majesty and beauty we are surrounded by! I sat for about a half hour enjoying the view before I headed down.

It took me 2 1/2 hours to get to the top and two to go down. I will say that the rule of gravity definitely applies to hiking and it was equally steep and treacherous on the way down and ripe with opportunities to fall or twist an ankle. I slipped a few times, but luckily regained my balance and recovered before disaster struck. I think I will consider getting a hiking/walking stick because I definitely wished for a pair on the way down!

There is something I really love about being outside hiking/walking. It slows my mind down to the pace of my feet and I feel very grounded to the earth, to the current moment, and can just be without thinking or worrying or planning what to do next or what needs to get done. It also gives me a sense of connectedness to humanity and the rest of the world. I often think of my Czech friends and the walks I've been on with them and the other places in the world I've been or wish to go. There is so much power in what our own feet can do and where they can get us. And the world over we as people all have that same power within us.

Here a some of the highlights from yesterday!