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Please click here to go to - Part Two
Moran State Park
Moran State Park has an old, classic feel to it. Part of this comes from the many structures built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930's and 40's. The campgrounds are also rustic. The sites are primitive and close; built when the majority of camping was using tents. Thusly, it can only accommodate smaller camping trailers or RV's. The rest rooms are upgraded with heat, running water, flush toilets, and showers.
We were settled into our sites in the Midway Campground by early afternoon. As more and more vehicles streamed in, we realized it was a weekend. Since we had sun and warmth, the Lady and I opened all our camper windows and brought items out to completely dry. Life's little luxuries are the best.
Ted had a nice surprise on Orcas Island. His sister and her husband rented a house for two nights a few miles away in Rosario to allow for a visit. They dropped by our campsites this evening. Ted wanted a classic campground experience for them. He walked over to the automated firewood dispenser and read the sign glorifying that it was completely seasoned local wood. Ted had his doubts as the bundle was difficult to tote over to the campsite because of its heavy weight. "Seasoned at the bottom of a pond!" Ted, a connoisseur of fine campfire fuels, exclaimed. The campground was, indeed, quite smoky this Friday night. Very little flame was seen anywhere. Ted, a wise man, quickly abandoned the idea of an asphyxiating campfire. I floated the idea of collecting unburned firewood from frustrated campers, setting up a table, and selling it for half price to newcomers the next day. I'm lucky I had Ted to keep me in line and out of trouble. I stayed out of the firewood business.
We woke to raindrops on the roof the following morning. On the bright side, it was a light rain, nothing rain gear and pack flies couldn't handle.
Ted was spending the day with his sister. Mrs. Ted joined the Lady and I hiking the area around Cascade Lake.
There is a gnarled Douglas Fir on a rocky outcrop on the west side of the lake. The glare of the white clouds behind made coming up with a decent photograph difficult.
The diffuse light helped with photos of the many white lilies.
There is a large lagoon on Cascade Lake. Along its edge we found an old dock or possibly it was a bridge at one time.
A wood bridge spanned the neck of the lagoon on the main trail.
Berries were in bloom.
Mrs. Ted waited for us at the south end of the lake as the Lady and I made the quick hike up to Sunrise Rock. The drizzle was letting up.
Next was the hike over to Cascade Falls.
There was quite a widow maker hung up in the trees.
The cloud cover and rain lessened throughout the day. The island's forests are quite lush and wet. The Bigleaf Maples were flowering and fungi covered all the old cuts from past trail work.
The Teds joined Ted's sister and husband for dinner Saturday night at the rental house. The Lady and I spent the evening wandering back around Cascade Lake.
It was stunningly clear at sunset.
Along the shore we heard the distinctive chirp of an Osprey. We quickly spotted the bird's relentless dive bombing attacks on a Bald Eagle in a large fir.
"Did the bald steal a fish from the osprey?" the Lady asked a woman watching the display.
"Yes." The woman answered. "My husband's fishing and called to tell me the osprey caught a fish, the eagle stole it, and the osprey's mad."
"Do you live here?" The woman added, "We just moved here from Kirkland. Bald Eagles have a nest right outside our window. I want to take care of them but my husband keeps telling me they're wild creatures and can take care of themselves."
"No, we're visitors and staying in the campground," the Lady replied. "So you root for the eagle when it steals from the osprey? Bald's get most of their fish through thievery."
"I know, but I just really like the eagles."
We shared several stories of the many experiences we've had watching ospreys and eagles.
"So," I asked the woman, "You prefer the graceful swoop and grab of the bald when fishing? That's over the utter reckless abandon of straight into the water, the osprey's method?"
"The swoop and grab," she answered.
"Well, I go for reckless abandon."
What stood out to the Lady and me was the woman's perfect makeup and impeccable lipstick, something we don't see much when out on an evening walk. She was attractive. She carried a Nikon DLSR with a massive 200-500mm lens. We had a very nice time talking with her.
The Teds filled us in the fine salmon dinner they had and the great views from the deck of the rented house.
I know there was one thing, for sure, that the Lady read in the gifted San Juan Island guidebook. "I want to hike Mount Constitution!" the Lady repeatedly told me. "It's the one thing I want to do when we're up there."
I got my fish & chips. I had to make sure the Lady got her mountain.
Fog was beginning to burn off Sunday morning as we walked along Cascade Lake to the trailhead.
One of the grand old C.C.C. built picnic shelters stands at the trailhead.
The trail quickly begins its 3 mile switch backing ascent to Hidden Ridge. It crosses several steep drainages as it climbs.
We reached the broad rolling plateau that is Mount Constitution.
The summit point is on the north end. The trail crosses the road - you can drive to the top - and heads for the highpoint by traversing the east ridgeline. This provides great views to the east.
"You two are up here about a half hour earlier than I expected," Ted called out as a hello when he saw us. His sister and husband drove him up to see the views. We chatted with them as we checked out other islands and boats with see mores. They headed back down and we continued to explore the top.
The central feature at the top is a majestic stone fire lookout tower also built by the C.C.C..
It is topped with a wooden cab.
The stairs are internal to the tower with grand doorways out to viewing platforms.
All the ironwork is hand done.
There is help with keeping your bearings correct.
Mount Constitution, the highpoint of the San Juan Islands, has marvelous vistas.
We could only imagine what it would be like to see Mt. Baker raising above Bellingham on a clear afternoon.
The tower is pretty darn impressive.
We were pleasantly surprised we had the area to ourselves for close to a half hour. We relaxed and had lunch. We stayed until another group of people arrived. We donned our packs and started back down the trail.
The trail crosses the road at Cold Springs. There's a timber picnic shelter and a shelter covering where, apparently, the spring once flowed from.
We returned to Hidden Ridge where the switchbacks began, our descent back to camp.
This was a bit over a 10 mile round trip from our campsite and we found it a nice easy hike.
Ted was napping when we arrived back
at camp. Donna was relaxing with a book. They had said their goodbyes to family earlier.
Since it was now Sunday night, the campground was near empty, the exodus of weekenders complete. The Lady and I walked out to and sat on the end of the pier at the beach on Cascade Lake. We watched an osprey's reckless abandon as it hit the water and came up with empty talons several times. The bald eagle would go hungry. A tiny boat with an electric trolling motor worked the north half of the lake.
"I bet that's her husband," the Lady said.
We met the woman walking across the beach area.
"My husband called again," the woman relayed to us. "The eagle stole from the osprey earlier."
"Ah," the Lady replied. "So the osprey's trying to get a fish of its own now."
The bald eagle was not going hungry.
The osprey was, again, dive bombing and harassing the eagle as we returned to camp. The Teds were able to view it from outside their Tiger.
It was raining in the morning. Ted had fresh baked cinnamon rolls ready for us. After indulging in culinary goodness, we packed up and headed for the ferry to take us to Lopez Island.
The adventure continues, please click here for - Part Four.
Thanks for the write-up on your trip as always. What great pictures and good stories. We will need to make that journey as well. Next year it is now in the plans.
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