Wandering Washington…

I drove to Sprague, WA, last weekend to visit my family and took some pictures along the way.

I stopped for a leg stretch at the Ginko Petrified Forest State Park. The park was established back in the 1930’s when petrified wood was discovered by workers building the Vantage bridge. As you walk the trail you find stone enclosures built by the Civilian Conservation Corps housing the petrified logs. The petrified wood is what remains of water saturated logs that were at the bottome of a lake during the Ginko Lava Flow. The lava coverered the logs, but could not burn them, and so over time the minerals in the surrounding lava replaced the organic matter, leaving behind logs of stone.

Wild petrified log held in captivity at the Ginko Petrified Forest State Park, Vantage, Washington. January 2022.

As I was trying to count the rings on one of the logs the thought struck me that the enclosure was probably made from stones picked up off the ground near the log, which means they were probably part of the Ginko Flow. That means the stones surrounding the log are actually younger than the log itself. I don’t know why that stuck me as such an odd thought, that stone could be younger than wood, even petrified wood, but it flipped the illusion of permanence on it’s head for a moment.

Vicinity of Vantage, WA, January 2022.

Vicinity of Vantage, WA, January 2022.

Vicinity of Vantage, WA, January 2022.

Basalt columns in vicinity of Vantage, WA, January 2022.

Trip Report: Duckabush river to Five Mile Camp, 11/23/19

Started at 0830, finished at 1300. Total distance ended up being about 11 miles with 1400 ft of elevation gain.

We had a cold and foggy start, 33 degrees when we got out of the car. Once we were on trail we warmed up pretty quickly. The trail runs at a very slight incline for about three miles. I remarked to J. that we had picked a ridiculously easy hike for the day, about five minutes later we hit the switchbacks. The view from the top of the switchbacks was worth the sweat, fog below and clouds above with a clear band of blue sky in-between.

View East from the top of the switchbacks. Duckabush 11/23/19.

Once through the switchbacks we started downhill again. From the switchbacks to Five Mile Camp we encountered several downed trees across the trail. No apparent hazards, and not hard to circumnavigate, but still a gentle reminder that the landscape is constantly in flux.

The number and varieties of mushrooms alongside the trail continues to amaze me. We spotted several beautiful Turkey Tail specimens, and once I was looking the neon orange of Witches Butter jumped out at me from nearly every downed tree near the trail.

Mysterious Mushrooms. Duckabush 11/23/19.

Five Mile Camp looks like a charming and peaceful spot to spend the night. There were 2-3 fire pits and easy access to fresh water from the river. The sky had cleared up by the time we started back to the car, sending intense rays of godlight between the trees. We passed a few groups on the way down, and several dogs. The trail can be tight in some places and make it difficult for dogs to pass each other.

J. at the river by Five Mile Camp. Duckabush 11/23/19

Me and R. above Duckabush. 11/23/19.