January is a funny month in the Pacific Northwest. We should be in the throngs of winter but the month has earned itself the portmanteau of “Juneuary” because the weather often feels like a typical day in early June. A fake spring. We almost hit 60 degrees last week! But next week we will dip below 30 degrees with possible snow. In fact, in my memory, if we are to get significant snow here it will be at the end of January or first half of February.
But first we have to mess with Mother Nature enough that the trees start budding.
I was going through my Google photos to delete, delete, delete and I came upon a hike we did this time last year to the Chuckanuts. Specifically, Blanchard Mountain. They sit north of me in Everett but south of Bellingham. They are great for a day I don’t want to give entirely to hiking or if the avalanche risk is high. And since it happened about the same time last year as our
“Juneuary” weather this week, it was a good example of how January is such a mixed bag and it is good to be prepared for anything!
It had been a few years since I had been out to Blanchard Mountain so when there was a small window with no rain, we drove up for a 7.4 mile loop.
The Blanchard Hill road was snow covered and slick in spots but we were able to make it to the Upper Trailhead (also snow covered), maneuvering around a downed tree at the intersection with the Samish Overlook road.
The newish privy was nice to see (and use) before hiking up B-1000 towards the Alternate Incline. The horse trailer parking signs also seemed new since I was here last (2021?). There was also a sign warning “no new trail construction” so that rogue trail building must be a thing?
I had my spikes in my pack and could have used them but thankfully there was enough bare gravel that it wasn’t necessary. No views of Kulshan today and I was saddened to see the logging, especially butted up against the stream next to the Incline. Proof you are on state land, I suppose.
And for the first time, the hubs spotted an abandoned car down in a ravine about .8 miles in, again evidence you are on state land. It may have been my imagination but it looked like there could have once been a spur down to where the car was just past where we saw it but it could also have just been where a logging truck had missed the main road.
Anywho, we trotted up the Alternate Incline which was mostly bare but for a few tricky patches of ice. The real snow began as we approached the junction with the Lily Lizard Trail and kept left for Lizard Lake. We paused here only briefly to check out the latest beaver activity before continuing up the connector trail towards North Butte. I can’t say for sure but it looks like the campsites have all been nicely numbered since I was here last (same at Lily).
We had North Butte to ourselves as usual and the clouds were nice enough to permit views out across Samish Bay. We wondered at how many people might be over on Oyster Dome.
Back down on the Lily Campground Trail, the snow and ice was constant and careful steps were necessary. The worst bits are where the ice is clear and obscured by debris.
Having both done the Lily Lake Trail several times, we decided to take Max’s Shortcut to connect with the Lily-Max Connector this time. We wondered if we would regret it as this had the iciest section but just as I was contemplating putting my spikes on, the trail went mostly bare. I always carry my spikes, even on low level hikes like this, since hiking a loop here and needing them to carefully walk along the edge of a frozen lake to continue on the trail!
Sprinkles started as we took the junction for the last 1.3 miles back the trailhead but thankfully nothing worth putting rain jackets on for. The last half mile of this section is mentally brutal because you run along the Samish Overlook road just teasing you instead of being the end.
Overall a great day with just a handful of people passed. I’m pretty sure the Pacific Northwest Trail section is missing some of their plastic trail markers that used to be placed and one was bent up like someone had tried but failed. But it was nice to see that the artifacts are still there at the top of the Incline, the hubs says that’s probably because they are too heavy to pack out. 🙂
If you head up here now, there won’t be any snow or frozen lakes. But who knows about the next month or so, winter isn’t done with us yet!
For more information on these trails, check out Lizard and Lily Lakes, North Butte Via Alternate Incline Trail. Other hikes in the area include:
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Hi Shannon and Hubs,
Funny, the equivalent thing is happening here in New Zealand.
We had a great, mild winter and a glorious spring, suntan by Christmas, but come January, we are muttering about imminent return of the Ice Age. Layering up. Watching the cabbages retrench.
(The beans don’t seem to care).
Interesting.
Love your posts, thanx.
Thank you, Steve! What a shock that must have been. Gardens always take the worse of it. I should add I know it is not winter yet because we still have little winged mosquito like bugs sneaking into the house. Winter should be a bug-free zone!