Boulder River

September 19th, 2011

A long time ago when I was a little kid meaning not a teenager as of yet my family went on hike to a place that I remember as being called Boulder Creek for some reason.  In truth it was Boulder River  which is located between Arlington and Darrington Washington.

The reason I remember this hike was that it was most likely my first time that I was truly scared and  not that the boggy man was going to get me but for my own safety.  What I remember of that day has made me want to go back to face that place of my fist encounter with water that truly went wrong.

Being little at the time and having two boys my mom choose an easy hike for us not a lot of up and down hill an over all easy trail to follow with a great place to camp next to the river after following the trail for about four and a half miles.

I remember arriving at the camp site and putting up the tents and then getting ready to go explore up the trail further.  The fun part of this was that where the trail now ends it use to continue up the valley only on the other side of the river.  Being kids we got all excited as there was a big tree that lead the way to the other side.

Mom had one brain storm before we went as she was well aware of the tree crossing.  Mom brought a good climbing rope to stretch across the river.  I can still see my brother dancing his way across the river on the log stretching the rope out behind him as he went.

So across we all went and on up the trail.  I am not sure how much longer it was and it was starting to rain a little bit and I was getting tire and told mom that I wanted to head back to camp.  Well every one else wanted to continue on up the trail so I got to go it alone back to camp.

It's often funny looking back on things and wondering just how well one actually remembers the events of such a day so long ago.  But to me it is like a movie and only happened a moment ago for me.  As to whether I have it right or not well just don't know.

I had no problem following the trail back there where no turn offs to get lost on and at that time I just wanted to get back to camp is all.  Finally camp was in sight all I had left to do was cross the stupid tree to the other side and walk a little ways down the trail there and I would be back to camp.  I can still remember looking at the tree crossing not a bit of bark on it.  It looked so smooth and shinny that I knew something was wrong but what it was I had not a clue nor the experience to know better.  So I hopped up onto the log and started my way across.  Nope I was not holding on to the rope.  I think I was maybe a third of the way across or so when everything well just about everything went wrong.  For some reason the log was no longer under my but off to the side and it was going up in the air.  So funny I was not scared at all even when it when it all went blurry as I was going under.  Yep I could not touch bottom.  I was in deep water in the middle of a rapid river.

I don't remember if i was up or down stream of the log when I came up all I knew was that I needed to get to shore.  So I started pulling myself there with the rope don't remember grabbing it on the way down but I must have some how.  I headed to the shore I was facing hand over hand till I felt the bank below my feet and was able to crawl out.

I was wet and felt just fine until I realized that I was on the wrong side and had to cross the stupid log still.  Second attempt I took the most conservative approach that a kid can.  I straddled the log and kept a death grip on the rope all the way across.

If that rope had not been there the odds are that I would not be here writing this.  Thanks Mom for always keeping me safe!!!!

Boulder River Trail Head

I guess that some places are just made for the drama and Boulder River is the spot for me.  This time I got to share it with Molly.  The Boulder River trail head is located near French Point just off of HWY 530 and is down at the end of NFDR 2010.

The trail Follow the remains of the old logging road for the first part of the trail the narrows as it follow its way up the valley.  At the one mile mark off to your right is an a twin water fall that is quite a site.  It is about at this time that you enter into one of the few old growth forest that exist in the low lands of the western Cascades.

It was shortly after these falls that Molly and I came across another day time hiker with her two dogs that seemed almost to much of a hand full for her.  She told us about an log bridge that was coming up and that she had decided to turn around at that point as her companions where to much for her to get across safely.  She as many of the hikers you will find let me know that we were not alone and that the was another couple of hikers up the trail as well.

I always like hearing that cause as I am hiking with just my little girl it is just nice to know that if I need some one that they are there.  Cell phone just doesn't work every where.  Most of the hikes I have been on it does but you have to be prepared for when it doesn't.  Remember to always have the TEN ESSENTIALS with you always.

I always like to eat my lunch at the end of the trail whether it be a trail end, lake or mountain top.  As I was hungry Molly and I headed on up the trail at a good clip.  And with in a mile or so we passed the other hikers a really nice pair of lady's.  They were taking there time as they were getting up there in the years. OK i am trying hard not to say old lady's as that has to do with the state of mind as far as I am concerned.   Both were using trekking poles as do I.  You never know when having a little something there to help with you balance might just be needed.

Boulder River at Trails end.

This days goal was the trail end where my old tree crossing was.  Yep it is no longer there and the trail stops at this point now.  So no river crossing for us this day.  Here we ate our lunch me my sandwich and Molly well she is to eat her kibbles and bones but was more interested in my lunch. So as usual I ended up sharing a bit with her..

One thing I have noticed as I have started to share all of my adventures here is that I tend to take most of my pictures on the way back and not the way up the trails.  Wonder why I do that.

After lunch was finished it was time to head back down the trail once again.  I was wonder how far along that the lady's I had past had made it and if we would run into them again.  So off Molly and I headed down the trail.  Molly was having the time of her life.  She love to smell all of the new scents and play in every puddle and stream she can find.  the muddier the better.  And if it smells all to hi heaven all the better for her.

So there we are me taking all my pictures and video of Molly heading down the trail having a wonderful time.  We finally caught up the the lady's we had passed on the way up.  They had company this time and I didn't like what I saw.  One of the lady's was sitting on a log off to the side of the trail with her hand holding her hat to the front of her head.

First question I asked was what happened and have you been able to call for help?  Well one of the lady's had slipped and hit her head on a rock splitting it open.  Looking at the rock I saw a lot of blood and first though was that this is not good. But I was glad to see that she was sitting down.  The guy that was with them had a cell but no signal for the most part so could not get a call out but was able to get a txt out to a friend and was waiting for a reply.

Second question,  does any  one have a good first aid kit?  Answer just a little gauze and band-aids.  Ok I thought to my self time to take over here.  So Molly got tied to a stump... not happy about it.. oh well needed to keep her out of my way.  I started asking question when did she fall, was her vision clear, did she feel dizzy or nauseous, etc.  It turned out that she had her fall about 45 minutes before I got there and was able to answer no to all the other questions.  I was like great so far.

Now for the fun part.  I always carry a good first aid kit and I'm making it better yet after this experience. I asked if she was in pain and if she would like some thing for it. No. Ok great again. Time to take a good look at it and get it bandaged right.  I had her remove her hand that was keeping pressure on the wound and to every ones relief it had stopped bleeding for the most part. Also it was clean, next I got out the antibiotics ointment and made a pressure bandage for her head.  You know like the one the drummer in the civil war pictures is always wearing.

It was about this time the the other guy who stopped to help got a response from his friend letting us know that help was on the way.  As he was still wanting to head farther up the trail and I was heading out we decided I would go meet the search and rescue and let them know where she was and he would stay with the lady's.

So off Molly and I went in search of more help.  We knew help was on the way but no one was sure if they knew that this was about 3.5 miles from the trail head.  As we headed on down I kept checking for a signal so that I could call out and make sure they knew which trail to head up and how far they had to go. On and on we went and I came across search and rescue about half way or so back to the trail head.  I gave them all the information I had and showed them where on the map she was at.  I think Molly was glad that we had found help at this point as we were almost running back well at lest I was going as fast as I could safely and Molly was more then ready for a break.  So we had a little snack, trail mix for me and a bone for her and then took it nice and slow the rest of the way out.

Boulder River

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Franklin Falls in the SNOW!!

November 14th 2011... When I had heard that the first snow was falling in the Cascades I could not wait to get out and up and have my first winter snow hike with Molly... She loves the snow .. and for once I can see the tracks of all the little animals that she uses the nose of hers to follow.

First thing I always do is check the pass report and make sure that I could get to where I was going.  Well things change especially when it is really snowing.   The picture to the left here was taken after I had been sitting in the same spot for the last 45 minutes or so waiting or the pass to open up once again.  Sitting in a 2 + mile long back up is not my idea or Molly's idea of fun.  Especially when the back up starts at the exit that I was wanting to take.  The only problem was getting there as it was a parking lot all the way to Denny Creek.

Finally after sitting for a little over an hour  and a half the pass reopened and about a half hour latter we were moving once again.  Our destination was Franklin Falls. I had been wanting to go there all summer but just never got around to it.

Denny Creek is only about an hour drive from Seattle  and with the hike to Franklin Falls being just over 2 miles round trip with little elevation gain makes this one of the more popular destinations during the summer months.

Very excited to be on the trail!

So we made it to the exit about 1 pm only about an hour latter then what I had planned on.  One of the things that you have to watch out for during this time of the year is that we only get so many hours of sun light during the day and with the sun setting about 4:30pm I wanted to make sure we had plenty of time to make it back to the car and then to the freeway before it got dark out.

Well a couple of things we learned on this hike that winter and summer are totally different and just as much fun.  First for Molly she got to were not only her pack, which makes her all excited when she see's me taking it out as she knows that it is time to go and play for the day but she got to wear her booties in the snow for the first time.  Not that she really likes it when I put them on but I think her paws were a lot warmer for having them on.

Last bit of trail down to the falls

As for me I got to put on the new ski coat I got along with rain pants and my new gators.  Gators for those of you that don't know what they are are protect you from getting dirt, mud and snow in this case in your boots.  Sort of like a tub sock that goes up to just below the knee.  I was glad to have them as there was just about a foot or so of snow on the trail..

Surprisingly enough we did not have the trail to our self's.  It has been one of the interesting things that I have discovered that no matter how much of a back country trail you might be on her in Washington the odds are with you that some one else will be on the same trail.  This time we came across a couple on there way back to the trail head.

With hiking in the snow the real challenge is not keeping warm so much but being able to find the trail, follow the trail and find your way back once you have found your destination especially when it is snowing as it can all just disappear on ya.

Franklin Falls

It snowed the entire time we were on the trail which made it one of those almost dream like travels through a winter wonderland.

The trail for the most part was in great shape with little streams here and there that ran down the middle and mud was only in a couple of places and not rely a problem at all.  The only part of the trail that was a bit tricky was going about the last bend and down to the falls.  It was narrow and rocky with a short steep drop to water below.  Not that far of a drop but far enough  to seriously hurt ones self.  After about 35 minute we arrived at Franklin Falls.

So once we were there Molly just had to get into the stream for a drink dragging me behind.  Was a bit of a challenge keeping her dry for the most part as I really didn't want her soaked for the hike back to the car.

The entire hike took us just a little over an hour and by the time we made it back to the car Molly was more then ready to be out and done with the snow for the day.

Below you will find a link to all of our pictures that I have on Pacasa and a map with pictures as well

Franklin Falls

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