Fidalgo Island Crossings

Deception Pass State Park was built in the 1930's by the young men of the Civilian Conservation Corps .  This was a stimulus program from another time.  It has been memorialized by this statue at Bowman Bay.  CCC alumnae are justifiably proud of what they accomplished.  My stepfather spoke fondly of his time in the CCC's working in Mount Rainier National Park.  Another photo of the statue appears in a previous post .  The State of Washington benefited from many  CCC projects around the state . Nearby, a wonderful example of "parkitecture" now serves as the Civilian Conservation Corps Interpretive Center.  Anyone interested in the history of the thirties and forties will find it as interesting as I did.  This and several kitchens, pavilions and bathhouses were built by CCC workers from onsite materials.  These are enduring structures created with skill and craftsmanship which have survived more than 75 years. Deception Pass St...

After almost three full months of sunshine and blue sky, the weather began to change this past week.  With clouds rolling in off the Pacific Ocean, my interesting Skagit Bay sunrises have returned.  The changes also brought some very welcome rain to the region.

8:05 AM, Temp 59.1° F, Dew Pt 55.2° F, Barometer 29,86 in, Wind 11 mph G 17, Humidity 87% Skies are overcast, gusty winds have kicked up and it has rained off and on for the last 24 hours.  After almost three months of non-stop sunshine and blue skies, a change in the weather has arrived.  The weekend has delivered more typical October weather.  I must admit that I am not unhappy about the change.  There is a certain comfort that Northwesterners find in the dark skies, sun breaks, blustery winds and yes, even in the rain. The Camano Island radar image also reveals something we haven't seen in a while.  At the moment of the screenshot, the Olympic Rain Shadow was in play here.  The brighter sky over Whidbey Island in the top photo is how the "shadow" often appears to us here on South Fidalgo. As I write this, that rain system is arriving, and the winds are beating the drops against the windows.  The sun is shining even more brightly through...

1:46 PM Temp 65.8° F, Dew Pt 56.1° F, Barometer 30.18 in, Wind Calm, Humidity 71% It's October 1st, but summer seems to go on and on.  I never thought I would say this, but I sure wish it would rain.  These endless days of sunshine and blue skies are becoming tedious.  The rainfall for the last three months here tells a story: July 1.36 in   (35.5 mm) August 0.01 in   (0.25 mm) September     0.07 in   (1.78 mm) I think there are deserts that get more rainfall than this during late summer.  My garden is suffering the consequences.  The average September rainfall for Anacortes , Washington is 1.36 inches (35.5mm).  My weather station on South Fidalgo Island is about six miles from Anacortes and a bit further inside the Olympic Rain Shadow .  For the last five years the average September rainfall here has been 0.87 in (22.1mm).  The range was 0.41 in (10.4mm) in 2008 to 1.91 in (48.5mm) in 2010. I mention ...

It has been almost a year since the riprap armoring was removed from the shoreline of Ala Spit on Whidbey Island .  The goal was to return it to a more natural state, an effort to improve the Skagit Bay habitat for Chinook Salmon.  Another project was undertaken at Wiley Slough in the Skagit River delta nearby with the same goal.  It is expected that the spit will now shift and change shape naturally with the currents and tides.  Ala Spit is an Island County park and a popular destination for fishing, hiking, beachcombing and wildlife viewing. I visited the site almost a year ago just after the riprap revetment was removed.  At the time, it still had a kind of torn-up look.  The land form has now taken on natural and more beautiful shapes and contours.  Large patches of green vegetation, such as American Glasswort ( Salicornia virginica ) above, is now growing on the leeward side. The spit parallels the Whidbey mainland to form a lagoon an...

Plants are like chimes in the cosmic clock.  When leaves sprout on trees, we know it is spring.  Leaves changing colors and falling to the ground are like bells signaling the arrival of autumn. One of my favorite places to hear these bells is along the Spur Dike at Wiley Slough on Fir Island, Washington.  The dike serves as a trail into the wetlands of the Skagit River delta.  The site is open to the public for seasonal hunting, hiking, birding, dog training and botanizing.  The site is managed by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife .  Visitors should remember to bring their Discover Pass . The visitor to these wetlands will find a sumptuous botanical garden.  The variety of native plants and trees is without number.  The chiming of autumn here is just now beginning and colors are taking on hues of yellow and red. The appearance of fruit is another bell tone in the carillon.  Pacific Crab Apples ( Malus fusca ) ...

Some high-tech infrastructure is in the sky this time.  At 1,273 feet (388 meters), Mount Erie is the highest point on Fidalgo Island.  The mountain is an Anacortes city park and visitors can drive to the summit over a steep, winding road.  A pair of communications towers crown the summit.  Mount Erie is a favorite destination for hikers, mountaineers and rock climbers. Another view of the towers shows the pair together.  There are several paved pathways to overlooks at or near the summit.  My favorite is the overlook nearest the towers because it provides a wonderful view of South Fidalgo Island.  Click on the photo to enlarge it: From up here, the curvature of the earth can be seen.  Lake Campbell is near the foreground and beyond is Skagit Bay, my usual Skywatch vantage point.  The entrance to Deception Pass is on the right.  On a very clear day, Mount Rainier is visible on the horizon from 117 miles (188 km) aw...