My Top 8 Most Scenic Privies (so far)

I still have not had time to find a new hike to photograph for you, so I'm grasping at stuff to write about. I am sorry.

Without further ado, the top 8 most scenic privies I've so far encountered.

8. Guemes Channel Trail

Okay, it's just a Port-a-Pot, but  it's right next to the beach and the Anacortes ferry dock. Setting is everything here!

7. Cyrus Gates Overlook

I don't actually have a photograph of this privy at the end of Cleator Road, which is the starting point for many trails on Chuckanut Mountain (including Rock Trail), but with views from the parking lot overlooking the San Juans, it's a decent place to do your business.

6. Iron Goat Trail at Windy Point

This open-air privy lets you take a number two while watching the cars on Highway 2 drive by 700 feet below you.

5. Artist Point

Snow clearing at the end of the Mt. Baker Highway often starts when the roof of the privy peaks out from the snow, signalling that it's thawed enough to begin plowing. Views of Mt. Baker, Mt. Shuksan, and the surrounding peaks abound up here.

4. Mt. Constitution

Again, no photo of the actual privy here, but there are facilities at the top of the highest point in the San Juan Islands. It's a short walk to the lookout where you can look out over Puget Sound and Mt. Baker in the distance.

3. Sumas Mountain

This outhouse near the John Friendly Cabin is in a clearcut area that provides sweeping views of northwest Whatcom County.

2. Chain Lakes Trail

Near the campsites by the lakes sits this wooden privy that overlooks Iceberg Lake. Get exposed to nature here!

1. Samish Overlook

No actual privy pics, but the view speaks for itself. Samish Overlook on Blanchard Mountain is used as a launchpoint to go up to the Oyster Dome and/or Lily Lake, and it provides a perfect, unobstructed view of Skagit Valley. It's where the Cascade Range meets the ocean!

What scenic privies have you encountered?

Bear a bear encounter

So due to life getting in the way, I'm taking a break from the trails for a couple weeks at least. Essentially, I'm not getting time off for a while due to a coworker getting into a spectacular car wreck, so everyone is working extra to help cover while she heals. Also, I'm going through some heavy personal stuff.

In the meantime, it's autumn, and it's prime bear season. The bears are out foraging for berries, grubs, and fish to build up their fat stores for hibernation. Washington Trails Association has some great bear safety tips to read over.

I haven't personally run into a bear on the trails yet, though I've seen bear signs. Black bears are the most common species you find around here. Common bear signs include tracks, scat, and trees that appear shredded.

Fresh bear sign along the Iron Goat Trail from a couple years back

If you do encounter a bear, it's important to watch its behavior carefully. Bears will often stomp around and huff to show they're pissed off; in this case you want to avoid eye contact, talk calmly to the bear, and try to slowly back away. If the bear charges and veers away, stand your ground but don't make eye contact until the bear goes away. Only play dead if the bear makes contact. Chances are the bear is just startled and/or trying to protect its young and doesn't want to fight.

If a bear is charging at you from a distance (or if you play dead and the bear starts trying to eat you), then the bear sees you as prey and you are in serious trouble. It's very rare, but be prepared to fight. If you have trekking poles, prod the bear and yell at it, and if you don't, then aim for the eyes. Bear repellent is good to have on hand in this case. Fortunately, it's extremely rare for a bear to behave this way.

The best thing you can do is prevent an encounter in the first place. This typically means making noise. Hike with a buddy and have a lively chat with them. When I solo hike, I often will clip my keys to the outside of my pack so they make noise. Keep dogs on a leash; if you dog runs off and gets into an encounter with a bear, it's going to run back to its human and it will bring the bear with it!

And please, if you see a bear at a distance, respect that distance and stay away. Don't try and get in close for a photo op. Give the bear as much distance as you can, even if you have to take an alternate route or wait for the bear to leave the area.

What not do do in a bear encounter

To share a story...

I was with a group on the Iron Goat Trail a few years ago. We were hanging out near the memorial to the Wellington Train Disaster and a few others had gone ahead. They were about a mile down the trail from us when they saw a baby black bear in a tree and they ooed and awwed over it.

Then they saw the momma bear coming up the hill toward them.

From my perspective, one of the group came running up crying. We shall call her Sally.

Sally: "Aahh! I'm the worst mother ever!"
Us: "What happened?"
Sally: "There was a bear! There was a bear and I took off and I left my kid back there!"
Us: "Where is she?"
Sally's teenage daughter: *coming up from behind* "MOM! You left me!"

It was an incident we could all laugh about afterward as everyone made it back safely, though I'm not sure if her daughter ever forgave her for that. At the very least, much light-hearted shit was given by our group to Sally for being a parent-of-the-day.

Seriously though. Don't mess with momma bears. It doesn't always end as well so don't risk it.

But why is it called Goose Rock?

There was just enough break in the weather for me to head out and get a brief hike in. I decided that I wanted to head out by the beach, so I headed toward Deception Pass to Goose Rock. This is a hike that's short and sweet and is easily combined with other hikes in the area.

Goose Rock is the highest point on Whidbey Island, which doesn't say much: 484' is as high as you get. Still the views are pretty sweet, overlooking Oak Harbor and out toward the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

Goose Rock - Deception Pass State Park
Washington State Parks
Parking permit: Discover Pass ($10 a day or $30 a year)
Distance: 2.8 miles
Elevatoin gain: 484'

You'll want to head to Deception Pass State Park on the south (Whidbey Island) side of the park off Highway 20. Follow the signs to North Beach for trailhead parking. There are restrooms at the trailhead if needed.

The trails are well-marked, so you can pretty much follow the signs to Goose Rock.

In fairly short order, you'll pass under the bridge.

You can head up and cross the bridge if you're ambitious from here.

Just past the bridge is a junction. It's a loop so you can go either way. I prefer the counter-clockwise direction, so head right and take the NW Summit Trail.

The weather was overcast and not particularly warm, but it was sure humid! This bench is not far down the trail and I stopped here to remove the jacket. I love the madrona trees next to it.

As you near the top, a helpful sign tells you a bit about the geography and reminds you that you're entering an environmentally sensitive area...

...and then you hit the power lines. I'm not against them, but it seems ironic to have the signs right before the clearing for the power lines. Just sayin'.

Remember to stay on the trail and rocks on the summit, and don't step in the meadow!

NAS Whidbey Island is nearby, and they were doing lots of practice maneuvers, so you could hear them throughout the day. They flew fairly close to the rock, too.

Planes!

I stopped at the top for lunch and watched them do touch-and-goes at the air base. There were no less than three planes in the air at any given time.

View of the island from the summit...

View

...and looking out toward the strait...

Water!

Once you're done up top, find the marked path heading east. My hiking buddy took the lead here.

The trail quickly descends with plenty of rocky switchbacks. There is a reason I prefer to go down this way.

I tried to capture the steepness in this pic, with limited success.

It's rocky and steep.

The junction at the bottom is well marked, so hang a left on the perimeter trail to begin looping back.

Two different distances, same time estimate. One trail is steeper than the other.

The trail hugs Cornet Bay, which makes for a fairly scenic stroll.

One small climb gets you over the edge of the hill here, and then it's fairly level hiking the rest of the way.

I found this rock doing its best impression of wood.

The elevation gives you a different view of the bay.

I found wood doing its best impression of fire.

You can admire the private homes on Ben Ure island. There's also a cabin you can rent there through the parks department, though it's not visible from the trail.

Ben Ure island has an interesting history. It is said that Ben Ure used the island for smuggling operations in the mid to late 1800's. His wife would signal when the coast was clear of patrol boats from nearby Strawberry Island. He was charged with possession of stolen goods. Urban legend says he was also involved with illegally smuggling Chinese immigrants. Legend says that when patrol ships were nearby, smugglers would dump their "cargo". Dead Man's Cove on San Juan Island is said to be named such because the currents would carried the bodies to that beach.

Back to the trail, you'll eventually rejoin your original trail at the bridge and can head back to the parking lot.

To add to this hike, you can take a trail parallel to North Beach to meet with Cranberry Lake and sand dunes along West Beach. You can also explore the trails on the other side of Highway 20 around Hoypus Point, or head to the other side of the bridge and explore the trails near Rosario Point and Bowman's Bay.

Rained out

So unfortunately I don't have a hiking post this week because it was too wet to hike.

I don't mind a bit of drizzle, but it has poured on my days off! I'm talking the sort of rain that when you're driving through it with the wipers at full-speed you still can't see where you're going. We need the rain, though, so I can't really complain.

So in lieu of a hiking guide, I would like to draw your attention to a unique hiking opportunity that is available this Labor Day weekend: The Middle Fork Snoqualmie Road will be open this weekend today through Tuesday. Several trailheads are along the road, which has been closed during the week since last summer for a paving project that is expected to continue through next August. The forest service is keeping the road open a few extra days this long weekend, so it's a good opportunity to take advantage of if you're in the area!

Also, thanks to everyone who helped support my dog during Hike-a-Thon. He hiked 23.55 miles and raised $75 for Washington Trails Association. We're going to aim to do even more next year!

Since we're stuck indoors with the rain, we've been cleaning a lot. Here's a pic of Ozzy preparing for battle with the vacuum cleaner.

Face of a true warrior.