« Juniper Ridge visits Ashland | Main | New Seasons Wildflower Walk »
June 19, 2009
Whole Foods Wildflower Walks - Pacific Northwest
Juniper Ridge wildflower hikes are offered as a free service to the Juniper Ridge community. From nature freaks to the bio-curiously inclined to techy types who think nature is boring, you're all welcome and best of all it won't cost you a cent, so what are you waiting for? Get away from your computer and experience something real! To sign-up, for any of the below trips, email michael@juniperridge.com. All trips are limited to 15 participants. The three hikes described below are for Whole Foods team members only - if you are not part of the Whole Foods clan, check out our public hikes here
Columbia Gorge - Wednesday, July 15th - 10am - 4pm
The Juniper Ridge Roadshow continues with a trip to my beloved old stomping grounds in the Northwest. All you Northwest types make a big show about how you love the outdoors, but do you know your local wild plants? C'mon, you probably moved to Portland from Socal like 5 years ago because you were into the boutique urban, brewpub vibe. You grew your beard out, got your hippie on - now it's time to become a real local and get to know the plants that make the Northwest what it is. This hike is a classic Northwest gem, complete with lots of waterfalls and swimming opportunities, so wear your bathing suit and bring a lunch for this all day, moderately difficult hike.
If it's hot outside, don't forget to bring a bathing suit for this hike as there is great swimming at lower and upper punchbowl falls.
Directions
We're meeting at 10am at the Eagle Creek Trailhead off of I-84 in the Columbia Gorge. Coming from Portland, travel eastbound on I-84, and turn off at Exit #41. At the bottom of the ramp turn right. Go about 1/2 mile to the end of the road. You will go passed a footbridge (that takes hikers up to Wauna Viewpoint) as the road narrows to one lane. Continue a short ways to a large parking lot, parking only in designated spaces. Here's the google maps link ...
Call me (Hall) on my cell phone 510-845-1418 if you have any trouble finding the trailhead - see you there!
Snoqualmie Pass - Wednesday, July 22nd - 10am - 4pm
The drive to this trailhead will be the longest of the three trips we're doing for Whole Foods - about 50 miles from downtown Seattle on I-90, so plan on about an hour each way. Yes I could have gone to Mt. Si or one of those fern and waterfall hikes closer to Seattle, but I just couldn't resist- this is our one chance on these hikes to get into some of that sweet, high-Cascade, wildflower meadow country in all of its alpine spring glory, so let's do it! We'll probably hit the Pacific Crest Trail, or maybe Snow Lake - I'll check out the plants once I'm up there and suss our best option, but whatever it is this will probably be the longest of the three hikes so you should plan on a glorious day adventure, even if I can only talk a few brave souls into driving all the way out here.
Directions
We're meeting at 10am at the PCT (Pacific Crest Trail) Trail head parking lot off of I-90. From Seattle, drive east on Interstate 90 to Snoqualmie pass. Take Exit 52. At the end of the exit ramp, set your odometer to zero and turn left. At. 0.1 mile, turn right. At 0.2 mile, reach a fork and bear right on forest road, 9041 where you will enter the trailhead parking area.
I'd give you a google maps link, but I all the mapping services get a little off with forest service roads, so I'm going to trust some good old fashioned book directions from my well worn copy of "Beyond Mt. Si - best Seattle area hikes". If there's a problem with these directions, or you have trouble finding the trailhead, call me (Hall) on my cell phone 510-845-1418. See you there!
Vancouver North Shore - Friday, July 24th - 10am - 4pm
Yikes, this is all new to me. I haven't been to Vancouver since I was 15 years old for the World's Fair. But have no fear, I know the plants and will have plenty to show you. Any of you folks have any suggestions? How is the skyride to Goat Mountain hike? You guys are the experts, let me know. I'm totally looking forward to this hike - new territory in my beloved Northwest, how exciting!
What to bring for all hikes
Hiking boots or running shoes Whenever we do public hikes we see way too many shiny hipster shoes, ballet flats, Ugs, punk rock all-stars etc ... That would be all cool for a shorter hike, but these are all day hikes people - wear real shoes!
Lunch These hikes will take most of the day, so bring plenty of food and goodies to share with your food-loving trip leader.
Water It's extremely easy to get dehydrated on a long dayhike, so I don't want to see any dainty 10 oz bottles of fancy Iceberg water. You're going to be out all day, so bring at least a half gallon of water, and if it's sunny and hot, bring a gallon.
Hat/Sun Block Hmmm - this is the northwest so maybe we won't be seeing much sun, but if we do, bring a hat and sun block, especially for the Snoqualmie Pass and North Shore hikes which will be more exposed.
Money None required, because these trips won't cost you a thing! Granted your trip leader is a hack amateur naturalist, but you'll learn plenty about your local edible and medicinal wild plants and the names of all those pretty little wildflowers.
Notebook for product training session Don't bother because there won't be any product training. THESE TRIPS ARE NOT TRAININGS - I do this because Iove wild plants and want to turn you on to the beautiful world that's right outside your door. Sign up on our Facebook page if you want to get a feel for what kind of company we are and what kind of things you'll be seeing and learning about on our summer wildflower hikes, and hopefully we'll see you out on the trail!
Posted by Hall in
