I can’t get over how weird our weather is.

That’s my way of saying that you might want to wait until it’s not snowing or hailing before hiking the Chuckanut Ridge Trail.

I hiked it on Saturday, April 12, when it was sunny and relatively clear. I took a shorter 4.7-mile loop. All I can say is wow!

Click here for directions and other info about a longer version of the hike.

This is a great hike. You get to walk through the woods. You get to see snow-covered Mount Baker and other mountains to the east and stunning bay views and the San Juan Islands to the west.

If you’re lazy, you can follow Cleator Road to its end at the Cyrus Gates Overlook and enjoy a darn good view for little effort. (Though driving your car around some of the potholes on the dirt road is tedious.)

Here are some of the things I saw along the way.

View from Cyrus Gates Overlook

Sign at the overlook

There are no signs at the trailhead so look for this wooden fence to follow my route.

Pretty walk through tthe woods

Beautiful mountains

You’ll have to scramble down these roots and rock faces.

My jaw dropped when I saw this bay view.

Be careful on this hike. There are a few places where there’s little separating you from all that thin air as you walk parts of the ridge.

Also, there are no signs so pay attention to where you’re going. Lucky for me, I had a copy of Mike McQuaide’s “Trail Running Guide to Western Washington” with me.

I took the short loop out of the overall 8.9-mile route he had mapped out.

Here’s what I did:

Park at the Cyrus Gates Overlook.

Walk about 100 yards down to an opening on your right. You’ll see a wooden fence. There are no signs, but it’s an obvious trailhead that takes you into the woods.

Stay on the trail for a little over two miles. You’ll go up, you’ll go down, you’ll go back up … you get the idea. But, overall, you’ll be headed down so it won’t be all that taxing on the lungs. But you will have to go over quite a few tree roots and scramble down a couple of rock faces that I’m sure are super slippery when they’re wet.

After you get down the biggest rock face (a little over 2.3 miles into the hike), take a spur off the Chuckanut Ridge Trail. Again, there are no signs but you can’t miss it.

Follow the spur until it dumps you back out to Cleator Road, where you’ll walk the remaining 1.5 miles back up to the parking lot for the Cyrus Gates Overlook. Truth be told, this was the least favorite part of the hike for me; it’s not as pretty and I was looking out for traffic coming in either direction. Next time, I’ll turn around and head back the way I came rather than walk up the hill on Cleator.

My total hiking time was about two hours. The elevation gain was 377 feet.

Your brightly colored hard-plastic Nalgene is going the way of the dinosaur, according to this news story from AP.

Nalgene says it’s phasing out the water bottles made with bisphenol A because of consumer fears about whether the chemical could threaten their health.

The chemical also is found in other items, including baby bottles and the liners for food cans.

Click here to read the story.

What do you think of Nalgene’s decision?

Want a peanut butter treat that’s just 100 calories per pack?

So does your weight-conscious dog.

At least that’s what Seattle-based Blue Dog Bakery is banking on. Here’s some food for thought from the company’s news release.

Blue Dog Bakery is pleased to announce the launch of its new 100 Calorie Packs – Peanut Butter. The unique new packs offer a convenient way for dog lovers to have treats on hand for their canine companions whenever they are on the go. Like 100 Calorie snack packs designed for people, the new 100 Calorie Packs – Peanut Butter from Blue Dog Bakery are portion controlled and perfect for dogs watching their weight.

With an estimated 17 million dogs who are overweight or obese across the nation, it is more important than ever for treats to be low-fat, natural and made with premium ingredients so that they can be easily digested and keep dog obesity in check.

“Convenience is key for portion control,” says Margot Kenly, Blue Dog Bakery’s founder.

Concern about pet obesity isn’t a U.S. phenomena. Check out this story about a fat cat in Italy. It weighs a staggering 35 pounds! No word on whether the owner is stuffing her kitty full of pizza and pasta.

Back in our part of the world … I’ve heard of 100-calorie snack packs for people but never for dogs. What do you think of the idea? Do we need these? Or do we just need to get our dogs outside more?

I’ve hiked to Fragrance Lake on Chuckanut Mountain a few times, enough to feel a little bored at treading over the same ground – beautiful as it is.

So I took a new route on Sunday, starting from a trail off Cleator Road. The sites were similar – lush woods, a pretty waterfall or two, peek-a-boo bay views. But it was new enough to hold me in awe once again.

Click here for directions, including three different ways to get to Fragrance Lake.

During this hike with a couple of pals, we left one car in the day use parking lot for Clayton Beach and the other at Cleator Road. We hiked to the lake, then hooked up to another trail that took us down to the Clayton parking lot.

Forecasts call for sunny and warm (for us) weather on Saturday. Pefect day for a hike to Fragrance, although, frankly, any day is a good day for a trek to this lake.

Bring a picnic or a blanket. There are a few spots near the lake where you can kick back and relax, provided someone hasn’t beaten you to them first.

Here are some photos I took of things I saw along the way.

Here’s the top of a waterfall about 30 minutes into the hike …

… and the bottom of the waterfall.

Overlooking Fragrance Lake

On our way down to the lake after leaving the viewpoint

Pretty Fragrance Lake

Waterfall on trail to the Clayton Beach day use area

If you want to see the last waterfall pictured in this blog, take the trail that begins just off the day use area.

I like being appreciated. Don’t you?

Which is why I’m thinking of going to Fanatik Bike on Saturday to check out its customer appreciation day, which runs 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

If you’ve been thinking about challenging yourself by riding your first century but aren’t quite sure how to do it, there’s still time to sign on for training provided by USA Fit Bellingham Triathlon and Cycling.

The first training ride starts Wednesday, April 16, at Samish Park.

Get an eyeful of the latest in whitewater kayaking adventures on Thursday, April 10, with the premiere of two films, one of them by Bellingham resident Chris Tretwold.

The mini film fest starts at 7 p.m. in Communications Facility 110 at Western Washington University.

Featured films include “Things Ain’t the Same for Gangsters” from LVM. Click here to see a clip.

Tretwold’s “Cascadia” will feature footage of some of the biggest whitewater in Washington state and British Columbia.

Tickets cost $5 for the public and $2 for WWU students.

Buy tickets at the door.

Details: Call the Outdoor Center at 650-3112.

I’m this close to writing a love poem to Hovander Homestead Park and Tennant Lake in Ferndale. The walk I took to this lovely area on Wednesday evening after a tough day at the office did me a world of good.

Go here to get directions and other details.

I liked it because the outing gave me a little bit of everything – open grasslands, a smidge of the woods, views of the Nooksack River, birds of all sorts, a glimpse of wetlands, an eyeful of sparkling Tennant Lake, and plenty of chances to shoot photos of Mount Baker.

Plus, I didn’t have to go all that far to enjoy some peace and solitude, even though I was in the midst of a town.

Here are some photos I took of views along the way.

Here’s the first of the Baker shots.

View of Baker and Tennant Lake

You get the point. There are lots of Baker views. But there are other cool things.

Here are some of those photos.

Peacocks at Hovander Homestead Park

Trail into wetlands near Tennant Lake

Baker as the light softens into dusk

The best part? Walking back to my car at dusk and hearing the birds chirping and quacking and honking, looking overhead just in time to see a bald eagle muscling its way through the air, and hearing, off in the distance, the metallic ping of of a bat making contact with a baseball – and the sounds of people cheering.

You can take a Trek bike for a test ride from noon-4 p.m. Friday, April 4, at Lake Padden Park.

Look for the Trek factory demo near the dog park/golf course at the south end of Lake Padden.

Kulshan Cycles in Bellingham is sponsoring the event.

You can ride road bikes and mountain bikes from Trek, LeMond and Gary Fisher – Trek owns all three brands – on Padden’s terrain.

I’m writing a story for the Friday print editions of The Bellingham Herald about the return of the Fly Fishing Film Tour, which will be in Bellingham on Friday, April 4.

Here’s a snapshot of the basic info:

IF YOU GO
What: 2008 Fly Fishing Film Tour, which will show seven short films from filmmakers across the country.

When: Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Friday, April 4, and the show starts at 7 p.m.

Run time: 2 hours and 15 minutes, including intermission.

Where: Heiner Center Theater at Whatcom Community College, 237 West Kellogg Road in Bellingham

Cost: Tickets are $15 for adults; $12 for seniors 55 and older; and $10 for children 12 and younger

Buy tickets: Go online to http://aegmedia.com/. Tickets also will be available at the door but organizers say it’s easier to order them from their Web site, which allows buyers to print purchased tickets until about 5:30 p.m. the day of the event.

Get the films: Buy them at http://aegmedia.com or at the tour venue in Bellingham.

Check out a short from the filmmakers’ adventures in Mongolia by clicking here.

See teasers for their other films by going here.

I wrote this short item, which will run during the next few days in the print edition of The Bellingham Herald. I decided to post it here first.

Learn about marine life along Whatcom County’s shorelines during a talk and slideshow on Thursday in Bellingham.

Doug Stark, coordinator of the RE Sources Beach Naturalist program, will give a virtual tour of beaches from sandy Semiahmoo to the rocky Chuckanuts. He’ll also talk about those shorelines’ biological features.

Hosted by Whatcom County Marine Resources Committee, the event runs 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the second floor conference room of the Whatcom County Civic Center, 322 N. Commercial St.
The free event is open to the public.

Details: 319-0721 or Whatcom County Public Works at 715-7450.

I know it’s cold out there. I know it’s snowing in places. Hardly the type of weather that makes you dream of spring plantings. But that doesn’t mean there are no plant sales.

In fact, the 20th annual Fairhaven Neighbors Plant and Tree Sale is Saturday, March 29, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. It’s in a parking lot at 11th and Mill.

Find a smidge more info by clicking here.

My featured hike this week is the one that takes you to the top of what the locals call Alger Alp in Skagit County. Click here for directions and details.

I have to say it’s not one of my favorite hikes. The trail – at least on the approach that I used last Saturday, March 22 – did not offer an inspiring start. I should have expected that. It does start from a gated logging road and does go through areas that look as if the trees have been thinned.

Here are two pictures I took at the start.

I almost turned around but thought, “What the heck. The 1,000-foot climb will let me stretch my legs.” Plus, I always like seeing those views from the top.

I’m glad I kept going. While the view isn’t spectacular, there is some pretty scenery. Here are some things I saw along the way.

See that line going up the mountain? That’s the logging road/trail to the top of Alger Alp.

Mountain view a little over halfway to the top.

Pretty flower

I rounded a corner and got a nice shot of Mount Baker.

From the top of Alger Alp, you can see the Skagit Valley …

… and the San Juan Islands in the distance.

On the way back down, I took this shot of the rock face of Alger Alp. If you squint, you can see people standing at the top, in the right corner of the photo.

By the way, if you’re allergic to tree pollen, I would avoid this area for a bit. My allergies went into overdrive during this hike. The sneezing, itchy throat and plugged-up nose put a damper on my enthusiasm. But I still liked the view from the top.

The joke in this part of the world is that you can’t expect to get sunny, warm weather until the Fourth of July.

Which is why forecasts calling for freezing rain and possibly snow are, well, expected. Read the story by clicking here.

Will any of you gardeners out there be affected by the cold snap? Anyone out there happy about this?

I had planned to hike to a scenic vista last weekend but made the mistake of relying on weather forecasts, which called for sun on Sunday.

Sunday came … and it was overcast. So, I scratched the viewpoint hike because any photo taken from up high would have looked gray and flat. I decided to head to Samish Park instead, figuring I could at least enjoy a hike through the woods – short as it may be.

I’m glad I did, even happier that I hiked the Hillside Trail.

While the trail was just a 1.3-mile loop, I had a great time. There were switchbacks. There were a couple of small waterfalls coupled with the soothing sound of cascading creek water. There were peek-a-boo views of Lake Samish and moss so bright-green I thought I was walking through a fairy land.

Click here for directions and other details.

Here are things I saw along the way. The first three photos were taken by my hiking partner, Patricia Boyce.

Trail on the way in…

The trickle of water over this rock made for a pretty view.

Does anyone know what kind of mushroom this is?

Here’s a last water scene to tempt you. I took this photo.

Find native wildflower seeds as well as 40 species of native tree and shrub seedlings during the Whatcom Conservation District’s 15th annual Native Plant Sale.

It’s set for Saturday, March 22, in Bellingham.

This year’s event also will include the first Native Plant Expo, which will feature demonstrations, environmental exhibits and Earth-friendly activities.

Both events are 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Community Food Co-op’s second store location, Westerly Road at Cordata Parkway.

Click here for more details, including descriptions of the plants that will be sold.

Bundle up the family and head to Mt. Baker Ski Area this Saturday, March 22, for an egg hunt in the snow.

Children of all ages can search for 4,300 eggs and more than $10,000 in prizes. The grand prize? The Golden Egg that contains a season’s pass at the ski area for 2008-09.

The main hunt, which is open to all, starts at 9 a.m. A kids’ hunt, for children 10 and younger, begins at 10:45 a.m.

Click here for more information.

I’m working on a story for the Friday editions of The Bellingham Herald about the community response since a woman running near Little Squalicum Beach was abducted and raped on March 2.

See the last story here.

There’s plenty going on. Among them:

A Bellingham woman is launching a new trails-running group for moms who want to exercise with other moms. Called Bellingham Stroller Moms, it’s part of a nationwide network of suupport groups for moms who want to get out there to walk and run. Find it at www.seemommyrun.com.

You’ll have to sign up to check out what’s going on with this group and others in Whatcom County and Washington state.

Gerry Ebalaroza-Tunnell, a Bellingham woman and martial artist, continues to add free self-defense classes for women through a partnership with Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Services.

Two sessions on April 17 and 22 have filled up. Now, she’s working on a third class, which is set for 5:30-8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 29, at the Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Services building, 1407 Commercial Ave. in Bellingham.

To sign up, call 671-5714.

You need to hurry if you’re thinking about signing up for the fifth annual Tour De Lopez, a scenic bicycle ride that is set for Saturday, April 26.

Riders may choose routes of 10, 17 or 31 miles. The non-competitive rides are on what has been described as the flatest of the San Juan Islands.

Organizers say 75 percent of the 800 spaces have been booked.

Cost, which includes lunch: $30 for adults; $20 for children 12 and under; and $80 per family (two adults, two children).

Phone: (877) 433-2789

I’ve got a bad case of spring fever today, so I’m dreaming of a camping vacation.

I was talking to Laura Steiger, our editorial assisant and food blogger, the other day about the coast. She was reminiscing about the great camping trip she took last July with her family along the Oregon coast.

And then I chimed in about the coastline of Humboldt County in Northern California, where I used to live. And then we both agreed that we missed walking on beaches where there was sand beneath our bare feet – not sharp, pointy rocks full of barnacle.

Which is my way of saying that I’m jonesing for an adventure. I’m defninitely planning a trip back to my old haunts in Whatcom County; it’s been a while since I’ve seen a redwood tree so big that I practically had to bend over backward to admire its height.

But I’m looking for other beautiful locales to go hiking/camping/bicycling, places that are not utterly far away given the high price of gasoline.

Any recommendations out there?

I’m working on a story for Friday about The North Face Endurance Challenge, which comes to Bellingham this year for the first time. The race is on Saturday, May 10. It will have chipped timing.

I’m waiting on some info from race organizers – like details about the race courses – but wanted to get the word out here as registration has started.

Click here to go to the race Web site.

The Challenge is four separate running races – 10K (6.2 miles); half-marathon (about 13.1 miles); 50K (31 miles); and 50 miles.

The courses will travel over as much trail as possible, with some paved segments.

The Challenge also takes place in the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and New England, as well as the Northwest.

Winners of the regional 50-mile races earn a $1,000 prize and travel to the championship race in San Francisco, where they’ll compete for the biggest cash prize in trail ultrarunning.

How big? I don’t know. Organizers are still working on that detail.

The Bellingham Challenge is just two weeks out from our annual Ski to Sea relay race, which is on Sunday, May 25, this year.

Will its proximity to Ski to Sea affect your decision to sign up for the Challenge?

Or will you use it as part of your training for Ski to Sea?