The Washington State Hiking Podcast

Winter Solstice hikes

• Episode 42

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Unknown:

Welcome to The Washington State hiking podcast. I'm your host, Jennie Thwing Flaming, and I'm your co host, Craig Romano, Craig and I are happy to have you here. We provide practical and timely, seasonal hiking advice for hikers, trail runners and potential hikers and trail runners of all skill and ability levels that is helpful, accurate, fun and inclusive. Well, hey, Craig, how's it going?

craig:

Not too bad. Jennie, how we're getting close to that time of year now when we're gonna have minimal daylight?

Unknown:

Yeah, I, you know, I would say that we're pretty much there already, even though it's still a few days before the solstice, at least when this episode goes up

craig:

this is such a tough time of year for me. Yeah, just Yeah, well, yes, and no, it's on those things. It depends, you know, as long as I don't slide. But I love, well, actually, one of the things I love about this time of year with the darkness is all the lights, you know. So people are decorating all the Christmas lights, and some people go crazy overboard. But I'll tell you, because it gets dark so darn early, and I'll go for my, you know, my run through some of these neighborhoods and stuff, and everything's lit up. It is. It gives me warm fuzzies. Yes, I know what you mean, yeah. But when it's getting dark at 430 and it's pouring rain, and it's getting light at eight and it's pouring rain, that that could be tough when I start thinking, you know, Orange County sounding pretty good right now, yes.

Unknown:

And by the way, for those of you out there who feel like Craig does about our dark winter days, we are gonna do an episode in January that will be about some good places to get away and that are fairly close to Washington State, but have some good summer hiking in winter. So we will get there. But for today,

craig:

because anybody who thinks I'm hardcore, this is where we reveal, you know, every winter I go down to Southern California or southern Arizona, I just, I gotta have some sunshine. I need some vitamin D, you know? Yeah,

Unknown:

no, I get it. I usually don't do that, but I completely understand,

craig:

well, you're working in Alaska this summer. So this is the, this is your light here in Washington,

Unknown:

yeah, yeah. Well, yes, so yes, in Alaska, it is Whoo, way darker, lot worse. Well, it depends, it depends on where you are, but anyway, like how far north you are. But today we're gonna talk about hikes for the solstice or for the winter solstice. And you know, in addition to it being the winter solstice and being a pretty short day, just about eight hours, technically, it's also often gray and rainy, making it feel like it never gets light at all. But we're gonna talk about some of our favorite hikes to celebrate the return of the light, which starts right after the solstice. Our days start getting longer, so we're gonna talk about that today. So when I Craig, when I think of Winter Solstice hikes, I think of like beach hikes, and I think of at least one good sunrise hike. And the nice thing about the beaches is, if the weather is terrible, it kind of doesn't matter. So how about you? What do you think of when you think of a good winter solstice hike in Washington?

craig:

Yeah, likewise, the beaches are always a favorite, whether that's along the sound or out on the Pacific. Again, you have the long horizons there too. And, yeah, there's something about, you know, this time of year that sun is going down, you know, and you're thinking, that's it. It's going to be getting longer and longer, you know, it's like minuscule but, but it's a psychological hurdle we're getting across. But again, even you still get a little bit, you get that Twilight that's going to last a little bit out. If you're in the middle of an old growth forest, you'd be it's dark. At three o'clock, you can't even see anything. So I do like that if you're trying to stay away from, you know, snow and the higher peaks, obviously, you get incredible sunsets from the higher peaks. But they get more problematic to get to, you know, just finding some of these ridges and knolls that are going to provide you with a good view, preferably over water, it's always nicer to get, you know, to get the reflections and the lighting. Because, yeah, the one thing I absolutely love about late fall, as we begin the winter, because the sun is so darn low, is the lighting, the shadows and lighting that is spectator. It is unbelievable. It can make kind of a normal so, so type of landscape just stunning in the wintertime, yeah, you know. And you go back in the summer, two o'clock in the afternoon, it's just, it's flaming, you know, yeah, exactly. So get a little snow on there. Blue sky. I mean, it's amazing. And then with that lighting, when things start turning red and orange and everything, yes, incredible. And to me, that that definitely makes up for the lack of vitamin D, yes, time of year. So yes,

Unknown:

yes, yes. You know, it's funny because I. When we're talking about things like sunrise and sunset, which are at such reasonable hours in December, we talked about that in our like holiday hike episode. And by the way, next week, we're going to be talking more about, like winter hiking in general. So we are just kind of being specific to the solstice this week. I if it's good weather, if it's not good weather, it's not worth it. But rattlesnake ledge is a great sunrise hike, and I have done that hike for sunrise many months of the year, but December is by far the least painful, because it's not that early compared to, like, June. I did it on the summer solstice one time, and I'm like, this isn't even morning. This is the middle of the night. Anyway, I would say that's not really worth it unless it's good weather, but the sun does come up really dramatically over the mountains there. It's really beautiful. I think you know, if you're doing that, you're going to be hiking up in the dark, and if you do a sunset hike, you're going to be going back in the dark. So you really have to think about, you know, having a headlamp and having enough warm layers, especially in winter. For me, it's easier to do that for sunrise, because then I know I have it, instead of getting that like caught feeling on a sunny day. But anyway, that's one of my favorites. What do you think about that? Sunrise, sunset, yeah, thing and darkness and all that. Yeah,

craig:

the same. You know what's obviously, if you can't time it on a solstice, but if, if there's a full moon, that's a big bonus, because so if you're in an area, when you're doing you're out on the trail in dark, it's always a lot easier if you're in an open area, yeah, and with the moon, that's great. And, of course, the lighting. So one of the places I know I've been out in the evening, which is absolutely spectacular, and it's a drive from here, so you're not gonna go out, you're not gonna go out for the day. You're either camping. There is steamboat rock. Oh, so a lot of places in the central part of the state, in the grand coulees and everything, it's all open and, yeah, it's gonna be incredible to work. And you can work your way up in Steamboat rocks, really short to get up there, so you're not gonna be doing much in the dark. Yeah, sunrise or sunset is up there. It's some amazing and there's a lot of cool thing again, with the formations, the shadows, also the little, little, uh, little known fact here, that steamboat rock entering banks lake and then the forest over Northrop Canyon. Do you know that's one of the largest wintering bald eagle spots in Washington?

Jennie Flaming:

I did not know that, so I would have guessed it would be the Skagit Valley.

craig:

Everyone always thinks this, yeah, because of that lake being there, which is not natural, it's in there. And then you actually have a forest, a little bit of a forest cover north from so your roost. It's amazing how many bald eagles are in that area, and they're there in the winter time. So that's a nice added bonus to be there. So that's kind of cool. And you've got, also, on top of steamboat rock, you got these erratics and these crazy is so sort of the lighting and everything. Yeah, that's a really cool place for sunrise or a sunset, yeah, for sure. So check that other than that, yeah, I love the coast. One of my absolute favorite Solstice hikes I ever did was at Ruby Beach over in the Olympics. You know, it's a short hike down, and you've got because you've got offshore islands. You got Abbey island off there again. So the sun's going down, you have these islands in the front that are lighting up because you can just look out at the horizon. There goes the sun. It's submerged. But when you've got sea stacks and, yeah, and islands in front, you're giving much more of a dimension to it, yeah. So that's a wonderful place on the coast, yep, Cape Flattery is another one. I mean, it's a really long drive, you know, it's been like Cape Flattery is a great place to the last place to watch the sun, sun go down in Washington. So,

Unknown:

and I think in the continental US, right? Yeah,

craig:

I think Cape Alava is actually the farthest west, okay, but a little bit just south of there, but, yeah, but Northwest, yeah, in there, but those are all cool areas to experience. The sunset, yeah,

Jennie Flaming:

I really love Ebeys landing on Whidbey Island, I really like it for any kind of I don't think, yeah, I didn't mention that in our holiday hikes episode, but, man, it is. It is great. And it's another fantastic sunset spot, great winter hiking area, yeah. And you know, then you're not getting home after the sunset in the middle of the night, because the sunset is that? 430

craig:

you know, if you live here's another place. What's interesting? Because it might not be the most stunning place as far as the terrain, but it's close to urban centers. Right over in Kitsap Peninsula is Green Mountain. Oh, yeah. And I know the peninsula wilderness club there. They actually do sunset hikes up there on a regular basis. You might check but again. Then you've got really well maintained wide trail. Get there a good headlamp and get those. Get the sunset of the sunrise up there, with the added bonus of looking out at the Seattle metropolitan area. So you get city lights and all that. So find some these places to same thing. Now with Tiger mountain been been a lot of the tree covers been cleared. So you're gonna get some beauty. Get some beautiful, some beautiful, beautiful views of the city up there as well. So weird, yeah, yeah, it changes. I mean, 35 years ago, there was great views, and I watched those go away, and now we've got them back again. Yeah.

Jennie Flaming:

So if you haven't been to you West Tiger number three in a few years, you're in for a surprise. You'll be in for a surprise when you get to the summit there. Yes, okay. Well, any other Solstice hikes you want to recommend? Craig?

craig:

Where I live, little mountain in Mount Vernon is another great you know, the the and if you're listening Mount Vernon parks department, we need to clear that viewpoint on the top. It's growing over. We're not we can't see the sketch of flats, but the North view is open, okay, so in the north you can see Mount Baker. You can see Lummi Island, the over the sea. That's a great one. A great one as well, for for a sunrise or a sunset.

Unknown:

And I actually would just add that any any kind of park like trail near the water, especially on a sunny day, anywhere along the Salish Sea, is gonna be pretty great. You know, whether that's that trail in Bellingham that goes down from Fair Haven, or it's meadowdale Beach Park, and you know kind of they're in between Edmonds and Mukilteo, or the Alki Beach in Seattle, or the Elliott Bay trail, or point defiance like in Tacoma. Any of those are going to be really amazing. I

craig:

was just thinking deception pass another wonderful place, Washington Park, You're talking about Bellingham, the South Bay trail. You're actually,

Jennie Flaming:

that's the name of it. Actually out

craig:

on the water. You're in the bay. It's a wonderful one. You get the sunsets over Lummi Island and everything. Yeah, yeah. Those are all great. Then you're just a couple minute walk to a brew pub, exactly, you know, at 430

Unknown:

which is what you need at just about 430 Yeah, all right. Well, um, happy Solstice. Everybody. Here's to the days getting longer. Yay. Hi everyone. Jennie here. I hope you're enjoying this episode so far, since it is the holiday season, if you're listening to these episodes in real time. I wanted to let you know that this is a great time to support the podcast. If you're looking for gifts for folks or things for inspiration for yourself in the new year, check out Craig's books. They are all linked in the show notes all of his amazing hiking guides to Washington. And I also have my weekly newsletter with weekly hiking, hiking inspiration, real time, current weather, current conditions, all of that, as well as my Seattle seasonal hiking Guide, which is digital, and my hiking guide planner. So check all of those out. Those are all in the show notes, along with our tip jar. And this is a great time to support the podcast as we head in to 2025 so thanks for listening and happy holidays. Thank you for joining us for this episode of The Washington State hiking podcast. Hey,

craig:

do you have questions for Jennie and I to answer in future episodes? If so, the link right below the tip jar lets you leave a voice memo for us. We'd love to hear from you.

Unknown:

And if you are enjoying this ad free podcast, please help support it by contributing to our tip jar. You don't need an account, and there's no commitment. It's the first link in the show notes. We also have links in the show notes to our work, both Craig's books, my website, if you would like to support us further.

craig:

Hey again. Thanks again for joining us, and we Look forward to the next episode.

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Jennie Thwing Flaming

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Craig Romano

Co-host