It's a Brand New Year! Hike to Blanchard Mt. Lookout

This is the first hike in our new, daily "Let's get off our butts and hike! winter hiking series!(See my enthusiastic writing about this at on the "Message Board" on this site.) We will hike up to the Blanchard Mt. Lookout (where the hang gliders jump off) so we can view the beautiful Skagit Valley. The trail is a series of switchbacks going up the mountain. It takes an hour or so to hike through the woods-very pretty with views of the bay at certain points. The viewpoint at the top is amazing! I always get great perspective on my life(and the valley) from up there. We will meet at the Farm to Market Bakery to enjoy sweets and warmth for a few minutes and so we can carpool to the trail from there. There is parking on the street in Edison. If you are running late or driving from B'ham and want to skip the Bakery, you can meet us at the trailhead. Just give me a call, so we can coordinate. The trailhead is on Chuckanut Drive just south of the Oyster Bar. We will park along the road there. There is a sign at the start of the trail that says " PNT". This is actually the start of the Pacific NW Trail. If Chuckanut Drive is closed still, take the Bow Hill exit off of I-5 and turn right(west) off the exit. Drive over Bow Hill and down to Chuckanut Drive. At this point you can go staright over Chuckanut Drive to the bakery or you can turn rt to drive north on Chuckanut to the Oyster Bar. At the bar, turn around and backtrack a smidgen to where the cars are parked opposite the trailhead. My cell is 360-840-9504. See you!