“Go Take a Hike” 2016 schedule

The Lopez Community Trail Network‘s guided hike schedule is out! Join experienced leaders for great hikes in the San Juans and beyond.

Download the brochure for details and contact info.

  • March 12: Beach hike & cleanup, Lopez Island
  • April 30: Birding ID, Lopez Island
  • May 21: Turtleback Mountain, Orcas Island
  • June 18: Mt. Grant, San Juan Island
  • July 23: Hidden Lake lookout, North Cascades
  • August 13: Skyline Divide, Mt. Baker
  • September 24: Oyster Dome, Larrabee State Park (near Bellingham)

Keep Your Cool on Lopez Hill

Guided hike on Lopez Hill

Sunday, August 23rd, 1pm

Yes, it’s time again for the summer Keep Your Cool hike on Lopez Hill. Beat the heat while enjoying the cool greenery of Lopez Hill. This guided hike will meet at the parking area off Lopez Sound Road: directions to the trailhead. It’s guaranteed to be cooler than Lopez Village! We’ll probably break into two groups, one for fast walkers and one for ramblers. Please dress for the weather, wear appropriate shoes for hiking, and bring water. See you there!

Great Islands Clean Up this weekend

Volunteer for the Great Islands Clean Up on Public Lands!
Saturday, April 18, 2015

Volunteers have a plethora of choices this year—check the list below and see what piques your interest.  Thank you!

SJI:  Third Lagoon Beach, 10:00am to 12:00pm
Meet at the Third Lagoon Preserve trailhead located at the end of Cattle Point Road to help clear plastic rubbish from the back of the lagoon.

SJI:  Deadman Bay Preserve, 2:00pm to 4:00pm
Meet at Deadman Bay beach. Volunteers will tackle the drainage below the roadside where lots of debris collects throughout the year.

Lopez Island:  Multiple Locations
Meet at Lopez Community Center between 9am-10 am to register* and choose from 11 beaches and 9 road side areas that need your help, including Weeks Wetland at Fisherman Bay Preserves.

*There will be a complimentary yoga class from 8am-8:45 am preceding the registration!

Sturdy rubber boots, pants, and gloves are recommended. Carpooling is encouraged. The Land Bank will provide garbage bags, buckets, and some snacks.

Orcas Island:  Multiple Locations
Please show up to the closest meeting spot at 10am.  Our goal is to pick up as much litter and recyclables as possible and bring them back to the Village Green before 1pm. We will clean as many roadsides and beaches as we can get to!

Eastsound: The Village Green
Olga:  Artworks parking lot
Deer Harbor:  The post office

Contacts:

SJI Beach Clean Ups, Jana Marks at 360-378-2319 or jana@sanjuans.org
SJI Road Clean Ups, David Dehlendorf at 360-378-1082 or dauffa@gmail.com
Lopez Island, Nikyta Palmisani at 468-2555 to leave a message or email nikytap@lopezsolidwaste.org
Orcas Island, Kira Bradshaw at kirabradshaw72@gmail.com.

Lopez Community Trails Network announces 2015 hikes

“The Lopez Community Trails Network (LCTN) is again scheduling a series of hikes open to the public under the title “Go Take a Hike.” Our hike schedule, under the direction of Bob Walker, includes a variety of destinations on- and off-island, including easy beach walks to more strenuous mountain hikes. These monthly hikes are held on Saturdays. Hikes are at a leisurely pace to encourage exploration and to experience the wonders of nature.

“Sign up is by phone or e-mail with the hike leader. There is no expense except the sharing of transportation costs when we go off island. Please call Bob Walker (468-3397) with any questions about any details.”

The first hike is this Saturday, April 11th at 8am: Bird Walk with Bob Myhr. A San Juan Islands Audubon Society (jointly sponsored by the LCTN) field trip starting at Otis Perkins Park and walking to the Land Bank Peninsula Preserve.

Pick up a brochure for  the full schedule of hikes at the Lopez BLM office, the Lopez Library, or the Chamber of Commerce office. Or view the full schedule of hikes on the LCTN’s website: Go Take a Hike.

2015-Hike-Promo

Fall Mushroom Hike photos and list

It was a beautiful and warm day for the mushroom walk. Here’s a partial list of mushroom species collected on our October hike. Common names, where available, are in bold:

  • Agaricus hondensis (?) Felt-ringed agaricus
  •  ”  praeclaresquamosus (?)
  • Amanita phalloides (?) Death cap
  • Chlorophyyllum olivieri Shaggy Parasol
  • Fomitopsis cajanderi Rosy conk
  • Gomphidius sp.
  • Gymnopilus sp.
  • Lactarius rubrilacteus Bleeding milk-cap
  • Lepiota magnispora
  • Leucopaxillus sp.
  • Marasmius plientolus (?)
  • Pholiota aurivella (?)
  • Pleurotus ostreatus Oyster mushroom
  • Pluteus sp.
  • Pseudohydnum gelatinosum White jelly
  • Russula brevips, parasitized by Hypomyces laciafluorum Lobster mushroom
  • Suillus sp.
  • Thelephora terrestris

Madrona suggested good local online mushroom key: Keys to Mushrooms of the Pacific Northwest

Many many thanks to Madrona, Tim, and everyone who helped to make this possible! See you next year…

Fall Mushroom hike

The autumn rains are priming those forest jewels to pop up for our 2014 Mushroom Walk on Lopez Hill, led by Madrona Murphy from Kwiaht. At 3:00 pm on Sunday, October 19th we will set off from the parking area off Lopez Sound Road (directions here). This walk will be shorter than last year and the number of people will be limited so that everyone can see and hear. Please sign up by emailing Tim Clark at timc@rockisland.com. Wear appropriate clothing and shoes for walking in the weather, along with books, cameras, maps and questions. Please try to car-pool from the school, since parking is limited. See you there!

National Public Lands Day celebration

Via the Lopez Community Trails Network:

The 4th Annual Lopez Island National Public Lands Day Celebration

Saturday, September 27

10am-2pm, Watmough Bay

Spend the day outdoors having fun, learning about & helping your public lands!  Activities include kayak rides, nature walks & talks, trail projects, kids activities, and beach clean-up – opportunities for all ages!

Snacks and drinks provided!

All activities are free.

Events are centered at Watmough Bay, but additional activities will be at:

  • Chadwick Hill: hike & do trail maintenance along the way
  • Point Colville: join a beach clean-up crew or take a nature walk to this beautiful site
  • Iceberg Point: Join Kwiaht’s “Reading the Landscape: Clues to Ecosystem Histories” from 12-2pm

Partner organizations that are making this day possible include: Bureau of Land Management-San Juan Islands National Monument, San Juan County Land Bank, San Juan Preservation Trust, Lopez Island Conservation Corps, Kwiaht, Cascadia Kayaks, Whispers of Nature Herbs, Lopez Community Trails Network, Leave No Trace, National Parks Service, and San Juan Island Conservation Corps.

For more information, call Victoria: 970-739-1993