Black Diamond NOW

Ready For Some Good News?

In a year of turmoil, there has been some good news.  Lake Sawyer water quality overall is as good now as it's been in 40 years - and we can still do better.  Less phosphorus in our lawn fertilizers and treatment of SR169 stormwater runoff - which needs to be one of the very top priorities for city capital projects.   We want to become oligotrophic and are nearly there.

Despite lower gasoline prices and more SUV's on the road, overall fuel economy continues to improve.

Thanks to increasing use of renewables and increased efficiency, carbon pollution levels per unit of GDP continues to decline.

Yes, there are some positive things to smile about.

 

Wildlife Photos of the Year

Another benefit of living in the northwest is the opportunity to observe and photograph such a rich array of wildlife.  This past year, we once again got to see eagles nesting and eaglets growing up at Lake Sawyer.  So many ducks migrating through, osprey putting on a show fishing in the lake and eagles seeking to rob osprey of their catch.  Nature in action.  Once again, I found the Nooksack River, Skagit Valley and Nisqually NWR to be very special places.  Shi Shi Beach was a wonderful new discovery. Following is a sampling of some of my favorite wildlife photos for 2016.

Shorty the Short-eared Owl at Eide Road, Stanwood

Sharpie the Sharp-shinned Hawk at Nisqually NWR

Perry the Peregrine Falcon having lunch at Shi Shi Beach, Olympic National Park

Woody the Cedar Waxwing at Lake Sawyer park

Papa eagle at Lake Sawyer park.  Not my best picture but he is a local.

As usual, the Nooksack has been alive with eagles.

It was snowing Snow Geese in the Skagit Valley

And last, one of my favorites from our family vacation at Kiawah Island - a Snowy Egret on the prowl.

Too much fun

 

 

 

 

Lake Sawyer - Sunrise Central

If there were an award for best places to see a winter morning sunrise, Lake Sawyer would have to be in the running, at least in the northwest.  I continue to be amazed by the display we see so regularly this time of year.  Here's a photo of the latest we saw just last week.

Photo by Black Diamond NOW Photography, Dec. 22, 2016

"Sunrise season" generally begins in early November as the angle of the sun flattens and rises further to the south.  The variety and vivid colors we see are hard to describe without showing pictures.  Following are some of this year's best beginning with the following sunrise from November 5th.  It started out looking like this:

Photo by Black Diamond NOW Photography, Nov.5, 2016

And ended looking like this just 10 minutes later.

Photo by Black Diamond NOW Photography, Nov. 5, 2016

Followed by these.

Photo by Black Diamond NOW Photography, Nov. 10, 2016

Photo by Black Diamond NOW Photography, Nov. 11, 2016

Photo by Black Diamond NOW Photography, Nov. 17, 2016

Photo by Black Diamond NOW Photography, Nov. 18, 2016

Photo by Black Diamond NOW Photography, Dec. 6, 2016

And my favorite:

Photo by Black Diamond NOW Photography, Dec 18. 11, 2016

The window of opportunity for capturing the above image was just a couple of minutes before fading away.  Right place, right time.

I took more photos and had quite a few days out of town during this period, so there were other beautiful days not captured above. There are certainly other great sunrise sites in the northwest but I've never been anywhere like home!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas all.  Another sunrise at Lake Sawyer.

It's Salmon Spawning Time in Ravensdale Creek

Native Coho salmon runs  are rare in the northwest but we have a winter run each year right at home.  Each December/January, Coho make their way up the Green River, into Soos Creek, Covington Creek and on to Lake Sawyer before spawning just upstream in Ravensdale Creek.  It is now ritual for our family each Christmas eve to hike the trails along Ravensdale Creek hoping to catch sight of them in action spawning.  Two years we were rewarded with our best sightings yet.  What beautiful fish!

These photos were taken along the trail beginning at 288th heading south back toward Lake Sawyer on the west side of Ravensdale Creek. 

When the creek is not flowing too heavily, like right now, there is a gravel bar perfect for use as a spawning bed.   It's located along the trail staring at 288th and before you reach the slatted bridge.

We even were able to see a male fertilizing the eggs just laid by a female.  Several males were jostling for position to do the honor.  The white cloud you see in the photo that follows shows the results.

 Conditions are looking good right now for excellent water conditions.  Hope to see you on the trail.

 

 

 

Go Washington Sundodgers!

Congratulations to the Purple and Gold for making it to the NCAA football championship playoffs.  Quite an accomplishment no matter how well they do from here.  But did you realize that before the UW became known as the Huskies they were called the Sun Dodgers?  Following is a logo showing their then official mascot called Sonny.

An umbrella seems rather apt don't you think? 

According to GoHuskies.com:

"Prior to 1920, the University of Washington had two unofficial mascots-first the Indians, and later the Vikings. Neither name seemed appropriate, so most local publications referred to the university's athletic teams as the "purple and gold." Midway through the scholastic year of 1920, the Associated Students of the University of Washington (ASUW) held general elections and voted to adopt "Sundodger" as its official mascot. The name was quickly adopted by the alumni's publication, "Washington Alumnus," which sported a smiling figure named Sunny holding an umbrella. Many people took Sundodger to be a negative reference to the city's rainy weather. In 1922, after mounting pressure from local newspapers and businesses, the university considered finding a more suitable representative for the school."

It's all history for the Huskies from there.  With two bowl teams again this year, the northwest is Back!  Go Huskies and GO COUGS!

 

Magic Lanterns - Then & Now

People have long been fascinated by the projection of images on a screen.  Magic lanterns first made this possible in the early 1800's.  The concept was simple - create a painted image on glass, provide a source of backlighting and project the image on a screen or wall.  Only a handful of original magic lanterns still exist but for image depth and richness, many swear they were the best ever.  By the early 1900's, it was common for black and white photos taken on glass plates to be enhanced by adding hand applied color.  These were called "lantern slides".  Today, as I look back for photos that capture some of our local history, I often run across lantern slides like the following photos of the Electron Power Plant.

Photo's courtesy Washington State Archives, circa 1920's

Photographic film eventually replaced glass plates, then came color slides and now we have digital images with so many new ways for display.  Virtual reality glasses anyone? 

By the way, the Electron Power Plant has some interesting history too.  For more information, follow this link to Electron Power Plant - 10 Miles of Wooden Flume.

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Hiking to Ravensdale Lake through the Black Diamond Open Space Area

Looking for a hike close to home and an opportunity to explore one of our area's great regional assets?  Try taking the trails through the 1,240 acre multi-use Black Diamond Open Space area from SR-169 north to Ravensdale Lake.  Better known for it's biking and horse trails, there is much to see and explore.  It may seem a little strange suggesting a hike to Ravensdale Lake of about 4+ miles round trip, when you can virtually drive to the lake.  But who wants to drive when you can hike. 

I saw lots of cute Bufflehead in the lake a couple of weeks ago.

Even during this winter's dark gray days, there is always something uplifting about being out on the trail.

To get from SR-169 to the lake, park in the new parking area located on the north side of the highway just before you enter Black Diamond heading south.  Take the Route 66 multi-use trail, heading left (north) at the T.  Follow Rte. 66 under the power lines and on to where the trail crosses Ravensdale Creek.  Turn right onto the Beaver Tracks trail and continue to the lake and along it's northwestern shore.  Following is a map showing the whole open space area and the many trails here.  Much more exploring yet to do.

p.s - When you cross Ravensdale Creek be sure to say a special prayer of thanks.  Two thirds of the water that flows into Lake Sawyer comes from Ravensdale Creek (also referred to on some maps as Covington Creek) and it is about as pure as you can find.  Lake and stream water quality thankfully are now protected by the buffers acquired as a result of the Black Diamond Area Open Space Protection Agreement.

 

Coal Miners at Work

As challenging a job as being a logger may have been in the early days, being a coal miner has to take the cake.  For me, being claustrophobic, the thought of being deep underground in the confined spaces of a coal mine makes me shiver.  Finding old photos of miners underground that tell the story is difficult, but Washington State Archives does have several from the coal mines at Roslyn during the 1940's and 1950's.  Just imagine how much more difficult mining would have been here in Black Diamond in the late 1800's and early 1900's.

Photos courtesy Washington State Archives, 1945 - 1950

Yikes, look at the rather tenuous bracing.

Talk about confined work spaces.

Look at the size of the coal seam.  This must have been pre-OSHA?  More pictures highlighting some of the mechanized parts of Roslyn mines in future posts.

Snow Shoeing the Coal Mines Trail

If you enjoy exploring history and the great outdoors, then the Coal Mines Trail is the place to go this time of year.  You follow an old railroad bed taking you from Cle Elum to Roslyn and on to Ronald, a one way trek of about 5.5 miles.  Along the way, you get to see what remains of the once thriving coal mining industry.  We like this trail particularly in the winter.  A great trail for beginning snowshoers, though the trail is generally groomed for snowmobiles and boots are likely all that you will need.  And did I mention lots of sunshine.  Following is a photo of the mine tipple and coal cleaning plant near Roslyn taken in 1947.

Photo courtesy Washington State Archives, circa 1947

You will be able to see the remains of this plant from the trail.  For more about the trail and directions, follow this link to my earlier post Exploring the Coal Mines Tail.  Well worth the trip across the pass.

 

Sunday at Logging Camp Circa 1916

After 6 days of hard and dangerous work, loggers living in remote logging camps early in the 20th century were given Sunday off as a "day of rest".  Each camp had it's own rituals.  Getting time with the camp preacher, being shaven by a "whisker faller", dressing up in your Sunday best and having your picture taken were common practices.  But going hunting in a suit and tie?

Photo courtesy Washington State Archives, #28008005-ph00015, circa 1916

Apparently having a gun in hand and cigar in mouth with suit, hat and tie fit the male macho image of the time.  Who was the movie idol of the time that fit this image?.  Pretty cool picture actually.

Traffic - A Four Letter Word

If history is any indicator, there is little cause for being optimistic about solving our region's traffic woes. Build a new bridge, add lanes, invest in rail, add tolls - yet we still have gridlock.  About the only thing that seems to work is for the economy to tank.  Even then, problems persist.  The photo that follows, taken in 1940, illustrates the magnitude of traffic safety problems faced during this period as the economy began to crank up ahead of WWII.

Photo courtesy Museum of History & Industry and University of Washington Libraries, Seattle PI photographer, 1986.5.15092.1, circa 1940

The thermometer in the background shows 1940 traffic deaths already at 60 for the year - a big number even for today.  What should we do?  I have no magic answer except to observe that ignoring the problem will only make matters worse.  Or perhaps we can stifle economic growth until investment in infrastructure catches up?  That's a death sentence.  Though our problems are regional, there is much that can also be done locally.  We have no excuses.

Laconia and Snoqualmie Pass in the Snow

It's that time of year for carrying tire chains in our cars, whether navigating our way over one of the passes or heading up into the mountains for some fun skiing or snowshoeing.  Fortunately, my recent trips over Snoqualmie, Stevens and Blewett passes haven't required chains yet but the time is near.  Of the three passes, Snoqualmie is consistently the worst despite it's relatively low elevation.  High traffic volumes and crazy drivers. How did people during the early 1900's get across?  Mostly via the railroad, passing through the old railroad town of Laconia located at the top of Snoqualmie Pass.

Photo courtesy Washington State Historical Society, 1982.62.7, circa 1910

During this period, the railroad over the pass was known as the Chicago, Milwaukee and Puget Sound Railroad or the CM&P-S for short.    With snowfall averaging over 433 inches per year at the summit, keeping rail lines clear was no simple task, requiring the use of a double rotary snow plow shown above.  Craig Magnuson has written a very interesting history of Laconia and some of the railroad's early challenges (History of Laconia at Snoqualmie Pass).  Mr. Magnuson's blog post includes some fun photos including the following close-up of the snow plow and trains passing through in the snow.

Photo courtesy Craig Magnuson and the Washington Historical Society, circa 1912

Locomotives during this period were powered by oil fired steam engines and needed frequent fuel stops for both oil and water during summer and winter.

Photo courtesy Craig Magnuson

As for now - please drive safe.

 

Log Bridge Circa 1885

In the late 1800's, not all bridges were designed and built according to engineering specifications.  Logging railroads needed gradual and even grade but the terrain in the woods was seldom flat.  Steep hills and valleys needed to be spanned.  Oft times, the "brute force" design of choice was a log bridge.

Photo courtesy Washington State Historical Society, C1986.6.7, circa 1885

Rather than grade, fill and level with soil, valleys were simply stacked with logs until the span was navigable.  The above photo shows how it worked.  Looks like a game of Lincoln logs.  As we can see, a perfectly even and level rail surface was not always required thanks to teams of oxen, horses or mules as seen above.  Using logs, which were a readily available and low cost resource, was all that you needed.  Pretty nasty bow in the middle of this bridge - enough to make any engineer cringe, but it met the need.  What mattered most was expediency so that you could log an area and move on to the next as quickly as possible.

Wilkeson Fire Circa 1910

I continue to marvel at the important role postcards played as a communication medium early in the 20th century.  Postcards were indeed the Instagram of the early 1900's.  Want to brag about where you have been or share pictures of your community?  Postcards did the trick..  They were even used to report on tragedy, such as the postcard photo of the fire at the Wilkeson business district in 1910.

Photo courtesy Washington State Historical Society, S1992.27.281, circa 1910

Such good photo quality too.