Trail report week of May 27...encounter with a legendary hiker

Muddy conditions have returned to Port Gamble trails. In particular, Forbidden Forest off PG Road 1000 has some areas with a fair number of mudholes. The lower section of Fun Forest aka "Hope" off Rd 1000 also has a few muddy spots. Today, I met Barefoot Jake, a legendary hiker/ trailrunner from the Olympic Peninsula. We didn't meet on a trail, but at the second-best destination on the planet: a brewery (Hood Canal brewery and tasting room) where he was planning an upcoming trail adventure with Tim, aka Nivaun. I look up to both of these guys for their epic adventuring and dogged determination to live as much of their lives on the trail as they can. I hope I can get to know Jake better and pass some miles with both of these great guys this summer / fall. Upcoming event on the Port Gamble trails to be aware of:

Saturday and Sunday June 9-10 NW Adventure Sports Festival

Trail encounters this week:

• Hike Wed. 90 minutes with Tia, from PG Gate 1 near the town of Port Gamble with 20-lb pack.
• Hike Thur. 70 minutes with Jason and Tia, from PG Gate 2 with 7-lb pack.

Trail report week of May 20...99 live, slimy slugs

Mid-week Port Gamble Trails update: Rain early this week has created a layer of surface mud on access roads and on the singletrack. I also encountered deep mudholes on the "Ho Chee Minh/Maggie Rocks" singletrack between PG Road 1000 and PG Road 1700. You are sure to bring some of the trail home with you on your shoes, your downtube, or your dog's undercarriage. Remember the upcoming event:

• Saturday and Sunday June 9-10 NW Adventure Sports Festival

Trail encounters this week:

• Hike Sun. May 20, PG gate 1, 70 minutes, with Tia and my family and 7-lb pack. One consistent challenge has been to interest our girls in regular outings on the trails. Today, our younger daughter, 12, made a game of counting slugs she sighted. In our 70-minute loop walk of approximately 3.5 miles, she counted 99 live and 3 dead. Altogether, now, to the tune of 99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall: "99 live, slimy slugs on the trail 99 live, slimy slugs...stomp one down, squish it around, 98 live, slimy slugs on the trail...
• Hike Mon. May 21, PG gate 2, 180 minutes, roughly 9.5 miles, a mix of access roads and singletrack with Tia. 20-lb pack.
• Hike Wed. May 23, PG gate 2, 80 minutes with Tia, 20-lb pack.
• Hike Thur. May 24, PG gate 2, 70 minutes with Tia, 7-lb pack.

Trail report week of May 13

Port Gamble trails remain quite dry, with mud in just a few spots along single track. A few remnants remain from last weekend's adventure race (we found a marker or something hanging in a tree). Upcoming events on Port Gamble trails to be aware of:

• Saturday May 19th Stottlemeyer 30/60 Mile Mountain Bike Race
• Saturday and Sunday June 9-10 NW Adventure Sports Festival

I spent the weekend in the Olympics climbing up to Marmot Pass in the snow so I took the early part of the week to rest my legs. But I did get out on the bike on the Port Gamble trails Sunday afternoon (Mother's Day!) with my family. The stream flowing across PG road 1100 from the Beaver Pond is fairly shallow, and easily crossed by bike. On foot, you can use the small foot bridge. I feel incredibly fortunate to live in such a beautiful area where you can get views like the one below from many vantage points.

View of Hood Canal and the Olympic Range from PG Road 1400

• Wed. with Tim, Tia, and Jessica, Gate 1, 150 min., about 8 mi., with 20-lb pack.
• Thur. splitting wood in my frustration pile, 45 min. with 8-lb maul, preparing for next year's heating season. One of the many benefits of living in the country and heating with wood: exercise and stress reduction all in one activity.
• Fri. with Tia, Port Gamble Gate 2, 60 min., with 20-lb pack. Big work day ahead, so a relatively short jaunt today.

Trail report week of May 6

This week's sunshine dried out the trails considerably. Upcoming events to watch for on the Port Gamble trails:
Sat. May 12 - Port Gamble Adventure Race from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

• Sun. with Tia, Gate 2, 60 min., with 20-lb pack, and later in the day, with family, 75 min., with 7-lb pack.
• Mon. mtn. bike, Gate 2, 90 min.
• Wed. with Tim, Tia, and Jessica, Gate 1, 150 min., with 20-lb pack.
• Fri. - Sun. in the Olympics with Ian, Tim, Tia, Sascha, and Jessica.

Trail report week of April 29

Week of April 29:

Port Gamble trails report: With the rainfall mid-week, puddles have formed in places, especially noticeable on the singletrack trails on top, parallel to Rd 1700 and intersecting Rd 1900. Roads have a few puddles, but mostly just damp and in good condition.

• Sun. with family and friends, Port Gamble. 70 min. from Gate 1, 7-lb day pack.
• Mon. with Tia, Gate 2. 90 min., mostly on roads, 20-lb pack.
• Wed. with Tia, Gate 2. 65 min., mostly on roads, 7-lb day pack.
• Fri. with Tia, , Gate 2. 135 min., mostly on roads, 20-lb pack.