Spring in the Valley

Yesterday marked my biggest photo adventure so far this year - a trip to Three Forks Natural Area and the Meadowbrook Farm Preserve, between Snoqualmie and North Bend.

Things started off on an awesome note, because a light mist was hanging over Meadowbrook Slough as the sun emerged from behind the hills.

Three Forks Natural Area a nice park, but its potential goes unrealized. There is one main trail that goes through a big grassy area, cuts through the forest, and goes part of the way through another grassy area. This trail is quite muddy in places, but that is to be expected in April. Still, some parks use gravel or bark to make trails less boggy, and I was surprised not to see it here. Maybe the park is so boggy that even bark and gravel would be impractical in solving the mud problem.

Moreover, every so often a side trail would branch off from the main trail, and it wasn't clear if these were official trails or not. I tried to stick with worn paths (not wanting to trample any ecosystems), but even these usually ended in a shoe-sucking maze of mudholes, willows, and salmonberry bushes. The park could use some clearer signs, maps and trail maintenance; or, if the side trails are not meant to be used, those trails could be more identifiably blocked and/or signs could say "STAY ON MAIN TRAIL" or something.

Mossy thicket that swallowed one of my trails.

The most substantial side trail afforded me a few views of the Snoqualmie River. I took this one with my new wide angle lens! I wish the trees looked a bit more spring-like; there's also a lot of perspective distortion around the edges. Still, I think it's an interesting shot.

The forests were very cottonwood-heavy, with an understory of salmonberry and some other plants. A smattering of maples, alders and conifers completed the mix, but by and large cottonwoods ruled the day. Since the cottonwoods had only just started to leaf out, I didn't get much interesting in the way of pictures of the forest itself. I did, however, get this good one of a salmonberry blossom superimposed over the forest:

This next one is one of the best out of the forests. The forest still isn't very colorful yet due to the general lack of leaves.

I also did a bit of wandering on Meadowbrook Farm Preserve. It's also rather mucky in places - and, problematically, the map shows "trails current and future." This caused me a few navigational problems. Still, I enjoyed myself, and found some places to revisit later in the year when more plants are out.

My favorite shot from the preserve was one upon which I stumbled almost by accident - a picture of a dandelion with mountains and grey clouds in the background. I'm lucky when I can find sunshine and dark clouds together; that always makes for dramatic scenery. Here's that and a few other pictures from the Preserve:

 A lovely weed. This might be Hybrid Dead Nettle, or Lamium hybridum.

An alder forest in the Preserve. I have a feeling that this picture would be more interesting if I boosted the contrast and some of the colors, particularly green.

Willows against a moody sky.