The National Park Service announced today it’s Shadows of the Past program, to be held at the Trail of the Shadows near Longmire in Mount Rainier National Park.  The program is a ~90 minute tour along the half-mile trail that will lead families and individuals of all ages into a journey into the past to visit characters such as John Muir, P.B. Van Trump and Fay Fuller among others.  As the walk continues the characters will come to life and share their stories of Mount Rainier.

The program will run 4 nights during the summer: July 10th, July 24th, August 7th, and August 21st.  Ranger-led lantern tours depart every 20 minutes between 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. The program will be held rain or shine. Bring a warm jacket, insect repellant, a flashlight, and wear sturdy shoes. The program is free with the National Park admission fee.

If you have questions or you are interested in becoming involved in the program as a character or lantern bearer, please contact Lee Snook at (360) 569-2211  *6043

Take a look at this video produced by the National Park Service to see what’s in store:

“Shadows of the Past” – Mount Rainier National Park from Three Moon Bay on Vimeo.

Share this Post:

More »

Annual Packwood Summer Rod Run – July 24 & 25, 2010

This annual gathering of hundreds of antique and restored cars features judging, awards, competitive events, music and dancing and food. Enter your hot rod in the competition, join the fun at the street dance, and take part in the poker run! A poker run is an event where registered hot rods travel to stops around town, collecting a playing card at each stop, and prizes are awarded at the end for various poker hands. There’s plenty of fun for hot rod owners and enthusiasts alike!

Gates Open:

• Saturday, July 24th: 9 AM – 4:30 PM – Followed by a town cruise and a dance in front of the Cowlitz River Lodge at 7 PM
• Sunday, July 25th: 8 AM – 3 PM – Hot Rod Poker Run in the morning and awards at 1 PM

For more information call Laurie at 360-494-2026 or Rick at 360-494-4275 or Jerry at 360-494-8601, or visit the links below:

• See pictures from the 2006 Rod Run:

  http://good-times.webshots.com/album/552668035EKShDV

• Print and mail the following registration form by July 21, 2010 to register your vehicle:

  http://www.seibercountry.com/registration.html

• Directions:
  http://www.seibercountry.com/directions.html
• Our Mt. Rainier Cabins are currently full for this event

Packwood Rod Run 2006

Share this Post:

More »

If you’re looking for the home where the buffalo roam, you’d better save up for a plane ticket to Africa or southern Asia. We’ve all grown up hearing time and again the colorful tales of our traditional American history: pioneers striking out for the West, wagon trains, Lewis and Clark, the Oregon Trail, Native American tribes, and massive herds of buffalo- or was it bison?

Though we use the names interchangeably in the U.S., the shaggy beasts that traditionally roamed our continent’s plains are not buffalo, but another member of the Bovidae family, called bison. French fur trappers of the early 1600s referred to these animal as les bœufs, meaning oxen, which is believed to be the origin for our usage of the word “buffalo.” The word “bison,” similarly meaning ‘ox-like animal’ in Greek, was introduced in the late 1700s to distinguish these animals from the true buffalo of Asia and Africa. Bison is the correct name of these massive beasts that inhabit North America and Europe.

The True Buffalo

Asian Water Buffalo

There are two types of true buffalo in the world. The first is the water buffalo, which resides in southern Asian countries such as Thailand, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. The second is the African cape buffalo, which lives in the wild in most of the non-desert land of Africa. Water buffalo, African cape buffalo, and the American Bison all come from the same scientific family and subfamily, but vary considerably in their appearance and behavior.

African Water Buffalo

Water buffalo can grow to almost 10 feet long from nose to tail and almost 7 feet tall. They have long horns that curve backwards, and weigh about two and a half tons. African cape buffalo are slightly smaller, about five and a half feet tall, around 11 feet long and weigh anywhere from 1 to 2 tons, and tend to sport horns that curve upwards and in. While wild African cape buffalo are not considered an endangered species, the wild water buffalo population of Asia is dwindling every year, with less than 4,000 estimated to live in the wild. The water buffalo thrives in domesticated numbers, much like cattle; conversely, the volatile, ill-tempered African buffalo doesn’t seem to be suited for the tame life.

The American Bison

American Bison

The iconic bison of American folklore is actually quite different from its cousins across the ocean. American bison are far less cattle-like in appearance, though technically they are more closely related to livestock than true buffalo. They are intimidating beasts, with a broad, high hump above their muscular shoulders, culminating in a massive, shaggy head that is crowned with a pair of short curved horns. The bison’s size is formidable as well, ranging up to six and a half feet tall, ten feet long, and weighing over two tons.

There is another closely-related species of bison known as the European Bison, which look very similar to the American bison. Their differences are primarily anatomical, such as differing rib counts and vertebrae, however they also have slight differences in horn shape, coat, and stature.

When American bison roamed the plains freely they were said to rival the brown bear as the most dangerous animal one could encounter in the North American wilderness. But despite their naturally fearsome appearance, American bison were nearly hunted to extinction by Western settlers in the 19th and early 20th century. The population rebounded only as a result of the concerted efforts of worried conservationists.

Bison in America Today

Many of the bison in captivity today are bred solely for their meat. It is estimated by the American Bison Society that of the nearly 500,000 bison currently repopulated in North America, as few as 20-30,000 are under the supervision of conservation groups. There have been a number of efforts recently to reintroduce American bison throughout the country to large open spaces. Nearly 100 bison are planned for release into the Alaskan interior in 2011. On a contained scale bison have been reintroduced to a number of plains states such as Iowa and Kansas as well as areas in Canada and Mexico.

While you won’t find bison inside Mount Rainier National Park, there are ample opportunities to view them at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, located a short drive from our Ashford WA cabins. Imagine coming within mere yards of animals that have supported entire native civilizations; it’s all part of the Northwest experience, a rare chance to connect with a living piece of history.

Share this Post:

More »

Click for Larger Map

Hike: Bench Lake to Snow Lake
Distance: Approx. 2.5 Miles Round-Trip
Difficulty: Easy to Medium
Elevation Gain: Approx. 700 feet
Time: About 1 Hour
Season: Mid-June to October

We received some great comments from last month’s Rampart Ridge Hike, and several requests that we include some hikes near the Paradise area of Mt. Rainier. This week we thought we’d feature the hike to Bench Lake and Snow Lake, an easier and family-friendly trail that has lots of great scenery everyone can enjoy. This 2.5 mile hike offers rolling meadows, beautiful lakes and an amazing uninterrupted view of Mount Rainier.

Though these lakes are located just off the road a few minutes past the Jackson Visitor Center at Paradise, you’ll feel like you’re miles from everyone after dropping into the basin surrounding the lakes.

The parking area is on the right side of Stevens Canyon Road, about 2 miles from Paradise. The trailhead will lead you South from the parking area and  you’ll wind your way through the meadow area known as The Bench. As you approach Bench Lake, approximately ¾ of a mile into your hike, you’ll get an uninterrupted view of Mt. Rainier and its reflection upon the lake.

As you continue your hike you’ll follow the trail another ½ mile to reach Snow Lake. Snow Lake is formed by Unicorn Creek, which in turn is formed by ice and melting snow from Unicorn Peak just above the lake. The lake sits surrounded on the East, South, and West by a tall ridge, blocking most sunlight and leaving the lake almost as cold as the ice and snow above it. You can usually find blocks of ice floating in the lake throughout the year, leaving no doubt as to how the lake earned its name.

The trail features rolling hills and a relatively short distance, so this hike is recommended for families with children and those looking for a quick day hike and some amazing photo opportunities in the National Park.

View of Bench Lake from the Trail

Photo Credits: View of Mt. Rainier from Bench Lake & View of Bench Lake from the Trail.

Share this Post:

More »

If you’re planning a trip to Mount Rainier National Park, the drive to Paradise should be at the top of your “must-see” list. Famous for its beautiful meadows covered in wildflowers during the summer and its close proximity to the glaciers of Mount Rainier, Paradise is the most visited area of the park throughout the year. It’s also the location of the main visitor center for the National Park, known as the Henry M. Jackson Visitor Center.

Located at an elevation of 5,400 feet, the Paradise area surrounding the visitor center receives an average of 680 inches of snowfall (nearly 57 feet) every year, making it the “snowiest place on Earth where snowfall is measured regularly.”  Despite the impressive amount of snow that accumulates here each winter, the Jackson Visitor Center is open year-round.

Originally known as the Paradise Visitor Center, the building was renamed in 1987 to commemorate the life of Henry M. Jackson. Jackson was a U.S. Congressman and a U.S. Senator for the state of Washington from 1941 until his passing on September 1st, 1983.  He was instrumental in the creation of the first Paradise Visitor Center in 1966 as part of the National Park Service’s “Mission 66″ park renewal program.

The Old Jackson Visitor Center

The original visitor center, seen to the right, was frequently criticized for both its appearance as well as its functionality. The building was said by many to look like a flying saucer, and local residents likened it to a sunken version of Seattle’s Space Needle. Furthermore the building was not properly engineered to handle the snowfall at Paradise. The building’s structure was so inadequate that the Park Service spent 300 to 500 gallons of diesel fuel per day during the snow season – which lasts more than 6 months of the year – just to melt the snow on the building to prevent the roof from collapsing.  This amounted to an annual power bill of nearly $190,000 for the building.

Recognizing this inefficiency, the Park Service began construction of a new visitor center in 2006. Still known as the Henry M. Jackson Visitor Center, the new building opened to the public on October 10, 2008, and was followed by demolition of the original visitor center in spring of 2009. Inspired by the traditional style of the historic buildings found throughout the rest of the park, the new visitor center was designed to withstand the heavy snowfall that occurs throughout the winter.

Interior of the New Jackson Visitor Center

Heating for the new energy-efficient building costs 77% less than the original building.  The savings are largely due to a pitched metal roof designed to shed snow, energy-efficient windows, and a reduction in the new building’s size of 70% to 18,000 square feet.  These energy savings will amount to an estimated $7 million during the life of the building, which cost $21.2 million to build.

With almost 2 million visitors each year at Mount Rainier National Park, the new visitor center receives a lot of traffic.  The updated interior of the visitor center features informative displays on local wildlife, mountain climbing at Mt. Rainier, diagrams on how the inside of the volcano works, and even a theater that plays a movie about the National Park’s history (On a side note, the film crew stayed at our cabins during filming!).  The traditional style of the new building may not draw the same attention as the former “flying saucer,” but it will certainly create just as many memories for Paradise visitors for years to come.

Photo Credits:

• New Jackson Visitor Center
• Old Jackson Visitor Center

Sources:

• http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008246817_rainiervc10m.html
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_M._Jackson_Visitor_Center

Share this Post:

More »

Do You Know What These Rhymes Have In Common?

“Leaves of three, let it be”
“Berries white, run in fright”
“Hairy vine, no friend of mine”

They remind us how to spot Poison Ivy and Poison Oak! All of these are useful rhymes which have certainly helped many a hiker escape painful exposure. Itchy red rashes, swelling, even blistering- an innocent hike in the forest can have very uncomfortable consequences if you don’t know what to avoid.

Here are some characteristics shared by Poison Ivy and Poison Oak:

• Found in nearly every State in the United States
  

  Poison Ivy Leaflets

• Grows at altitudes below 5,000ft
• Deciduous
• Grows as a bush or vine
• Stems do not have thorns
• Usually grow clusters of three ‘leaflets’
• Leaflets can range in size from the length of your thumb to the length of your hand
• Middle leaflet has a notably longer stem than the two side leaflets, though more obvious in Poison Ivy than Poison Oak
• Depending on the season, leaf color can range from green to orange and even a dark purplish-red
• Inconspicuous white spring flowers which usually produce clusters of small white blueberry-sized berries that turn red in late summer
• Produce a rash-inducing oil called Urushiol
• Toxic to humans but harmless to animals
• All parts of the plant contain the toxins (leaflets, stems, and roots)

"Hairy" Poison Ivy Vine

The most tell-tale characteristics of poison ivy are:

• “Hairy” vines
• Though Poison Ivy is not really an ivy, it’s often viney growth pattern can resemble ivy
• Smooth or subtly toothed almond shaped leaflets that are sometimes irregularly lobed

Poison Oak Leaflets

The most tell-tale characteristics of Poison Oak are:

• Leaf shape resembles an oak leaf, but it’s not a member of the oak family
• Leaflets are duller green and usually more distinctly lobed or toothed than poison ivy
• Mature leaflets are typically duller green than young ones
• Leaflets have hairs on both sides, unlike poison ivy

Even a slight brush against theses plants can result in a skin reaction. The toxin is easily transferred from one surface to another and will remain potent for years if not thoroughly cleaned (imagine your exposed dog running through your house!). Also, symptoms can take 24-48 hours or even up to a week to show up, particularly if its your first exposure!  We recommend that you keep an eye out for these tell-tale signs to avoid contact!

Poison Oak Coloration

Urushiol: Poison Ivy and Poison Oak’s Oily Toxin

Poison ivy and poison oak have one very essential thing in common: urushiol. This sinister substance is an oil secreted from the leaves, vines, stems, and roots of both plants. Upon contact with your body, urushiol immediately forms a chemical bond to the skin and causes an almost unstoppable allergic reaction. A fraction of the populace is unresponsive to the irritating resin, but don’t count on it: even an initial natural resistance to urushiol will eventually break down after repeated exposure from too many careless treks off the beaten path.  Caution: Smoke inhalation from burning Poison Ivy or Poison Oak can send you straight to the emergency room, avoid burning these plants at all costs!

Poison Oak Leaflets Showing Coloration

To The Rescue: How to Treat Exposure

If you come into contact with either plant, the sooner you take care of it, the better. As the chemicals rub off your clothes onto other surfaces you run the risk of exposing yourself and spreading the oil. Urushiol is not water-soluble, so if you can, use rubbing alcohol or strong soap to cleanse the area of contact within the first ten minutes, then rinse off with cold water. As urushiol can remain active for years, you’ll want to wash any clothes, items, or furniture that may have come into contact with the invisible oily residue.

If you don’t catch the exposure immediately, your only choice is to treat the resulting itchy rash and blisters as best you can. While there are countless home remedies to relieve itching and pain, standard treatment options include oatmeal baths, baking soda pastes, calamine lotion, aloe vera, and a number of commercial products designed specifically for Poison Ivy and Oak. Of course, the best remedy is always prevention, so if you’re able to recognize and avoid poison ivy and poison oak, your experience in the mountains will feel the benefit!

Still not afraid of Poison Ivy and Poison Oak?
Click the links below to see just how bad these rashes and blisters can be…. (Warning! These graphic images are pretty disgusting!)

Leg Rash

Calf Rash

And if those two photos weren’t enough: Poison Ivy Rash Gallery

Poison Ivy Vine with Young Leaflets

Share this Post:

More »

For the average person, there’s a little-known distinction between our National Parks and our National Forests. Many believe them to be more or less the same thing, and in many ways, they can be! Both are large, natural areas owned and managed by the Federal government, both are devoted to the protection of America’s natural heritage, and both are intended to educate and entertain us when we feel that urge to reconnect with the world around us.

America’s First National Park

Logo of the National Park Service

In 1872 President Ulysses S. Grant signed the Act establishing Yellowstone as the country’s first National Park. Yellowstone, home to Mammoth Hot Springs and Old Faithful, was the first in a legacy of National Parks that stretches nearly a century and a half into the future.

Created in 1916, the primary purpose of the National Park Service is to manage the 84.9 million acres of land in the National Park System. The Park Service has a minimal impact policy when it comes to protecting the National Parks. Most people have heard this policy in the form of slogans, such as “Leave only footprints, take only pictures.”

Here’s some quick facts about the National Park Service:

• Of the 84.9 million acres under management, Alaska has 55 million acres
• 3.6% of all land in the U.S. is in the National Park System!
• Hunting, fishing, and logging are not allowed on National Park land
• There are 26,830 campsites, located in a total of 776 campgrounds!
• There are a total of 55 National Parks
• The National Park Service also manages 24 historic National Battlefields, 74 National Monuments, 10 National Seashores, and 54 Wilderness Areas
• There were 272 million visits to National Park Service lands in 2007
• 154,000 volunteers donated 5.1 million hours of time in 2007, saving the Park Service over 92 million dollars

Here at Three Bears Lodge, we’re lucky to be located near a protected natural haven of our own. Our cabins are located just moments outside Mount Rainier National Park, and provide an inspiring opportunity to spend the day discovering the Northwest’s richest arboreal treasures. You can explore it almost any way you like, from ranger-guided tours to motorcycle or the seat of a car, on two wheels for biking the trails or two feet for hiking them. While hunting and fishing are prohibited, feel free to capture as many wild animals on film as you like (or mountain meadows, blossoming flowers, bubbling streams, and alpine lakes)!

National Forests: “The Greatest Amount of Good for The Greatest Amount of People”

Logo of the US Forest Service

Unlike the National Park Service, which defends and protects our National Parks, the US Forest Service acts more as a steward to our National Forests. Where the National Parks function somewhat like a forested museum, the National Forests operate as a natural resource to the public at large.

Though the land is owned by the government, commercial activities such as logging, grazing livestock, and recreational pastimes are all allowed and regulated. Many popular skiing and snowboarding destinations are located on National Forest land, and hunting, fishing, camping, water sports, and picnicking are all popular outdoor activities.

The first Chief of the Forest Service, Gifford Pinchot, offered a simple and accurate summary of the National Forests’ purpose: “to provide the greatest amount of good for the greatest amount of people in the long run.” The National Forests are a functional complement to the grandeur and treasured beauty of the National Parks.

Here’s some quick facts about the US Forest Service:

• There are over 192 million acres of National Forests and Grasslands located in 42 states
• 122,000 campsites located in 4,300 campgrounds
• An average of 205 million visits to National Forests annually

National Parks and National Forests Working Together

Here in Ashford you get the best of both worlds. Though our cabins are located next to the National Park entrance, most of the land to the South of the park, including Mount St. Helens, is part of Gifford Pinchot National Forest. One of our cabins even backs up to National Forest right in the back yard!

To the North of the National Park, you’ll find the beginning of Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, which winds its way North through the Cascades all the way to the Canadian border. Both forests offer a truly rugged outdoor experience and allow many activities that you might not be able to do in the National Park, not to mention allowing dogs.

Sources: http://www.nps.gov/aboutus/quickfacts.htm
Sources: http://www.fs.fed.us/recreation/programs/facts/facts_sheet.shtml
Photo courtesy Kane Jamison

Share this Post:

More »

Click for Large Map

Distance: Approximately 5 miles
Difficulty: Medium
Elevation Gain: Approximately 1400 feet
Time: About 2.5 Hours
Season: Mid-June to October
Dogs Allowed: No

As the snow in Mount Rainier National Park begins to melt in early summer, more and more great hiking opportunities present themselves. One trail that becomes hikeable in mid-June is the Rampart Ridge Trail. Created by ancient lava flow from Mount Rainier, Rampart Ridge is located near Longmire, just a few minutes inside the Southwest Ashford entrance to the park. You’ll find the trail just across the street from the National Park Inn. The nearly 5 mile loop offers beautiful scenery and a short but challenging climb to the top of Rampart Ridge.

View of Mt Rainier from Rampart Ridge

For the best views of Mt. Rainier you should take the loop clockwise. To reach the Rampart Ridge Trail, start out along the 0.75 mile Trail of the Shadows, a quick loop and good day hike alternative for families with small children. At the back of the Trail of Shadows you’ll find the trailhead for Rampart Ridge. Once you begin the hike you’ll quickly ascend nearly 1400 feet. Switchbacks will lead you up and through douglas firs to reach the top of the ridge, where the path quickly levels off. The hike up is steep, but the payoff is quick once you reach the top of the ridge, since hikers are rewarded with gorgeous uninterrupted views of Mt. Rainier. Follow the ridge until you meet up with the Wonderland Trail to take you back down to Longmire, about 2 miles further.

The hike should take approximately 2.5 hours for the average hiker. Be sure to bring your camera for the wildlife and scenic views. Keep in mind that the trail may still have snow until late June, so come prepared for a little mud or cold wind at the top of the ridge.

Click for larger map of Rampart Ridge Trail

Share this Post:

More »

It’s something every dog owner can agree upon: our canine comrades make a career out of making us happy – and sometimes that can be a full-time job. Next time the family needs a refreshing escape from the city, why not give your pup a vacation, too?

From a spacious fenced enclosure nestled beneath the cedars, to a cozy washable dog bed, to a fully-stocked “doggie basket” complete with treats and personalized cabin ID tags, our Little Bears Cabin and our Three Bears Lodge cabin have been outfitted with thoughtful amenities to make Fido’s stay at the mountain as wonderful as your own. The Nisqually River is just a hop, skip, and a springing leap away from our Three Bears Lodge cabin, where you can walk along the levy for miles.

Although dogs aren’t permitted on the trails inside the National Park, the one exception is the Pacific Crest Trail that runs along the eastern border of the park. Hikers find themselves strolling through sub-alpine forests, passing lovely lakes and ponds, waterfalls and meadows filled with summer flowers. This hike offers spectacular views of Mount Rainier and other distant peaks.

Outside the National Park there are a multitude of trails in the Gifford-Pinchot National Forest and leashed dogs are welcome. One of our favorites is High Rock Lookout, which offers incredible views of the Sawtooth Ridge, Mount Rainier and the surrounding peaks. The trail head is just 10 minutes from our dog friendly cabins.

There’s no shortage of outdoor adventures to explore and enjoy with the whole family!

We guarantee a tail wagging good time!

Share this Post:

More »

A majestic bear snatching a salmon from a stream, an elk sauntering through tall mountain grasses, eagles soaring slowly across a blue sky- all these images are easily evoked when considering a wild wonderland such as Mount Rainier. It’s not too often that we get to witness firsthand these lovely vignettes of the natural world, but guests of Three Bears Lodge are in luck! Conveniently located a mere half hour from our Mount Rainier cabins is one of the Pacific Northwest’s most distinctive and exciting destinations: Northwest Trek Wildlife Park. At Northwest Trek, even the slickest of city dwellers can comfortably come face-to-face with all of our region’s most cherished wild creatures.

Spring is in the air, and anyone who’s ever seen Bambi knows precisely what that means! The bison, the deer, even the skunks are “twitterpated” this time of year, making for an especially heartwarming day-trip to the wildlife park from our cabins. Under the warm spring sunshine, you and your family can enjoy a tram tour through the park, an unpredictably entertaining trail-side encounter with the wildlife, and more than anything, you can delight in this season’s most precious bounty: baby animals of all shapes and sizes!

The Northwest Trek Wildlife Park is a wonderful resource for children and adults of all ages to benefit from and explore our natural Pacific Northwest heritage.

Photo courtesy tambako

Share this Post:

More »