Lacamas Park and Lacamas Heritage Loop (of sorts) 4.19.14

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sprengers4jc
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Lacamas Park and Lacamas Heritage Loop (of sorts) 4.19.14

Post by sprengers4jc » April 21st, 2014, 3:34 pm

In preparation for a 16+ mile hike with my buddy Jon sometime in the next six weeks, I decided to try to record some big mileage Saturday, despite our time restrictions due to previous engagements. Tracy was resting today so I gave myself 6 hours, figuring I could knock off over 10 miles in that time period. I traveled a long loop around the perimeter of the park, walked the road connector and then did the Lacamas Heritage Trail both ways as well. Both of my GPS tracks showed 13.1 miles, so I guess this was a half marathon of hiking and it took me only 5 hours, 20 minutes :D. But either section of this can be done as an easy weeknight hike, too. The Lily Fields are looking awesome right now, so you should visit in the next week.

Lacamas Park has a wonderful diversity of plant and animal life. But the best part is coming early in the day, before others are out and about. This allows one to hear all the birds chirping, woodpeckers pecking and geese honking. It's also awesome to see the variety of wildflowers at this time of the year. Part of the problem with that, though, is that it means I don't know half of the flowers I saw! I did my best to name them here, and will add other names as they come to me. For now, many may remain LPFs, as my friend calls them: Little Pink Flowers :). Please chime in with names and/or corrections :) .

~Keri
Attachments
1.jpg
The Potholes. Pre-7 a.m. light is a bit unforgiving.
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Shortspur Seablush
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Lacamas Creek
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Mini pothole along the creek
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Dandelion head
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Camas Lillies and Rosy Plectritis line the trail near the Potholes.
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Camas Lily Fields
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Camas
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Western Buttercup
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Nature makes the best flower pots :).
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Avalanche Lily
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Round Lake
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Woodpecker
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Great Horsetail macro
'We travel not to escape life but for life to not escape us.'
-Unknown

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UTurn
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Re: Lacamas Park and Lacamas Heritage Loop (of sorts) 4.19.1

Post by UTurn » April 21st, 2014, 4:46 pm

This is beautiful! I haven't been there and years and I believe it's time for a visit. Thank you for the report!

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sprengers4jc
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Re: Lacamas Park and Lacamas Heritage Loop (of sorts) 4.19.1

Post by sprengers4jc » April 21st, 2014, 4:50 pm

Thanks, UTurn! It's a great little place. You certainly won't regret a visit. I noticed they continue to add a lot of new trails, too, that don't appear on any maps. They all lead eventually back to the main trails but add some nice variety.
'We travel not to escape life but for life to not escape us.'
-Unknown

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Roy
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Re: Lacamas Park and Lacamas Heritage Loop (of sorts) 4.19.1

Post by Roy » April 21st, 2014, 7:29 pm

Have not been there since a teen fishing off the bridge wow.
The downhill of the mind is harder than the uphill of the body. - Yuichiro Miura

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sprengers4jc
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Re: Lacamas Park and Lacamas Heritage Loop (of sorts) 4.19.1

Post by sprengers4jc » April 22nd, 2014, 6:33 am

This is one of our favorite in-town hikes! The Lacamas Heritage Trail is basically bloomed out now so there aren't many flowers to see anymore. All but the last photo here came from the perimeter loop at Lacamas Park.
'We travel not to escape life but for life to not escape us.'
-Unknown

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woodswalker
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Re: Lacamas Park and Lacamas Heritage Loop (of sorts) 4.19.1

Post by woodswalker » April 23rd, 2014, 6:58 am

Wow, that mini pothole picture is magic personified!
Woodswalker

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sprengers4jc
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Re: Lacamas Park and Lacamas Heritage Loop (of sorts) 4.19.1

Post by sprengers4jc » April 23rd, 2014, 7:06 am

woodswalker wrote:Wow, that mini pothole picture is magic personified!
Woodswalker
Thanks, Woodswalker! :)
'We travel not to escape life but for life to not escape us.'
-Unknown

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