All posts by Roger Jenkins

Living in Orange County, CA. “Pursuing Balance Through Adventure” is about finding one’s self by freeing the soul through bold experiences in nature and exploring that delicate balance between responsibility and wild abandonment.

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Whistler Canyon Trail

December 1, 2019 Roger Jenkins Leave a comment

WHISTLER CANYON-FROG POND-BLACK DIAMOND LAKE TRAILS

Orville, Washington

Activity: Day Hike

Distance: 9 miles, over 1500’ elevation change, duration 5 hours, rated Moderate

Whistler Canyon Trail near Orville Washington, part of the Pacific Northwest Trail, is actually a 14 mile trail that encompasses an elevation change of 3,776’ and is used by hikers, rock climbers, horse back riders, and just simply nature lovers. This area has all kinds of wildlife such as wild turkey, hawk, eagle, vulture, rattle snake, big horn sheep, mule deer, bear, marmot, coyote, moose, and cougar. There are sweeping vistas of the Okanogan River and Valley, the town of Orville, Osoyoos Lake, and Canadian mountains in the distance.

I bundled three trails in my day hike excursion: Part of the Whistler Canyon Trail, the Frog Pond Trail, and a portion of the Black Diamond Lake Trail.

If you only have a couple hours or so then the Frog Pond Trail might be a fun hike to do. Starting at the Whistler Canyon Trail you climb pretty quickly in elevation then off to your left you will find the sign to the Frog Pond Trail which is a delightful hike through an Ponderosa Pines wooded area with rocky cliffs on both sides. There is a great overlook that is not to be missed with super views of the Okanogan River and Valley. Finally you will arrive at the Frog Pond. When I was there in late August there was no pond only a grassy area surrounded by lovely Aspen, Birch, and Cottonwood Trees. I assume that the “pond” takes on a different look in the Spring.

After enjoying the Frog Pond I rejoined the Whistler Canyon Trail and headed up. It climbs 1000’ in the first two miles. I ventured off to the Black Diamond Lake Trail and went as far as the Overlook that once again had fantastic views, but this time wrapping around a little further north.

I really enjoyed this hike, and hopefully I will get the chance to go back and hike further into this area as the highlands above looked intriguing.

I can testify that there are rattlers in the area.

The Frog Pond is an enjoyable little hike which is about 2 miles long, takes an hour. It brings you to a delightful little wooded area. There was no pond in August just tree trees and grasses. I am sure it is different in the Spring.

From the Whistler Canyon Trail I took the Black Diamond Lake Trail to the Overlook.

“Leave the road, take the trails.” – Pythagoras

Thanks for joining me “Pursuing Balance Through Adventure” in Whistler Canyon. Please give me a thumbs up by doing any or all of the following: LIKE, COMMENT, FOLLOW, and SHARE.

Peak Bagging

Windy Peak

November 22, 2019 Roger Jenkins 1 Comment

Loomis, Washington

Activity: Backpacking

Date: August 16th & 17th, 2019

Distance: 11.5 miles, 3400’ elevation gain, overnight backpack approximately 8 hours of actual hiking, rated Difficult

Windy Peak is one of the ‘Top100” peaks in Washington. It stands at 8334’ in the Okanogan National Forest/Pasayten Wilderness Area. The Iron Gate Trail Head is best reached with a 4 wheel drive vehicle.

It is always great to share such a wonderful experience with others and I was invited to join my sister Peggy and her husband Dale on one of their favorite backpacking adventures, to Windy Peak.

The hike begins through tall green firs and advances to high meadows of green grass and abundant wild flowers, which surprised me, but actually different areas and altitudes have their bloom at different times. We moved through a burn area of scorched lodge pole pines that was making a come back with greenery and saplings taking hold and that was good to see.

The Iron Gate Trailhead is at 6000’ and we climbed 1000’ by the time we made Sunny Pass, a great place to take a load off, and refuel with some energy bars and other delectable snacks my sister had put together for the trip. We chatted with a friendly Forest Ranger, who was roaming the area, during our break. Then we once again hit the trail until we arrived at the spot Peggy and Dale love to camp at on this hike, Windy Lake.

What an enchanting little lake, with Windy Peak looming in the distance it was a marvelous site indeed. While going about our chores of setting up camp, and gathering fallen wood for a campfire, my sister pointed out a tree that had much of the bark rubbed off of it, which was a sign that this lake was a favorite watering hole for Moose. Speaking of wildlife, we did run into bedded down Deer, Blue Grouse, and a playful Marmot during our trek. Once we had a roaring fire going, we enjoy one of the hot homemade backpacking meals that my sister is famous for.

After a quiet slumber next to the picturesque lake, we broke camp and began our ascent to the Summit of Windy Peak. We traveled some four miles from the lake. The journey became steeper the closer we got. We ditched the heavy backpacks as we drew near, opting to bring one day back to carry snacks, water, and jackets to the peak, as we made the final assault. Once on top the view was mesmerizing vast and remote wilderness in every direction. Dale, who had returned to the Okanogan, his boyhood haunt, was very familiar with the area, and pointed out the many peaks and mountains near and far much to our delight.

We sat there drinking in as much of the peace and tranquility as we could before starting back down from Windy Peak, through the forests, the pass, and meadows back to civilization. What a great couple of days.

Peggy amongst the beautiful wild flowers.

Look very closely and you can spy a couple resting deer.

Peggy points out scrapped off bark like this are signs of Moose.

Dale hydrates on a small break after filtering water from the spring.

**Well deserved break time at Sunny Pass…**

Sorta’ peculiar the way these lodge pole burned out pines fell together in this arrangement. Looks like the makings of a scary movie.

**“You are not in the mountains. The mountains are in you.” — John Muir**

Thanks for joining my sister Peggy, her husband Dale, and I as we found ourselves in the wilds of Washington ’Pursuing Balance Through Adventure’. If you enjoyed this adventure then please LIKE, COMMENT, FOLLOW, and SHARE.

‘Pursuing Balance Through Adventure’ Video Clip of Windy Peak

‘Pursuing Balance Through Adventure’ Interview at Secret Spot

“Gorgeous view everywhere you look’, while ‘Pursuing Balance Through Adventure’.

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Welcome to Washington State Hiking Pursuing Balance Through Adventure

November 13, 2019 Roger Jenkins Leave a comment

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, Dream, Discover.” -Mark Twain

The Pacific Northwest and in particular the State of Washington is a magnificent natures playground with beautiful mountains, boundless rivers, rambling streams, vast forests, tranquil meadows, and sparkling lakes with enough wilderness to get yourself lost in and in so doing find yourself.

The objective of this blog as part of the ‘Pursuing Balance Through Adventure’ series of sites is to inspire, through stories, photographs, and helpful trip reports. Get off the couch, stretch the legs, fill the lungs with fresh air, flood the heart with joy, and release the soul so it may soar. Our lives are so busy rushing here, rushing there, punching a time clock, paying bills, chores, meeting obligations, don’t you think that we all need a little balance in our lives? Don’t we all yearn for a little break? A moment to listen to ourselves, and discover who we are? What better way to accomplish this than in the middle of no where drinking in an grand adventure and boundless natural beauty.

I invite you to join me in this pursuit to find one’s inner self through adventures that shows you marvelous things, perhaps takes you a little out of your comfort zone, and so importantly balance the hectic existence that is life. The idea is to inspire you so that you can do the same or if need be I am happy to share and you can live vicariously through my ‘Pursuing Balance Through Adventure.’

‘Pursuing Balance Through Adventure’ has multiple websites encompassing adventure opportunities throughout the West. This particular site will show my adventures in Washington. A place I have lived in for a short time in the past. It was fabulous to be in the Northwest again and I kept saying to myself now these are proper mountains.

Roger Jenkins

Pursuing Balance Through Adventure