Wildlife Area | Washington State Hiking Pursuing Balance Thru Adventure

CARTER MOUNTAIN WILDLIFE PRESERVE

Activity: Day Hike

6 miles, 500’ elevation gain, >3 hour duration, rated Easy

Date: 7-11-22

I explored 4 miles of this hike with family friend Margaret. We trekked through a valley of sage brush dotted rolling hills, some with rugged rock outcroppings and the occasional conifer. Even though it was July it has been a cooler and wetter season, so the hills were much more green than usual for this time of year. Meadows of desert flowers put forth their tender shoots, glorious blossoms of wild flowers such as Mariposa Lilies, a couple varieties of Daisies, and Lupin colorfully adorned our journey. The birds sang, butterflies danced from pedal to pedal, the bees were busy buzzing, as a gentle breeze teased the tussles of wild grasses.

Carter Mountain Wildlife Unit is just south of Tonasket, Washington. It is made up of more than 2,240 acres. The preserve supports wildlife such as golden eagle, black bear, mule deer, cougar, and bobcat. We discovered what we believe to be bear scat on the path so stay aware.

Summer has finally arrived. The sun beating down, the rather hot temperatures along with the lack of any shade was a bit of a challenge for Margaret visiting from Anacortes, where it remains cool pretty much all of the time. So we cut the hike back a bit. When hiking in Summer be sure to wear light colors, a hat, and bring plenty of water. We were prepared In this way, so other than being a little red in the face Margaret soldiered on, and enjoyed her East of the Cascades nature hike through the scrub brush and lilies.

Pursuing Balance Through Adventure YouTube Channel, click the pic.

**“No matter how chaotic it is, wildflowers will still spring up in the middle of no where.” – Sheryl Crowe**

Thanks for accompanying Margaret and I into the Carter Mountain Wildlife Preserve. We hope that you will continue on with us ‘Pursuing Balance Through Adventure’ which you can easily do by performing some easy tasks: COMMENT, LIKE, FOLLOW and SHARE. Like the Wildflowers that surrounded us on our hike, Nature reminds us no matter how crazy our lives might get, life still finds a way. Wildflowers get trampled, scorched by heat and drought in the Summer, and frost and cold in the Winter, but find a way to Spring back. If you go out and smell the wildflowers, and experience the Adventure of Nature then life will Balance. The menu above is a treasure chest of ideas for your next adventure. The menu is categorized by area and activity, each is a separate website and thus need to be FOLLOWED independently. SHOP APPAREL is the PBTA spot for great adventure wear. Check it out!

Happy Trails–

Roger Jenkins

Pursuing Balance Through Adventure

SINLAHEIKEN WILDLIFE AREA

OKANOGAN HIGHLANDS

LOOMIS, WASHINGTON

Activity: Day Hike

Date: December 10, 2020

Just 10 miles from the Canadian Boarder in the Okanogan Region lies the Sinlahekin Valley and this wild area. The Sinlahekin Natural Area is 14,000 acres that supports a diverse population of birds including grouse and pheasant and it’s several small lakes are teeming with water fowl and rainbow trout. The area also is home to deer and other animals.

Those visiting Sinlahekin Natural Area can enjoy wooded areas with Ponderosa Pine, Douglas Fir, as well as various deciduous trees, rolling hills of grassland, surrounded by the steep hills and mountainsides. There are 8 miles of trail, the Dave Brittell Memorial Trail.

In the summer this place would have blue skies reflecting on it’s lakes with steep hills and mountains as a back drop. In the spring it would be green and flowering. Fall would be delightful with many deciduous trees bringing color to the landscape, and in winter it would be a wonderland.

I walked 8 miles of this area in between seasons. Not Autumn, as all the leaves had fallen leaving a earthy scent of damp soil and decaying leaves hanging in the air. Not winter per se, as there was only a few patches of crisp snow here and there. The low level clouds hung over the valley fogging the appearance of all but the nearest hills or mountain sides at their foot.

So my venture was a quiet walk through a dormant land, void of all sound other than the Sinlahekin Creek. No animals, the lakes were frozen so no jumping fish, or flocks of geese. I did see a bald eagle investigating a small open water section that was not frozen, obviously searching for his next meal. Mine was a nice hike in the country, and a time for reflection, a silent time for ‘Pursing Balance Through Adventure’.

**The frozen lake and the low hung clouds let you know that winter had arrive at Sinlahekin.**

**“I never found the companion that was so companionable as solitude.” -Henry David Thoreau**

One thing that is great about nature is how it whispers to you while ‘Pursuing Balance Through Adventure’. On quiet frozen days like this everything seems asleep and at peace, and the experience really sets you at ease which is exactly what the doctor ordered to bring balance from the stress of our real lives, with do this -do that, be here- be there, rush around, work work work. It is nice to have nature heal us with a quiet walk through a dormant land. For more healing through nature and profound experiences of adventure please: COMMENT, LIKE, SHARE and FOLLOW. Please support this site by supporting yourself with a shirt, hat or a beanie that carries the important message for you and all lovers of nature: ‘Pursing Balance Through Adventure’ at SHOP APPAREL. To help you find a special place to find that inner peace checkout the menu to see all the many locations that PBTA ventures to. Keep in mind that each location is a separate website and thus needs to be FOLLOWED independently.

Happy Trails-

Roger Jenkins

Pursuing Balance Through Adventure

Washington State Hiking Pursuing Balance Thru Adventure

Tag Archives: Wildlife Area

Carter Mountain

Quiet Walk Through a Dormant Land

Pursuing Balance Through Adventure