Maritime Heritage Park * Bellingham 10-12-10

This is where Whatcom Creek flows into Bellingham Bay after it has passed through downtown Bellingham.
Some of you may remember .... this is the stream that exploded into flames a few years ago because of a gas pipeline leak. Since then, the stream has been trying to heal.
No fishing upstream of the yellow line.
There is a hatchery here in the park. They breed Chum salmon.
There are also native run Chinook and Coho .... so I was told.


Looking upstream ... the rapids


A little further upstream ... the waterfall is the main obstacle for the salmon. Water level is high.

Maritime Heritage Park * Bellingham 10-12-10

Resting below the rapids


Resting below the falls


Jumping into a wall

Maritime Heritage Park * Bellingham 10-12-10




This is the only fish that I saw trying to use the ladder. All the others were taking on the falls.


There is a {such as it is} fish ladder at the left of this picture, looking down the falls.

Ed, you got some great pics of your travels around the Sooke area. So glad to hear you enjoyed your time exploring the area

Doug, fantastic pics of the spawning salmon. It's quite a feat for them to make it to the spawning streams, and so sad that their long journey means the end of their lives

Kay, Marg and Doug: Thanks for your comments. Vancouver Island is a great place to view wildlife, but I now recommend taking bear spray on any hikes in the woods, especially in the fall when bears are around. Doug: It's amazing to see the salmon back in Whatcom Creek, but it looks like nature is recovering more than 10 years after the explosion.

Hi Kay * Yes, salmon have a tragic life cycle. Tragic, but also perfect. I feel that salmon are the keystone to the entire natural system here in the Pacific Northwest.

Hi Ed * Gosh, I didn't realize that it had been that long since the creek exploded. My, how time flies.

Cougar Divide / Chowder Ridge * 10-13-10


From Bellingham drive east on the Mt. Baker highway. Just past the 40 mile marker is the Wells Creek rd. Take a right and go about 1/2 mile, stop and view Nooksack Falls.


Continue up Wells Creek rd. Parts are steep, very rough and slow going, but you are rewarded with views of Mt. Baker like this one in the morning light.


It is about 15 miles up Wells Creek rd. to the Cougar Divide trailhead which is at 4800'.
The Cougar Divide trail is unmaintained, muddy, and there are many trees down over the trail.
I would say the trail is difficult because of the rugged terrain and steep climbs and descents.
Here, Ron is grazing on some mountain blueberries alongside the trail. Note that the trail is frozen.

Cougar Divide / Chowder Ridge * 10-13-10


Last of the blueberries


The trail climbs to a knob with great views in all directions.
Cougar Divide is the golden grassy ridge, lower right.


After about 3 miles of hiking up and down through forested terrain, we make the Divide. About 5500'.