About us
Hello and welcome to the Skagit Whatcom Adventure Group! We are all about getting outside in Washington and British Columbia, having adventures of all kinds, meeting new people, and, most of all, having fun. We are open to anyone with an adventurous spirit. Our vision is to have a variety of different events hosted by a diverse leadership team.
In the past year we’ve led lots of hikes, played in the snow, attended live music events, gone to outdoor-related movies, and, of course, eaten plenty of good food. We hope to see you on one of our adventures soon!
Dues for this group are $5 annually, which covers the fees Meetup charges to host and maintain the website. We have set this price low to keep it affordable to all and we believe it’s a great value for your money.
The fine print:
- If signing-up for an event, please make every effort to attend. We understand that life happens at inopportune times, however no-shows will be documented and three no-shows may result in removal from the group. Please update your RSVP with as much advance notice as possible, even if it’s just an hour before the start. Otherwise, the group can end up waiting for someone at a carpool location or a trail-head (where there's often no cell reception).
- Organizers in this group are not guides, instructors, or medical professionals. You alone are 100% responsible for your own safety and comfort and for the safety of those you bring as guests. We may give you our opinions on whether or not an activity is suitable for you, but the ultimate responsibility lies with you, as we are not experts. Certain activities may require other gear. If you don't know, ask! Someone can likely share advice or ideas.
- Be respectful and have fun. We are a group of fun-loving people who enjoy the outdoors and staying active. We are also a diverse group of all ages, backgrounds, and nationalities, and we believe in treating everyone fairly and equally. We ask that you do the same and we’ll all have a great time.
Upcoming events
2
Tuesday Heliotrope Ridge Hike
Heliotrope Ridge, 48.802083,-121.895667, Bellingham, WA, USThe road is finally open! Let's Heliotrope!!
Mount Baker. Coleman Glacier. Wildflowers. Stream crossings. Mountain climbers. It's gotta be a Heliotrope Ridge hike!
Expect 6 miles of trail out and back and 1500 feet of elevation gain, along with several stream crossings. We'll be taking the trail to the base of Coleman Glacier, rather than the climber's route. Most crossings are relatively easy but Heliotrope Creek is more complex. The trail has had limited use this year and the creek crossing is an unknown, so bring hiking poles and be prepared to get your feet wet. (Water shoes might be a good idea.) The trail might also be a bit rough. This is a bit of a hike into the unknown since there are no current trip reports, bring your sense of adventure and have fun.
Stamina Alert: We will hike at a moderate pace and with the elevation gain and stream crossings, you should have the ability and experience to handle these conditions.
Notes:
- Dogs on a leash are welcome.
- Bathrooms are available at the trailhead.
- Northwest Forest Pass or Senior Pass required at parking area (WA Discovery Pass will not work).
The total time for this hike, including the drive to and from, is 8 hours but you should plan for 9 - 10 to allow for delays and/or pizza on the way back.
Carpooling: Let's meet at the Northeast corner of the Lowes parking lot in Bellingham at 9:00 am near the KFC/A&W. We can carpool/caravan from this point. If you plan to drive directly to the trailhead, please leave a comment below so we don't wait for you. The hike will start at 10:30 am.
- Driving Directions to Lowes in Bellingham: From I-5 take Exit 255 and head east on Hwy 542. Lowes and KFC are almost immediately on your right in a large parking area. We'll meet in the Northeast corner of the Lowes parking lot near the KFC/A&W at 9:00am.
- Driving Directions to Trailhead: Drive east from Bellingham on the Mount Baker Highway (Hwy 542) for 35 miles to the Forest Road 39 (Glacier Creek Road), about 1 mile past the Glacier Public Service Center. Turn right onto Road 39 and after 8 miles, turn left at a junction and continue less than half a mile to the trailhead.
We will postpone this hike for heavy rain, high winds, or thunderstorms, so check this site the day before. We will not cancel for light rain or clouds. Please do not make plans for later in the day as we do not know exactly when we will return.
For more information, see:
https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/heliotrope-ridgeDisclaimer: We are not professional hiking guides or medical professionals. You alone are 100% responsible for your own comfort and safety. By attending this hike you agree to these terms and do not hold hike organizer(s) liable for injuries and/or medical issues during or after this event.
11 attendees
Aug. 27 Oyster Dome Trail Maintenance
Samish Overlook Parking Lot, Blanchard Hill Road, Bow, WA, USSWAG is partnering with Pacific Northwest Trail Association (PNTA) for another trail maintenance event, performing some stone wall and tread rebuilding on the Oyster Dome trail.
We'll be starting from the Samish Overlook parking lot and hiking about a mile to a spot where the edge of the trail has collapsed. On our last maintenance day, lots of stones were collected for the repair and this time we'll be building a support wall with them and filling in the trail tread. This should take a several hours, or less if lots of people sign up. (Hint, hint!) When finished, we'll head back to the parking lot for treats.
No experience is necessary and PNTA will provide all tools and equipment, you just have to show up and have fun. For this event, we'll be using larger tools (Pulaskis, MacLeods, shovels, etc.), digging up and moving large and small rocks, and moving dirt. Don't let this scare you, there's a job for everyone, no matter your strength or size.
To sign up, you must go to the PNTA volunteer site and fill out their form. When you've done that, come back here and sign up with SWAG.
NOTES:
- WA State Discovery pass is required.
- There are bathrooms available at the trailhead.
- Sorry, dogs are not welcome since we'll be working on the trail.
Housekeeping:
- We will cancel for high winds or heavy monsoon rains but we will hike otherwise.
- You must sign-up and be on the “Going” list to participate.
- If you sign-up for this event, out of respect for the group and those on the wait list please make every effort to attend.
- Please practice leave-no-trace.
Disclaimer: We are not professional hiking guides or medical professionals. We are volunteers. You alone are 100% responsible for your own comfort and safety. By attending this hike you agree to these terms and do not hold hike organizer(s) liable for injuries and/or medical issues during or after this event.
4 attendees
Past events
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