What we’re about
Hello and welcome to the Skagit Whatcom Adventure Group! We are all about getting outside, 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 (4)
See all- Aug. 5th Winchester Mountain & High Pass HikeTwin Lakes Trailhead, Glacier, WA
This hike is a request from a group member (I LOVE requests!) and it has it all: an old fire lookout, outstanding views of the mountains, beautiful lakes, and isn't too tough. The two hikes combined are 7.1 miles with 2100 feet of elevation gain.
We'll drive up to Twin Lakes and use this as our base of operations. First, we'll hike up to the Winchester Lookout, a trail of 3.4 miles and 1300' of elevation. The trail is well-traveled and in good condition, with only a few sketchy sections. After enjoying the views and taking pictures, we'll head back to our cars at the lakes for lunch.
After lunch, we'll head out to High Pass on the flanks of Mount Larabee. This trail is 3.6 miles with only 800' of elevation. Unlike the Winchester trail, this one has some dicey spots and exposure, so be sure to bring your poles. We'll hike up to Larabee base camp for a break before going back down the cars and heading home.
Notes
- Northwest Forest Pass (or Senior Pass) is required
- Dogs are NOT allowed in this Wilderness Area
- We'll be exposed to the sun the whole day - be sure to bring lots of water, appropriate clothes, and sunscreen.
- The road to Twin Lakes is awful! You'll need high ground clearance and AWD is highly recommended. We'll arrange carpooling beforehand for anyone who needs it.
For more info, please see:
WTA Winchester Mountain
WTA High PassDriving and carpooling: The trailhead is 1.5 hours east of Bellingham and due to the rough road we may need to carpool. Please leave a comment below if you plan to meet us at the trailhead.
- Bellingham: we'll meet at Lowes Home Improvement at 8:15 to sort out the driving and will leave at 8:30
- Trailhead: if you're meeting us at the trailhead @ 10:00AM, please leave a comment below so we don't wait for you at the carpool site.
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.
- Eden with Savanna Woods-Live, Outdoor Music in AnacortesSeafarers Memorial Park, Anacortes, WA
Let's head to Anacortes for a free, outdoor concert on the grass at Seafarers Park with Eden! https://www.edenband.org/ They'll likely play a mix of covers and originals like this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AtsAalrfEs Savanna Woods is a local signer/songwriter who's performed all over the world and was even on The Voice! Her style ranges from folk to rock and her shows have both original songs and covers that everyone knows the words to. https://savannawoodsmusic.com/
Bring a lawn chair or blanket, as this is an outdoor show on the grass next to the water. We'll try to save some space, but I recommend arriving early. Once there, I can add a note to the event comments about where we're located. The Meetup is set for the official show time, but we will be arriving earlier.
An option for those who are interested is to go a little early and picnic at the park before the show. There are several great restaurants with take out options, or you can bring food from home.
- Criminal Squirrel Orchestra Live MusicRiverfront Park, Sedro Woolley, Sedro Woolley, WA
With this band name, how can they not be fun? Let's head to Sedro Woolley's Riverfront Park for a free concert!
More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/718245217800069
The concert goes from 6pm to 8pm and is on a stage fronting a big, grassy area. I highly recommend bringing a lawn chair or blanket. We will plan on arriving early to get a good spot for the show, say around 5:30. Since I haven't been here for music yet, we'll plan on figuring out how to meet as a group once we're there. If we're not obvious/easy to find, I'll use the event comments before the show starts.From the band's page:
NOT a "traditional cover band". Criminal Squirrel Orchestra plays some covers, but they play them in "reimagined ways". And they play originals. Very catchy, dance-able, originals!
https://www.facebook.com/CSquirrelO
Sample song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trG7p75Wvvw - Aug. 12 Chain Lakes hikeHeather Meadows, Mt Baker, WA
This gorgeous loop hike has it all: big views of Mounts Baker and Shuksan, as well as the North Cascades, alpine lakes for swimming, and a well-maintained trail winding through meadows, rock slopes, and over cols. This is widely considered one of the most scenic hikes in all the Cascades, if not THE most scenic!
STAMINA ALERT: This is a moderate hike of 7 miles with 1,800 feet in elevation gain and a high point of 5,400 feet. We will be hiking at an average pace and you will need to be in decent hiking shape for this hike. We'll stop for photo, lunch, rest, and hydration breaks as desired. Hiking poles and good hiking boots are recommended - most of the trail is rocky.
We'll be hiking clock-wise this time, so we'll start our hike at the Artist Point parking lot. We'll hit the trail there and end at the Heather Meadows visitor center/Bagley Lakes (where we may leave a car so we don't have to walk back uphill).
- Well behaved dogs on leash welcome.
- Bathrooms are available at 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 food at Chair 9 on the way home.
Carpooling: Let's meet at the Lowes parking lot in Bellingham at 8:00 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.
- Driving Directions to Lowes in Bellingham: From I-5 take Exit 255 (Sunset Dr./Hwy. 542), turn east on Sunset Dr., and almost immediately turn right into Lowes. We'll meet in the Lowes parking lot near the KFC/A&W at 8:00am.
- Driving Directions to Trailhead: Drive east from Bellingham on the Mount Baker Highway (Hwy 542) for 57 miles to Artist Point. The carpool will arrive here about 10:00.
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/chain-lakes-3
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/chain-lakes-loop-trailHousekeeping:
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 please make every effort to attend.
We will cancel for high winds or monsoon rains. We will hike sun, rain, snow, or sleet.
Please practice leave-no-trace. Hope to see you on this hike!Disclaimer: 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.
