Summer reading sets the scene for outdoors fun

Published 9:00 pm Friday, August 4, 2006

Marge and Ted Mueller have been cruising Puget Sound for decades. They’ve turned their accumulated wisdom into a series of books, now called the Afoot &Afloat series. The third edition of “North Puget Sound &the Strait of Juan de Fuca” ($17, Mountaineers Book) is now available.

Much of the book covers Snohomish County waters and waters nearby. There are chapters on Whidbey Island, Possession Sound and Port Gardner, Picnic Point to Seattle, Deception Pass State Park, the Skagit delta and Camano Island.

Although it’s geared to boaters, the land-based activities are accessible to anyone with a car and have detailed maps of water and shores. The Muellers have searched out small adventures that will be news to most Snohomish County residents.

The Tulalip Tribes Trail, for instance, is a -mile-long loop on the hillside above the Tulalip Bay Marina, with informational displays and photos. The Freeland County Park on Whidbey Island’s Holmes Harbor, 19 nautical miles from Everett, has a nice beach, play equipment, and a trail through the woods.

More to read

There’s still time this summer to go a little farther from home. Jacqueline Windh’s “The Wild Side of Vancouver Island’s Pacific Rim” ($25, Harbour Publishing) can be your guide to Long Beach, Tofino, Ucluelet, Port Alberni and Bamfield.

A quick look at the color photographs in the front and you’ll be reaching for the phone to make reservations. This is a just-the-basics book once you read pass the background information, which means that mileage and telephone numbers are at your fingertips.

Each section stars with a short list of things to do and three magical moments.

“It’s a Jungle Up There: More Tales from the Treetops” ($27.50, Yale). This is the sequel to Margaret Lowman’s “Life in the Treetops,” adventures with her two sons, wildlife and other researchers in remote areas of the world. Some of the stories are written by her sons.

“The Fishing Club: Brothers and Sisters of the Angle” ($25, Lyons Press). Each chapter has a short fishing tale from an angler, with author Bob Rich telling the rest of the story with interviews. Anglers include baseball great Ted Williams and former President George H.W. Bush.

“Pete Dunne’s Essential Field Guide Companion” ($30, Houghton Mifflin). Dunne is a birdwatching legend on the East Coast. Here’s a chance to share his knowledge.

“Essential” is a resource for identifying birds in North America. Use it as a companion to a more traditional field guide – one with photographs or illustrations – because there’s nary a one of those in this book.

Instead, Dunne uses words to help identify and understand birds, particularly in the description, behavior, flight and pertinent particulars sections.

He’s also a good writer who can paint a picture with words: “while foraging, moves with the fluid grace of a skater”; “a scoop of butterscotch clinging to the reeds.”

“Pacific Northwest Wildflowers” ($25, Falcon). Readers can take Damian Fagan’s book to the field with its slick pages and guaranteed binding. It has color photographs, identification tips, habitat and bloom range, but what sets this apart from many identification books is the comment section for each flower.

“Hurricane Almanac” ($12, St. Martin’s). Bryan Norcross offers the essential guide to storms past, present and future. The on-air hurricane analyst for CBS tells you what you need to know if you’re headed into hurricane country. As the book cover says, “learn, prepare, survive, react and recover.”

“San Juan Islands Impressions” ($10, Farcountry Press). Explore the San Juans photographically with Charles Gurche and then head for the islands. Because summer weekends are painfully crowded on the ferries, consider a fall trip.

Volunteer opportunity

Help maintain the Evergreen Mountain Lookout Trail on Aug. 12 with Washington Trails Association trail leaders. The trail is near Skykomish, a short but steep climb to the summit. Volunteers will beat back encroaching huckleberry.

Columnist Sharon Wootton can be reached at 360-468-3964 or www.songandword.com.