Check out the gorgeous, still snowy views at Artist Point

  • By Sharon Wootton
  • Friday, July 11, 2014 4:13pm
  • Life

There are a few bet-on-it activities during the summer: road work, road openings and trail openings. But sometimes the messages are mixed.

Happily, Highway 542 is open to Artist Point. There steep, towering snow banks surround the parking area, the restrooms are buried in 15-20 feet of snow, and trails are still snowbound.

On a clear day, enjoy the great mountain views, including Mount Shuksan. The snow is pretty packed down, so a short snowy walk will get you better views of Mount Baker, Shuksan and Table Mountain.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

Artist Point and the Heather Meadows Area require a U.S. Forest Service Recreation Pass. The Washington State Discover Pass is not honored here.

For more information, call the Glacier Public Service Center at 360-599-2714.

Repair work will continue through July on the one-tenth-mile Madison Falls Trail in the Elwha Valley of Olympic National Park as park crews and volunteers improve the trail.

This trail is wheelchair and stroller accessible.

Cats vs. vermin email: Bob Reis of Arlington emailed his perspective on cats and birds.

“It seems that the pro-cat vs. pro-bird factions both have very strong feelings and are not open to compromise. The numbers given are huge but seem to me to be unverifiable.

“(I) feel they are more of a ‘SWAG’ (Scientific Wild Ass Guess) than fact. The numbers might be acceptable if songbirds were the only food source for feral cats, and an opportunistic food for ‘domestic’ cats.

“The facts are that cats, both feral and house, will hunt any food source available. It is in their nature to hunt.

“No mention is made of other prey that are regularly taken by cats, such as mice, rats, moles, voles, snakes and other small mammals … I can not imagine the vermin problem we would have if not for the cats in our neighborhoods and farms.

“I do not have scientific proof to back up my claims but I do know for sure that when the feral cat population in my neighborhood wanes, the moles in my yard increase and we have mice invade the house when the weather cools and natural food sources for field mice decreases.”

Trap, neuter and release tool: Katie Lisnik, director of the Cat Protection and Policy, Companion Animals, section of the Humane Society of the United States, offered her organization’s view:

“We want to thank you for covering the complex issue of cats and wildlife. This is a very divisive issue, and one that (we) deal with regularly.

“While conflicting data has been used to prop up one side or another, we feel that there is a lot of common ground that we should be focusing our efforts on rather than the pointless debate over exact predation numbers or whether or not TNR is a perfect solution.

“We all need to focus, instead, on practical and realistic strategies that help get us further along towards our goals. TNR is one tool in our toolkit, and it can work if implemented properly, and kept up over time.

“It, like other practical strategies, will not bring about our end goal overnight but it is in line with public opinion, and the current level of resources that can be dedicated to the issue.

“We’ll be holding a free, day-long training on cat issues on Oct. 20 in Lynnwood. This will be one in our series of Rethinking the Cat Symposia. It will focus on adoptable cats and on community (feral and stray) cats … new strategies and programs that can help us target our resources and achieve better results for cats and communities.”

For more information, go to http://bit.ly/1sCEcYh.

The state Department of Fish and Wildlife’s latest Crossing Paths focuses on this issue. Go to http://1.usa.gov/1rYoKrS.

The cat vs. bird discussion in this column is now closed.

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

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Life

Kim Crane talks about a handful of origami items on display inside her showroom on Monday, Feb. 17, 2025, in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Crease is the word: Origami fans flock to online paper store

Kim’s Crane in Snohomish has been supplying paper crafters with paper, books and kits since 1995.

The Musical Mountaineers perform at Everett’s McCollum Park on June 14, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Adopt A Stream Foundation)
Photo courtesy of Adopt A Stream Foundation
The Musical Mountaineers perform at Everett’s McCollum Park on June 14.
Coming events in Snohomish County

Send calendar submissions for print and online to features@heraldnet.com. To ensure your… Continue reading

A woman flips through a book at the Good Cheer Thrift Store in Langley. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Pop some tags at Good Cheer Thrift Store in Langley

$20 buys an outfit, a unicycle — or a little Macklemore magic. Sales support the food bank.

Audi SQ8 Wows In Motion Or At Rest. Photo provided by Audi America MediaCenter.
2025 Audi SQ8 Is A Luxury, Hot Rod, SUV

500 Horsepower and 4.0-Second, 0-To-60 MPH Speed

Nedra Vranish, left, and Karen Thordarson, right browse colorful glass flowers at Fuse4U during Sorticulture on Friday, June 7, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett’s Sorticulture festival starts Friday

Festivities will include art classes, garden vendors and live music.

The Mukilteo Boulevard Homer on Monday, May 12, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Homer Hedge’: A Simpsons meme takes root in Everett — D’oh!

Homer has been lurking in the bushes on West Mukilteo Boulevard since 2023. Stop by for a selfie.

Ellis Johnson, 16, left, and brother Garrett Johnson, 13, take a breather after trying to find enough water to skim board on without sinking into the sand during opening day of Jetty Island on Friday, July 5, 2019 in Everett, Wash. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Epic ways to spice up your summer

Your ultimate guide to adventure, fun and reader-approved favorites!

Sarah and Cole Rinehardt, owners of In The Shadow Brewing, on Wednesday, March 12, 2025 in Arlington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In The Shadow Brewing: From backyard brews to downtown cheers

Everything seems to have fallen into place at the new taproom location in downtown Arlington

People walk during low tide at Picnic Point Park on Sunday, March 3, 2024 in Edmonds, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Beach cleanup planned for Picnic Point in Edmonds

Snohomish Marine Resources Committee and Washington State University Beach Watchers host volunteer event at Picnic Point.

Bar manager Faith Britton pours a beer for a customer at the Madison Avenue Pub in Everett. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Burgers, brews and blues: Madison Avenue Pub has it all

Enjoy half-price burgers on Tuesday, prime rib specials and live music at the Everett mainstay.

Ian Terry / The Herald

Rose Freeman (center) and Anastasia Allison play atop Sauk Mountain near Concrete on Thursday, Oct. 5. The pair play violin and piano together at sunrise across the Cascades under the name, The Musical Mountaineers.

Photo taken on 10052017
Adopt A Stream Foundation hosts summer concert on June 14

The concert is part of the nonprofit’s effort to raise $1.5 million for a new Sustainable Ecosystem Lab.

Edie Carroll trims plants at Baker's Acres Nursery during Sorticulture on Friday, June 6, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Sorticulture, Everett’s garden festival, is in full swing

The festival will go through Sunday evening and has over 120 local and regional vendors.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.