2023-12-31 47 -122

Location

Frink Park in the Leschi neighborhood.

Close to a trail, but the hillside is steep and the vegetation is dense.

Participants

Plans

Perhaps mid-afternoon?

Expedition

coyotebush

Flashbacks to 2017-12-09 on account of the similar location and weather.

By midday it was sunny and nearly 50F/10C. I geared up for my first bike ride in nearly two weeks, and my first without an indoor destination in much longer. I decided on a light jacket and cycling tights, but packed hiking pants in my handlebar bag in case they were needed for the forest.

In order to approach the point from above, I climbed Interlaken Boulevard, then followed Neighborhood Greenway routes through Capitol Hill and the Central District to South Jackson Street.

Once on foot, I first tried the upper trail. Below this was mostly cliff. However, in the area of the point, there was a gently sloping spur, thick with brush. Promising. Next I descended quite a few stairs to the lower trail, above which was all cliff. Not promising.

The vegetation on the upper spur necessitated better clothing, so back to the bike for the pants, then to a bench I had passed to pull them on. I ventured off the upper trail, getting snagged and nearly tripped by blackberry vines. My phone's GPS location bounced around a lot in this area, but I got a few close readings and made it out to the large tree anchoring the spur, which seemed to be in about the right location.

There were beautiful views of Lake Washington and Mount Rainier through the trees. For the ride back north, I sought out better views along Lake Washington Boulevard - a popular recreational cycling route which also passes through Frink Park, another level lower. I met a neighbor who offered to take my photo, then a very nice concessionaire at Madison Park (I never knew there even was a concession stand!) who sold me a hot cocoa.