Foothills Trail Highlights

Day 126: While friends in the eastern states are experiencing bitterly cold temperatures and snowdrifts threaten to cover their houses, the Pacific Northwest is basking in unseasonably warm weather. I took advantage of it again today to put in a little over ten miles walking the Foothills Trail in Orting. I thought I would share a few of my favourite spots with my readers.

If you park near the fire station and walk east a little over two miles, you may find yourself confronting the Attack Emu. Even though he's behind a sturdy fence decorated with "Not responsible for any accidents" signs, be careful not to approach too closely if you want to take a picture. His beak fits between the wires, and I have no doubt that it would be strong enough to break a lens. He's fast, too. He can sprint across the field in the time it takes you to change ISO settings, and he resents the fact that no one asks him to sign a model release.

At about 3.25 miles, you will reach a bridge over a small bog. Right now, the trees are bare, but as soon as they leaf out, the warblers will come. These fast-moving little birds are hard to spot amongst the foliage, so you may want to study up on "birding by ear" before heading this way. You may also find eagles in the general area, as well as other accipiters.

Four miles in, you'll come to a larger swamp created by a beaver dam at the southwest end. It is always dark and cool here. There are many lichen-covered, broken trees standing in the water, giving the area an air of mystery and foreboding. I call the trees the "Swamp Witches."

The best attraction on the trail as far as I am concerned is the wetland interpretive area. In summer, it is possible to find Blue Herons, Red-Winged Blackbirds and a wide variety of other avian life here. You will also see native and non-native frogs, and of course some of the insects which are the staples of their diet. Recently, many of the young alders east of the picnic table have been cut down by beavers. You'll find the interpretive area 4.5 trail miles east of Orting.

If you'd like, you can continue on to the town of South Prairie, but I generally turn around at the interpretive area or where the trail crosses the next paved road. Ten miles of pavement-pounding is about all I care to do. I'll come back this summer and ride the entire trail on my bike.

Neighborhood Watch

Day 116: If you travel the Foothills Trail east from Orting, about two miles from town, you'll find a large grassy area rimmed by 2 x 4 fencing topped by three strands of barbed wire, and posts which bear warning signs varying from "Keep Out" to "Don't feed the animals" and "If I don't call the police, my neighbor will." Clearly, the property owner means business, but nine times out of ten, the open space seems empty of any life larger than a bug. However, if you're lucky, you'll discover what the signs protect...

No, I've said that all backwards. If you're lucky, you'll discover what protects the signs.

You see, this is an emu farm. I've never seen more than three emus in it at any one time. Most times, there's only one. Bicyclists and walkers often stop to take pictures of the enormous birds, but must be careful not to venture too close to the fence. Emus are not known for their sunny dispositions. This fellow was feeling decidedly territorial today, and chased me back from my position at the wires by running toward me with clear intention to attack. Even though I had retreated to the trail twenty feet away, he kept pacing the boundary, following me whether I moved left or right. With a little fancy dancin', I was able to shift him over to his job description. This is one "Neighborhood Watch" you don't want to mess with!