Pass Lake Loop - Deception Pass State Park - Saturday, June 10, 2023

It was a misty Pacific Northwest day however the weather did not deter seven CAI PNW members & a combo of Il Punto Seattle members and Canadian family & friends of Danielle & Bart Pestarino’s from a great day on this beautiful forest walk. The Trail is filled with old growth giants and a plethora of sword ferns.

Starting south on the Bowman Bay Rosario Beach Trail it was a steady uphill climb. Arriving at the top, we were rewarded with two eagles perched high up in the trees! Continuing on and eventually crossing Rosario Road, the Trail continues through the lush forested woods on the West Pass Lake Loop.

The forested route heads up the hill along Pass Lake Loop, then north to the abandoned homestead site on Ginnett Tursi Hill with a log cabin and a small copper mine. Not wanting to be late for the potluck organized by Il Punto Seattle, we opted to forego the Ginnett Tursi Trail and headed back on the East Pass Lake Loop following the full length of Pass Lake.

The potluck was truly a feast with a variety of homemade appetizers, salads, focaccia bread, barbecued beef, pork, chicken, salmon, homemade chili and delectable desserts!

The potluck rules were only home-cooked dishes or dishes purchased at a specialty store.

Again, many thanks to Bart Pestarino for organizing this 2nd Annual joint hike/potluck with CAI – PNW and Il Punto Seattle!

When visiting Deception Pass State Park be sure to visit the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Interpretive Center. It tells the story of "Roosevelt's Tree Army." During the Great Depression, the CCC was created in 1933 as part of Franklin D. Roosevelt's "New Deal," a series of public works projects designed to put the nation's unemployed back to work. 

Submitted by Kendra Wanzenried