Sky & Sno Adventure Guide Spring/Summer 2023

Kla Ha Ya Days Festival

July 12 – 16, 2023

Good old-fashioned summertime fun!

CARNIVAL STARTING ON

July 12th

Carnival games, skill contests, food trucks, and lots of rides for the kids.

FROGTASTIC KIDS FAIR

Friday, July 14th

GRAND PARADE SATURDAY

July 15th, 11am

VENDOR MARKET SATURDAY

July 15th & Sunday July 16th

TONS OF FAMILY FRIENDLY COMPETITIONS! Watermelon eating contest, seed spitting distance competition, ice cream eating contest & more.

Saturday July 15th

SHOW & SHINE CAR SHOW

Sunday July 16th

– giving back to Snohomish

Welcome Table of Contents

Something amazing happens in the spring and summer in the Skykomish and Snohomish River Valleys. The sun peeks out from behind the clouds, illuminating the valleys below and shining light on what makes our communities special.

In Lake Stevens, the Lake Stevens Rowing Club and North Cascades Crew bring the town’s namesake body of water to life with thrilling competitions. Things are a little more leisurely in Snohomish, where folks stroll along the Snohomish River trail or take in the view from one of the many eateries perched above the river.

And while you might not want to count on seeing the sun every single day – this is the Pacific Northwest, after all – you should still keep your head up. In Monroe, migrating Vaux’s Swifts return to the same elementary school chimney every year to rest on their journey south. Meanwhile, the Upper Sky Valley plays host to climbers and boulderers seeking challenges in the backcountry.

No matter where you look—from the shores of our rivers to the peaks of our mountains— natural wonders abound in the Skykomish and Snohomish River Valleys.

Welcome,

Mayor Steven Yarbrough, Gold Bar

Mayor Norm Johnson, Index

Mayor Brett Gailey, Lake Stevens

Mayor Geoffrey Thomas, Monroe

Mayor Henry Sladek, Skykomish

Mayor Linda Redmon, Snohomish

Mayor Russell Wiita, Sultan

Lake Stevens

4 Two dedicated rowing clubs brave the Pacific Northwest weather to perfect their strokes.

8 A hidden treasure at the bottom of Lake Stevens; the mystery of the Train in the Lake.

9 Learn about The Lake Stevens Monster that is nestled in the hills of a quiet Lake Stevens neighborhood.

Snohomish

12 The history of Snohomish can be traced along the Snohomish River. Step back in time with Taylor Russell of SnohomishWalks to learn about the history of the Snohomish River and what role it plays in today’s world.

16 For the first time in over 100 years, salmon have easy access to the most pristine habitat of the Snohomish River basin – thanks to a partnership between the Tulalip Tribes and City of Snohomish to remove a decommissioned dam.

18 Sourwoods, sequoias, and beeches, oh my! Grab a map and hit the Snohomish Historic District for a tour of the community’s beloved trees.

Monroe

22 The Vaux’s Swifts migrate to roost in the Frank Wagner Elementary School chimney and light up the Monroe sky with their dancing wings.

26 Lord Hill Park boasts 32 miles of multiuse, all natural trails. Come prepared to explore the vast trail system.

27 Seeking water recreation? Access the Skykomish River and Lake Tye all within the vicinity of Monroe.

Sky Valley

30 Send it! Load up your chalk, ropes, and crash pads and get ready to climb to new heights and conquer the boulders in the Upper Sky Valley.

34 Slow down on the Sultan River! Celebrate the age-old return of the salmon and learn about Chief Tsuel’ted’s legacy in the Skykomish River Valley.

36 Picture this! Capture the spectacular beauty of the Sky Valley and embark on a journey not to be forgotten.

Rowing is The Best Medicine

THE LAKE STEVENS ROWING CLUB

Whatdoes dedication look like? For some folks, it’s waking before sunrise on a drizzly Saturday. It’s showing up at 6:30 a.m. on a 39-degree morning to hop in a rowing shell and traverse the largest natural lake in Snohomish County.

These are the members of the Lake Stevens Rowing Club. They are a spartan bunch -- volunteer athletes of a median age of fifty or so. Most of them sport frames of lean muscle packed into moisture-wicking Lycra. Their neon garb stands out in sharp relief on a February morning of smeared gray skies.

There’s a palpable camaraderie as the rowers carry their shells to the North Cove boat launch. They snack on homemade tahini chocolate chip bars. One enthusiastic rower, Kathleen Desmarais, tells me that rowing is the best medicine. “If you let the weather hold you back in the Pacific Northwest, you’ll never get out!” she quips. True enough I think, shivering inside my puffy coat and beanie.

Today I’m shadowing the Lake Stevens Rowing Club members as they engage in a two-hour practice. I’m riding out with

Barb Cummins, a founder of this crew. She started the organization back in 1997 with seven other members. Our vessel is a custom-built launch forged out of a Hobie Cat hull, painted butter yellow. It’s basically a platform floating on an aluminum frame and pontoons. The whole thing is designed to leave a minimal wake.

Perched on a seat behind the helm, Barb wears electric green waterproof gear. She carries a large black megaphone with the LSRC logo etched on the side. Barb commands attention as she calls out to the rowers, “let’s all get your point,” she orders. She waves a red flag, and the shells take off, the rowers facing us, rowing backwards and away.

We set out into the North Cove of the lake for warm-up laps. Three shells slice through the water as the rowers inside work to start synchronizing their blade strokes. Barb is puttering along in a guide boat, closely scrutinizing the athletes’ form. She’s a tough love character, alternating between exacting critiques, frank assessments of performance, and non-flattering praise when it’s due. It’s clear that she’s been practicing this sport for decades; her assessment is spot on, the rowers take heed to her advice and adjust accordingly.

Giant mansions on the lake are reflected in the water. I spot cormorants, ducks, and a lone eagle overhead. It’s a beautiful, but chilly, place to practice sport. The warmup laps are both heavy on cardio and

a chance to practice technical skills. Once the rowers have completed a lap or two (depending on their skill level) Barb rounds them up.

On the next leg of their practice, she tells them, they’ll skirt the 9.17-squaremile lake at approximately a ten mile-

per-hour pace: from North Cove to Lundeen Park to Liberty Point to Purple Pennant.

The water is uncharacteristically choppy this morning. Some of the rowers are struggling to match the rhythm of their bladework with that of their teammates.

Sculling is a balance, a blend between technique and fitness. As Barb explains, some rowers are highly technical but don’t have propulsive power. Likewise, some muscle-bound rowers lack the paddle work, so their strokes are an inefficient use of energy. Rowing is sixty percent legs, twenty percent lats, and twenty percent arms. Dedicated rowers show up to the boathouse several times a week to practice building power on bubble gum pink rowing machines.

Barb’s job as coach is to put together well-balanced teams, especially for the purpose of competing in regattas. As we cruise along, she weighs out for me the factors at work in selecting the ideal rowing crew: power, size, experience, interpersonal chemistry, and a willingness to learn and improve. Some rowers have demanding professional lives or personal obligations so they can’t be relied on to make it out to race day.

After a cold two hours we’re back at the North Cove dock. The rowers pull the shells out of the water and walk them back into the boathouse. The 7:00 a.m. crew mingles with the 9:00 a.m. beginners. They’re all in good humor and cheer on this freezing day.

Kathleen Desmarais, the enthusiastic rower, checks in with me. “See? This is a great environment to learn!” she enthuses. “There’s always something more to practice. There are intricacies, you need finesse, but it’s doable!”

She’s the living embodiment of the LSRC ethos; a 66-year-old acolyte celebrating the joys of the water. That’s dedication.

THE NORTH CASCADES ROWING CLUB

Dedication, take two. Thursday afternoon, mid-March.

The two dozen kids of the North Cascades Rowing Club junior rowing team show up to North Cove ready

Both The Lake Stevens Rowing Club and The North Cascades Rowing Club have programs for youth and adults of all skill levels.

Learn more and find your class: www.lakestevensrowing.org or www.northcascadescrew.com

to sweat. They start their practice by jogging before diving into dynamic stretches, squats, and lunges. It’s a series of peer-led exercises. The group works together.

They are just kids, too -- ages 13 to 18. They’re here after high school to practice for two hours of rowing, four to five days a week. During a day’s practice they can expect to burn well over 2,000 calories before heading home for dinner and homework. Quite the extracurricular regimen.

Passively presiding over these teenage rowers is Coach Kat Runyon. A retired pediatrician, she watches with an eye to physicality. “Form is essential to protect your back,” she muses. “In rowing, everything comes from the hip. It’s a very technical activity. These kids are motivated and serious -- this is much harder than other sports.” She would know. As an adult she has won five medals at nationals.

Kat also keeps an eye to the sky, monitoring the weather. “The wind must be less than 12 miles per hour. Whitecaps can swamp the boat.

And the air temperature and water temperature combined must be above 90 degrees.” She smiles. “When in doubt, don’t go out.”

The kids carefully carry their shells to the dock and place them in the water. Kat and I hop into a motorized launch and watch the rowers bobbing dockside.

Three boats depart swiftly from the cove. From the water, the rowers are backed by the cobalt blue and snow-dusted peaks of Pilchuck and Three Fingers. I wouldn’t venture to guess the wind chill on the lake, but it’s soon evident that my thick parka and wool hat aren’t cutting the early March chill.

Coach Kat watches a novice boat with a maternal warmth that is a counterpoint to her exacting physician’s eye. “We’re not grooming them to compete. We’re grooming them, hopefully, to be nice people.”

Then she shifts abruptly back into coach mode as we pull up on a novice boat. She stops them to break down proper rowing form. Arms out. Body over. Come up for the catch. Body slide backwards.

“You can hear a good stroke in the water,” Dr. Kat tells me. I listen closely. Sure enough.

I’m not a rower myself, but I can relate to the immersive experience

of athleticism. The way that one must be present both in body and mind to cultivate muscle memory. The action becomes secondhand through mindfulness.

The place between body and soul is, after all, where the soul resides. These kids have soul. Their militaristic teamwork offers a template for future cooperation in society at large.

In a world where kids are increasingly sucked into screen time, here are teens giving themselves over to a sport where the team is elevated over the individual.

And that, too, is good medicine.

The Train in the Lake

Youmay have heard of the Train in the Lake, but is it real or just a legend? Residents have debated this topic for years, as there were no eyewitnesses of the incident. No one is certain, but many theories suggest a slipped brake or pressure on the wheels caused the rails to spread, which resulted in the train slipping through the gap into the lake.

In 1995, a Navy SEAL team was granted permission to conduct a search. Under 35 ft. of water and 14 ft. of silt, the team identified the locomotive. There it sits to this day, undisturbed in its final resting place.

Visit the Lake Stevens Historical Museum to read the full story. www.lakestevenshistoricalmuseum.org.

The Lake Stevens Monster

Nestled in a neighborhood at the end of 83rd Drive in Lake Stevens sits the largest erratic in Washington,

long, and 210 ft. in circumference, the rock likely arrived during the last Ice Age Floods. The erratic is made of

the earth’s surface. The Monster is truly a site to see. When you visit, please follow the posted rules and be

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L AKE ST E V E NS

STOP #1: Lundeen Park & Visitor Information Center

10020 Lundeen Park Way

This nine-acre park offers a variety of activities including swimming, basketball, shoreline access, playgrounds, and picnicking.

As the sun begins to re-appear for the season, Lake Stevens comes to life. As the largest lake in Snohomish County, Spring and Summer is a bustling time. Residents and visitors alike come together for all the water recreation your heart desires. Let us take you through the many lake side parks and beaches offering endless photo opportunities for sunsets, water imagery, and views of the North Cascades.

STOP #2: North Lakeshore Swimming Beach

11804 N Lakeshore Drive

A small waterfront park provides lake access for swimmers and year-round views of the Cascade Mountains.

STOP #3: North Cove Park

1806 Main Street

Easily accessed from downtown, North Cove Park is home to the Lake Stevens War Veterans Memorial, The Mill on Lake Stevens, and annual community events including the Farmers Market, The Old Fashioned 4th at the Lake, and Aquafest.

STOP #4: Sunset Cove Park

410 E Lake Stevens Road

This pocket park offers a fishing dock where visitors can try their luck at catching Rainbow Trout or Kokanee Salmon. Don’t forget your fishing license!

STOP #5: Davies Beach

10508 Chapel Hill Road

A popular beach with a boat launch, picnic tables, sandy beach access, pier, and parking.

The Snohomish River as History and Lifeblood

“Have you also learned that secret from the river; that there is no such thing as time?”

ADRIFT IN HISTORY

Taylor Russell, tour guide, walks the historic streets of Snohomish, Washington, shifting in and out of time.

In one sense, she exists in the modern world. The folks on her tour take smart phone photos of repurposed buildings like the Carnegie Library, the Spada Farmhouse Brewery, or any number of vintage boutiques in the brick buildings downtown.

In another sense, Taylor is seeing the buildings as they once were. Today’s restaurant is yesterday’s auto shop. This boutique was once a vaudeville theatre. Yonder event venue used to be a library.

Seen through Taylor’s eyes, the familiar city has more dimensions, more context, and thus more depth. Billed as the Antique Capital of the Northwest, Snohomish prides itself on its historic preservation while trying to adapt to modern sensibilities.

“I love studying and sharing history because it makes me feel embedded in a place and a community... when you’re rooted in the past it helps you appreciate the growth and evolution of Snohomish.”

Yet for all of the lovely old buildings, it’s impossible to fully appreciate the history of Snohomish without understanding the river of the same name.

In fact, Taylor insists, this waterway is central to the essence of the city.

THE LIFEBLOOD

Before the bowler hats and mustaches, before the elegant Victorian facades and brothels, before the old-timey baseball clubs and steamships, there was the immutable river.

The waterway predates humans, even the earliest migratory tribes who first inhabited the banks of the Snohomish 8,000 years ago.

It was the lifeblood of the city even before it served as transportation, irrigation, and the fuel for industry. It offered an abundance of migratory salmon as its waters curved their way through the floor of the river valley. It led Native Americans to the river delta and beyond, to the sea, and to beds of edible shellfish.

And this is how it was for almost 5,000 years; a wild river traversed by cedar bark canoes of the Sdocohobcs. These American Indians spoke Lushootseed, a Coast Salish dialect. They were the first residents.

Thus, the earliest white settlers, travelling up the river from Possession Sound, experienced a river much different, much wilder and raw, than the Snohomish we see today. Prone to meandering. Today you may glimpse a harbor seal or otter as far inland as

the Lowell District in Everett. But the riprapped, channeled, dredged, and diked modern Snohomish is different from the river of 200 years ago -- a river originally darkened by Douglas firs and western red cedars on either side. »

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proactively create a ferry river crossing for military wagons. The road never went through, and the river crossing was instead used by loggers and millers in the area.

Small settlements cropped up and down the banks of the Snohomish. As industry came to the area, the river became a popular navigable route for steam ships. These boats carried folk

from Snohomish, to the city of Lowell, to Everett, and out into the Salish Sea.

The original name for the town of Snohomish was Cadyville, named after Edson T. Cady, who homesteaded at the confluence of the Snohomish and Pilchuck Rivers. Together, these freshwater flows help to define Snohomish. The Pilchuck borders the city to the east. The name “Pilchuck” comes from Lushootseed and means “red water.” The source of the river is near Mount Pilchuck, and the water does indeed appear reddish-brown.

The Pilchuck River was also the home of Pilchuck Julia. A famous member of the Coast Salish Tribes, Pilchuck Julia was noteworthy for her photographic

portrait, which adorned a widelydistributed postcard in the early 1900s. Arguably, she became the face of the Coast Salish Tribes for people outside our region.

Pilchuck Julia was present for the signing of the Point Elliott Treaty of 1855, which established the Tulalip Tribal Reservation. The most widespread myth about her is that she had powers of strong precognition and intuition, accurately predicting major weather events before they happened. Today, the memory of Pilchuck Julia is honored by a commemorative plaque and a 20acre riverfront park with a boat launch -- a nod to the history of the river and its people.

Cadyville was soon filled with prominent steamboat owners and operators. They dredged the river to clear snags and woody debris, allowing for easier passage up and down the waterway.

The early city was populated by colorful characters like Charles Low, a steamboat captain on the Nellie. He was even married on the boat in 1879 to Ms. Mary Kincaid.

Daniel Bachelder (D.B.) Jackson, a shipping magnate, also owned the Washington Steamboat Company. Bachelder transformed a small fleet of secondhand steamboats into one of the great inland navigations systems of the Northwest. He built a wharf at the foot of today’s Maple Avenue in 1875, so steamboats could dock, then load, and unload people and supplies.

A number of sternwheeler and propeller ships were built in Snohomish: Cascade (1904); Mame (1887); the Ruby sternwheeler (1867); the Ruby propeller (1871). Steamboats carried Sunday picknickers from Everett to Snohomish and vice versa. Local mills were closed on Sundays and the workers wanted to catch baseball games with rival cities. Afloat, they sipped lemonade, ate sandwiches, and sang songs. A popular form of transportation, indeed!

PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE

Today, the Snohomish River is no longer primarily a source of food for Snohomish residents. But it is a source of transportation for kayakers and boaters. The Pilchuck is a popular recreation spot in summer as residents and tourists flock to sandbars and wade into the red-brown waters to cool off.

Environmental groups and biologists are working hand in hand to restore many of the damages inflicted upon the river by early white settlers. They are restoring salmon habitat by adding woody debris, and creating side channels for fish breeding. They are removing dikes in the delta, allowing for more flooding and tidal movement. The Pilchuck River Dam has also been removed, allowing for an easier flow of water for fish spawning.

The idea is to restore the Snohomish River Valley as a healthy riparian zone. A riparian zone is a transitional area between a body of water and the surrounding land. In fact, the term “riparian” comes from the Latin word “ripa,” which means “riverbank.” Riparian zones provide several important ecosystem services, including water filtration, nutrient cycling, erosion control, and habitat for wildlife. That’s good for the whole valley.

In many ways, the health of the Snohomish River is the health of the city, too. It’s a tourism asset. It offers beautiful views, access to waterbased activities, and a strong sense of community. From the very beginning Snohomish has been a river town. It’s part of the city’s essence, its character.

Today you can experience the history of Snohomish with Taylor Russell and her monthly SnohomishWalks tours

(www.snohomishwalks.com). You can explore the many historic resources that the town has to offer.

Or you can simply stand by the river and close your eyes. Let time slowly flow around you as you listen to the white noise of moving water. Maybe you, too, will find yourself adrift in time when you strain to hear the steam whistle and splash of a sternwheeler paddling up the Snohomish once again.

Down Goes the Dam!

Salmon

are a keystone species of the Pacific Northwest. When salmon populations aren’t healthy, it’s a sign that the ecosystem isn’t either. The life cycle of a salmon in the PNW goes something like this – after spawning, juvenile salmon head down the river, grow big and fat in estuaries, then migrate to Puget Sound and up toward Canada and Alaska before coming all the way back to where they spawned.

Along the way, these salmon are hugely important to a variety of predators. This includes the resident orcas of the Puget Sound and Salish Sea, whose primary food source is chinook salmon. It also includes people – from tribal members exercising their treaty rights to fish and preserve their connection to the salmon that have sustained them since time immemorial, to fisherman stretching from the PNW up to Alaska.

In 2020, the Tulalip (pronounced Tuh’lay-lup) Tribes, direct descendants of and the successors in interest to the

Snohomish, Snoqualmie, Skykomish, and other allied bands signatory to the 1855 Treaty of Point Elliott, partnered with the City of Snohomish to remove a decommissioned dam on the Pilchuck River which cut salmon off from the most pristine habitat in the Snohomish River basin. The cool water, abundant food, and side channels are now easily accessible for the first time in over 100 years.

Instead of bumping their heads against a dam, salmon and other fish are now free to use an additional 37 miles of habitat – and not a moment too soon. Salmon and the orcas that rely on them are both endangered, with recent salmon runs in this area being the lowest on record. It was an encouraging sight, then, when shortly after the dam removal a chinook salmon was spotted in the upper Pilchuck River for the first time in over 100 years. With the benefit of more time and further habitat restoration,

the hope is that the health of these waterways will continue to improve to the benefit of all. Learn more about this and other projects at www. pilchuckriverdam.com.

Branch Out and Explore

Snohomish’s Historic Trees

Hoping to walk off some of the calories you just consumed at one of the many eateries in historic downtown Snohomish? Try taking a self-guided walking tour of the city’s historic trees.

Created by Green Snohomish, a local nonprofit dedicated to environmental action, the tour features everything from the flamboyant fall foliage of a sourwood tree (Oxydendrum arboreum) at 529 Ave. D to the stately giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) at 420 Ave. B.

It was the trees that attracted many white settlers to Snohomish – not for

their beauty, but for their lumber. The Snohomish River provided a cheap and effective means of transporting old-growth cedar and fir to the many mills that once populated the area. The wealth generated by the timber industry helped build several of the grand homes in what is now the historic district. Wealthy families planted trees, both exotic and native, many of which still stand today.

For an abbreviated tour of the trees, start with the English walnut (Juglans

regia) at 58 Maple Ave. (just east of 51 Maple Ave.) which bears large clusters of upright white blossoms in early summer. From there, make your way across First Street to admire the European beech (Fagus sylvatica), American elm (Ulmus americana), and copper beech (Fagus sylvatica purpurea) on the grounds of the historic Snohomish Carnegie Building. Then, walk northwest from Carnegie to Snohomish City Hall at 116 Union Ave. Built as the city’s post office in 1937, city hall is home to two giant pin oak (Quercus palustris) trees.

Want to explore more?

Join a walking tour with Green Snohomish (usually offered in the fall and spring) or download a brochure for the complete self-guided tour at www.greensnohomish.org.

SNOHO M I S H

Scenic Snohomish has something for everyone. Whether you’re a die-hard preservationist with a love for historic buildings, an adrenaline junkie with a taste for skydiving, or a nature lover looking to immerse yourself in a peaceful setting, you’re sure to find something worth capturing. This trip will have you strolling through historic downtown Snohomish, crossing the river, looking up to the sky, and hitting the trails in search of postcardworthy shots.

STOP #1: Lord Hill Regional Park

12921 150th Street SE

Over six miles of designated trails adorn this 1,463-acre upland nature preserve, which is home to many species of animal and plant life for you to seek out.

STOP #2: Harvey Airfield

9900 Airport Way

Hot air balloons dot the summer skies over Snohomish. Swing by Harvey Airfield to catch a glimpse of balloons, prop planes, and even skydivers.

STOP #3: Cady Park

51 Maple Ave

Head down to the banks of the Snohomish River to take in views of the old trestle bridge and kayakers paddling about.

STOP #4: Centennial Trail

Beginning in Snohomish, the Centennial Trail stretches 30 miles north toward the Skagit County line. The trail is paved for all levels of accessibility and features a soft surface equestrian path alongside.

STOP #5: Snohomish Carnegie

105 Cedar Ave

A beloved community gathering space, the Snohomish Carnegie was originally built as one of the Carnegie Libraries and today serves as a town square of sorts. It was restored in 2021.

STOP #6: First Street

Main Street, USA has never looked better. First Street is the soul of historic downtown Snohomish and boasts a wide array of antique stores, boutiques, cafes, bars and restaurants.

STOP #7: Avenue A/Riverfront Gazebo

In the heart of historic downtown Snohomish, the Avenue A/Riverfront Gazebo overlooks the Snohomish River and was completely renovated in 2022.

STOP #8: Avenue B

No matter where you go in the Snohomish Historic District, you’re bound to find beautiful trees. Some of the grandest line Avenue B between Fourth Street and Fifth Street.

Life Lived on the Wing: Meet Monroe’s Beloved Vaux’s Swifts

The volunteers arrive an hour and a half before dusk. Already the late summer sky has begun to darken; crimson and peach hues cross the western sky. The smell of the cooling grass fills the air.

Onlookers sit in camp chairs on the lawn of the old Frank Wagner Elementary School. The single-story, 1930s school building is made of bricks. On the western end of the school a 25-foot chimney reaches into the late summer night.

Then the first speck starts swirling in the dusky sky. It’s a small aerial dot, swooping and looping. Soon, it’s followed by another speck, and another, until a swarm has formed -- a billowing cloud of winged and spiraling flight.

The annual count has begun. The volunteers have been trained to count the Swifts in groups of ten or fifty as they descend into the chimney. Remotely, conservationists peer inside the darkened chimney via webcam.

The fluttering spiral whirls overhead and surges, regroups. Finally, it is sucked wholly into the chimney like water going down a drain, like a dark tornado. A final straggling bird loops the chimney and enters. It is now night.

The Vaux’s Swifts have come to roost in Monroe. They’ll spend the night at 115 Dickinson Avenue before continuing onward along their remarkable journey.

techniques to navigate during their migrations, including visual cues, magnetic cues, and celestial cues.

Let’s talk about how remarkable the Vaux’s Swifts are.

The first thing you should know is that “Vaux’s” rhymes with “foxes.” They’re known in ornithology circles as Chaetura vauxi.

This hearty avian is a mere 4.3-inches long and sports an 11-inch wingspan. Yet every year these birds will travel from their winter habitat in Guatemala, over 4,000 miles to the Yukon where they will roost and raise their young.

The chimney of the Frank Wagner Elementary School in Monroe, Washington is but one waypoint in this epic aerial journey.

How do they navigate during this remarkable transcontinental voyage?

Scientists speculate that migratory birds use a variety of subtle sensory

Swifts use landmarks such as mountains, rivers, and coastlines to help them navigate. They also use the position of the sun and stars to help them determine direction. They may have tiny particles of magnetite in their beaks, which help them detect the Earth’s magnetic field. By sensing the strength and direction of the magnetic field, many birds can determine their global position.

In addition, Swifts are thought to use their sense of smell to navigate, and may also use infrasound, which is sound with a frequency too low for humans to hear.

All along their journey, these winged insectivores consume a hearty amount of insects in mid-flight. And they’re almost always in flight; they rarely land except to roost at night. Remarkably, they don’t land on their feet like most birds. Instead they use their feet to

grasp onto vertical surfaces, propping themselves upright to sleep with their forked tails acting like a kickstand. Historically, they have roosted in the tens of thousands, piling in two or three deep to regulate the temperature of their tiny bodies. Their favorite spots are hollowed out tree-trunks. They fill the cavity of the tree and even spill out and down the trunk, looking more like a large fluttering, writhing, single organism than a collection of birds.

I grew up in Monroe. My brother went to Frank Wagner Elementary, and I also served a brief stint there for daily music classes. I know this building.

Years later, I lived a mere block from the elementary school. I occupied a tiny room, in a tiny apartment, above a tiny house. I was something of an amateur ornithologist, though my mania wasn’t for the Swifts. I was a redwinged blackbird man myself, drawn to the riverside marshes where they perched on the tall grasses of oxbow lakes in the Tualco Valley.

My first appreciation for the birds, then, was as a romantic. I remember the first time I saw the Swifts at sunset. I was walking to an entry level job at a pizzeria for the evening shift. I saw the Vaux’s Swifts then and knew. I got the experience on a gut level.

It was one of those moments where whatever fleeting, trivial thought you’re puzzling over simply evaporates in an instant and your whole attention is drawn into the sensory present. Here was a swarm of birds dancing. They dropped into the chimney tail-first. That didn’t seem right. Rather, it seemed exactly

right. One of those abnormalities in nature that lets you know that the world is quirky, and playful, and so, an okay place to find yourself.

“Joy” is maybe the best word I can come up with for the feeling I felt then. Though I was going to spend the night scrubbing a greasy griddle and washing dishes, my heart sang skyward for a moment. There’s no other way to describe it. Emily Dickinson, of course, said it even better than I could:

‘Hope’ is the thing with feathers –That perches in the soul –And sings the tune without the words –And never stops – at all …

One Sound School of Music, based in Monroe, WA is accepting violin and viola students for summer and fall 2023. Beginning violin group classes and youth string orchestra is coming soon to Monroe.

Please inquire if interested at Andrew@onesound.school one-sound.org

A coalition of bird enthusiasts, educators, and City of Monroe leaders established the first Swift Night Out in 2008. The annual event is now commemorated and celebrated as an official civic affair in partnership with the Pilchuck Audubon Society.

This family-friendly event continues to this day, complete with vendors, camp chairs, picnic blankets, informational tables, kids’ entertainment, and a Vaux’s Swift lecture in the Frank Wagner Auditorium, courtesy of ornithologist Larry Schwitters.

So iconic is the Vaux’s Swift that the City of Monroe adopted the species as its official city bird. There’s now a sculpture of Swifts created by artist Kevin Edwin Pattelle on the corner of Lewis Street and Main Street, downtown Monroe.

The Pilchuck Audubon Society has been the secret sauce of the Swift Night Out. They lead the semiannual volunteer count of Swifts to monitor the species’ migratory habits.

Brian Zinke, the Executive Director of the Pilchuck Audubon Society, speaks frankly about the opportunities for would-be bird conservationists who would like to dip their talons into the world of ornithology.

“If you want to know more about birds, be a good observer. A lot of biology and science is just watching for patterns and noticing weird things. It’s curiosity and wonder. Ask yourself, why is this happening?”

Brian notes that the bird count for the Swift Night Out has been entirely run by volunteers for almost fifteen years. This effort has provided scientists and conservationists with incredibly accurate data sets to track the ebb and flow of the birds’ migration.

And, regrettably, bird migration numbers have been down in recent

years. Scientists are unsure why exactly this is happening. According to Brian, there’s still a lot of missing information about Vaux’s Swifts. Likely the decline in numbers is due to deforestation (Swift homes), and the increase in agricultural pesticides (Swift food). These birds also struggle to find traditional roosting sites like tree trunks. Hence the attraction to chimneys.

This warrants advocacy. The Audubon Society’s Vaux Happening project is coordinating efforts with other conservation groups all along the West Coast to preserve traditional Swift roosting sites. They also raised $100,000 to renovate the Frank Wagner chimney, making it seismically stable.

What will be the fate of these remarkable transcontinental birds, the Vaux’s Swifts? It remains to be seen.

But we can all show up on a late summer night in Monroe to watch the coalescing of so much life lived on the wing. It’s a place where flocks of birds and humans come together to create a sense of wonder in the twilight.

Tuckedin between Monroe and Snohomish, Lord Hill Park offers 1,480 acres and 32 miles of multiuse trails. The park’s lush, thickly forested trail system displays a series of quiet,

natural lakes and rippling ponds that welcome hikers, equestrians, mountain bicyclists, trail runners and wildlife enthusiasts. The park is also dog friendly but be sure to keep

your pups on a leash. Parkgoers have their choice of two convenient access points—one at the northwest corner of the park on the Snohomish side, and another at the southwest portion of the park on the Monroe side.

Insider Tip: The trail system at Lord Hill Park is extensive. Always bring a map so you can easily find your way through the park.

View maps, and more park information through the QR Code below.

Take a Splash in Monroe

Offering

access to the Skykomish River and Lake Tye, the City of Monroe welcomes water enthusiasts.

At 42-acres, Lake Tye is a draw for paddleboarding, kayaking, birdwatching, swimming, fishing,

and more. It is also home to annual events on the lake such as wakeboard competitions and triathlons. With connected walking paths and trails from surrounding neighborhoods, the lake is easily

Destination

Planning

Package includes:

(Add ons always Welcome!)

Bouquets include:

• Roses with seasonal flowers & greens.

• Your choice of colors and style: Classic, Casual, Fun/Funky!

accessible for water enthusiasts. Looking to fish? Access the Skykomish River at the Lewis Street Boat Launch. Or, to recreate on the river, venture through Al Borlin Park to the water’s edge.

MONR O E

The City of Monroe offers endless photo opportunities. For this photo road trip, we would like to take you on a journey of capturing the work of David Hose, Monroe’s prolific muralist.

As you travel into Monroe, be sure to watch for our newly designed and installed gateway signage; traveling north on 203 look to the right just as you cross the bridge, and from 522 look ahead as you navigate the roundabout on West Main Street. Once you have officially entered Monroe, it is time to begin the mural tour.

STOP #3:

Sultan-Monroe Masonic Lodge #160 aka Visitor Center 125 S Lewis Street (South Wall)

STOP #1: Keg-N-Cue

202 S Lewis Street (North Wall)

The High Cascades, Alpine Lakes Region

STOP #2: Northwest Differential 211 S Lewis Street (North Wall)

STOP #4: NAPA Auto Parts

200 N Lewis Street (South Wall) 1950’s Monroe, Downtown

STOP #5: Bliss Yoga Studios

207 N Lewis Street The River

STOP #6: Smiley’s Pro Lube

506 E Main Street (North Wall)

STOP #7: Modern Home Furniture

126 E Main Street (East Wall)

One of the newest additions to David Hose’s portfolio. David is pictured here on the day of the unveiling

LAST STOP: Take your pick from one of Monroe’s delicious restaurants located on Main Street to relax and revisit your day’s photos.

Climbing in the Sky

Thegoal is, as always, to send it -- “send” being a slangy abbreviation of “ascend.” For the avid climbers of the Pacific Northwest, there’s always the next boulder out there to send.

The subalpine woods of the Skykomish River Valley are full of them -- rocky forest giants made of fine-grained granite, boulders easy to grip when dry and scrubbed of moss and dirt.

In the carefree spirit of the bouldering community, these rocks sport zany names like Midnight Lichen, Metroid Prime, or Doja. Most bouldering spots have at least one stone named after a Star Wars reference or an inside joke.

The boulderers wake early, before the sun is up. They rise before the coffee has fully hit the cognitive centers of their brains. Heading out to the east, seeking the day, car trunks filled with crash pads, chalk, and pairs of tight-fitting, rubberheeled climbing shoes.

Passing the town of Gold Bar, they take a left off Highway 2 onto Reiter Road. Driving up to a secluded gate, they park and hike in, ascending a decommissioned logging road, gear in tow. They carry crash pads on their backs, rucksack style.

Bouldering is a subgenre of rock climbing. It’s performed without the use of ropes or harnesses. Instead, climbers rely on crash pads or other types of protective equipment to cushion their falls.

Bouldering routes, known as “problems,” are typically shorter and more physically challenging than traditional climbing routes. The focus is on technical movement, problemsolving, and strength, rather than endurance. Bouldering problems may involve a variety of moves, such as mantles, dynos, and crimps.

Often a successful ascent can come down to a particular hold on a certain crevice, with a particular finger.

Veteran climbers work on developing their finger strength for this reason.

The climbers stand before mossy monoliths that were deposited here eons ago by the repeated advancement and retreat over the millennia. They envision the “problem” and how they will contort and flex their bodies into the right clefts and crevices that will allow them to pull themselves to the top. They may do a little dance as they think through their approach. They shimmy as they anticipate the climb. Then they chalk their hands.

And, with any luck, they send it.

Pablo Zuleta. Pablo is the author of Western Washington Bouldering: Skykomish Valley. The book is the bible of rocky recreation in this river valley. It’s so popular that it’s being reprinted later this year in an expanded and revised second edition.

Pablo originally published the book in 2016. “The bouldering community has

changed a lot in the past few years,” he notes. “Back when the first edition was published, the subculture was much smaller.” Climbers were considered backwoods eccentrics with a semireligious set of climbing rituals. Tape the Nalgene bottle so your fingers don’t get moist. Eat food out of a bag, don’t touch it; chocolate or excess oils

The Gold Bar area is perhaps the best-kept bouldering secret in Western Washington, according to

may impact your grip. Warm up in the elusive PNW sun, if possible, to give your muscles extra stretch.

Today there are more super gyms. Boulderers sometimes come out in the thousands over the course of the dry season. Problems used to be shared on spreadsheets in online forums, or painstakingly rendered in topo maps. Today, they’re geotagged on Instagram. Remarkably, this hasn’t been a significant source of contention among boulderers. “The whole purpose of climbing is to have a good time,” Pablo posits with a laugh. Thus, the zany rock names -- Elephant’s Butt, or the “Do Robots Dream of Electric Sheep?” boulder.

Pablo and his buddies are developers. They scour Google Earth for novel formations. They hike out during the rainy off-season to clean and scrub boulders. They check and doublecheck that the rocks aren’t on private property. They often build trails that lead to new bouldering fields.

If you’re a developer and you find a boulder, you can name it and claim it. Clean it off and be the first person to send it; the bragging rights are all yours. It doesn’t pay to keep the spot to yourself. Thick, carpet-like PNW moss grows back on boulders during the course of a year. The more climbers who know about your rock, the cleaner it will stay for your next visit.

the logging roads that gave access to bouldering fields, and illegal garbage dumps began piling up. So, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) closed the Reiter logging road gate, and locked it.

Gold Bar has been a favorite, if somewhat secret, destination for the Seattle area bouldering community since the 1990s. From most accounts, the beginning was a sort of symbiotic relationship between gruff loggers in Gold Bar and the granola bouldering set. Each group gave the other ample distance, shared logging roads, and fostered mutual respect. It was a case study in peacefully sharing the great outdoors.

As the years passed the Reiter area began to change. More off-road vehicles began to run up and down

Today, off-road enthusiasts now have their own designated park in the area, according to some in the bouldering community. Climbers are tolerated in the area -- as opposed to favored recreation groups like equestrians, motorcyclists, and motorists.

“There’s still a big need for advocacy,” says Gabe Cisneros of Bouldering Gold Bar. “We need climbers to join the WCC or similar groups. We need folks to show up at DNR meetings for representation.”

But he also sees tremendous potential for creating even better sustainable access to this beloved area. “The boulders here are an amazing resource. We just need more funding and advocacy.”

In other words: send it. Then work hard so that the next person can send it, too.

The routes here also follow suit in the ridiculous name department: behold Senior Citizens in Space, Godzilla, Wham, and An Act of Strange Boar.

stewardship of the rocks, rivers, and trees that make the Upper Sky Valley such a lovely place to visit.

Further up the Skykomish River Valley climbers will discover towering batholiths of igneous rock. They are enormous formations of cooled lava that jut into the skyscape alongside alpine-covered mountains. This is an area that’s legendary in the outdoors community, a place where Fred Beckey and other “dirtbag climbers” racked up first ascents atop crazy steep cliffs. The small town of Index (population 156) sits a mile north of Highway 2 along the North Fork of the Skykomish River. There is one small general store that serves as the community’s post office and social hub. Towering above the town is the Index Town Wall: a batholith par excellence – a relic of the granite quarry, Index Granite Company, that operated from 1904 to 1936. Saved by the citizens of Index, the passage of the Wild Sky Wilderness bill in 2008 makes this Washington State Park a beacon for climbers.

The Town Wall is probably the most famous place to climb in Western Washington. The Upper Town Wall is over 600 feet high, and almost entirely vertical. In addition, the smaller walls in and around Index make this a hub for folks looking to try everything from accessible, bolt-protected sport routes to “trad climbs” free of preplaced equipment.

Small towns like Index and Gold Bar are indeed destinations for outdoor recreation. And, as the county population grows and expands outward from urban centers, these rural communities are focusing on

If and when you visit the Gold Bar Boulders or the Index Town Wall, please do so with respect for the land and the local communities.

And just like the best of ascents, there’s the perfect balance to be struck.

April 22 May 1, 2022

We have a fully supervised Kids’ Drama Day Camp, suitable for 6-12 year-olds in summer, and will be staging Joseph later this year!

Scan the QR code below or visit https://www.skyperformingarts.org/ for the latest details, and Drama Camp registration.

Youare invited to celebrate one of nature’s most impressive shows: “The Return of the Salmon”! In the oddnumbered years, the Pink Salmon, also known as Humpies, will return home to the Sultan River to spawn and preserve the next generation of the species. At Osprey Park, you can watch this biennial migration back to the Sultan River beginning in late summer and into the fall. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife estimates that nearly 650,00 Pink Salmon will be returning to the Snohomish Region rivers this year—the numbers of fish make it seem like a fish version of U.S. Rte 2 on the Sultan River.

The Return of the Salmon Celebration celebrates the Skykomish River Valley’s history, heritage, and culture, centering around Sultan’s namesake, Chief T’seulTed (Sultan John), and his people. This event showcases Native arts, culture, and history through music, storytelling, nature walks, and crafts.

It also features environmental science and biology designed to educate each of us about our responsibility to the health of the rivers and fish that call the Sultan and Skykomish Rivers home.

At the event, experience the beauty of the river valleys and the amazing circle

Earth Biscuits Skykomish Campground

of life for the salmon spawning. Then, during the fall, observe the eagles, osprey, and wildlife catch the fish along the riverbank, with ideal watching areas along Susie’s Trail, Osprey Park, and where the Sultan River meets the Skykomish River at the pedestrian bridge in downtown Sultan.

Snohomish County PUD has put a massive effort into protecting the fish in the Sultan River by creating ‘fish nurseries’ and opening passage around the Sultan River Diversion Dam. The passage had been blocked for 90 years, but the genetic ‘memory’ of the fish knew it was their home, and they headed back into that area immediately after it was opened. Biologists were able to spot baby fish in the river above the dam the very next year! Even after a 90-year absence, they knew they were ‘home.’

The Return of the Salmon Celebration for 2023 will be held on September 23 at Osprey Park in Sultan. To learn more, visit www.skyvalleychamber.com/ return-of-the-salmon.

A Story in Pictures— Local Photographers

Asyou drive up the Stevens Pass Scenic byway, following the curves of the Skykomish River, peekaboo views of blue rocky pools emerge, and the peaks of snow-covered mountain tops surrounded in green come into view. Along the way, you might catch Bald Eagles fishing the rivers, a Cooper’s Hawk monitoring the fields, deer, and, occasionally, a black bear fishing on the rocky banks. As you take in the natural wonder of the Sky Valley making your way along U.S. Rte 2, you begin to understand the draw to

Fencing

the region by artists, photographers, and visitors alike.

The Upper Sky Valley draws many amateur and professional photographers to the region, aiming to capture the next perfect mountain, moon, and nature shot. You will often find a group of these gathered at the regional art fairs and local coffee spots laughing and swapping the latest catches with each other.

Taking the time to get off the beaten path, you will discover soaring vista

views, waterfalls, the wash of the rivers, gorgeous dappled light through the trees, flora, and fauna, perfect for capturing in photographs and paint. The contrast of nature against the old buildings and active and abandoned train tracks creates an interesting juxtaposition to the composition that creates a compelling story.

Mark Klein, owner of the Espresso Chalet along the side of U.S. Rte 2, is a fantastic resource in the valley, guiding tourists and other photographers alike. With the beautiful views of the Bridal Veil Falls and Mount Index visible from the viewing deck, folks try to capture the beauty to take with them. In a recent weekend, the ever-present photographers gave way to painters capturing the alluring beauty. Mark has been known to encourage amateurs and professionals alike to explore and push the boundaries of their work by recommending other inspirational

spots in the surrounding areas and reminding them to take the time to savor the coffee and watch the light. The unique perspectives and styles are present in the work of

our regional photographers, who provided some of the spectacular imagery captured in this Sky & Sno Adventure Guide. Garvin Carrell with his sweeping landscapes,

Kasey Randall with the closeness of nature, Nichole Gaertner with her exploration, Chris Reedy with the interplay of light, and Mark Klein with his signature moon and mountains.

SKY VA L L E Y

STOP #1: Pedestrian Bridge Where the Sultan River and Skykomish River Meet

1st and Main Street, Sultan

Capture spectacular river views with trains and more. Capture the view from Sportsman Park at the confluence of the Sultan and Skykomish Rivers, creating a unique blend of nature and man-made bridges and machines.

STOP #3: Ghost Sign (Black Bear Outfitters) Kiss the Sky Books

401 Main Street, Sultan

Photo Mark Klein KTS Ghost Mural

This interesting historical find was uncovered four years ago during the massive restoration of the building. Originally Built in 1892, the site of the Mural is fading fast.

STOP #2: Reiter Foothills

Deer Flats Mainline Road, Gold Bar

The ORV Park features excellent rocks and boulders to explore in your 4X4 and other areas to go Bouldering.

STOP #4: Espresso Chalet Back Deck - Mt. Index & Bridal Veil Falls

50010 U.S. Rte 2, Index

Whimsey and beauty in one stop; get your selfie with Harry the Sasquatch and capture great views of Bridal Veil Falls and Mt. Index from the viewing deck.

10 TIPS FOR YOUR PHOTO ROAD TRIP

Before you head out, grab those guides, pack layers for the weather, and load your car with water and snacks.

Pack appropriate lenses and cameras for the photos you want to capture. Don’t have a fancy camera? Use those smartphones!

STOP #5:

STOP #6: North Fork of the Skykomish River Index Forks of the Sky State Park, Index Stunning blue waters run past with a horizon leading up to hills, trees, and mountains.

Build in time to stop and capture images along the way.

Be sure to find safe pull-offs and be spontaneously inspired by the scenery.

Watch the light – the light during different seasons and times of day can have an amazing effect on the images.

See the beauty in the simple things. Take a photo of that tree with fantastic bark, the buttercup contrasting against leaves, and the dewdrops on the grass.

Consider the color and texture contrast in the composition of the photos.

Try a change of perspective in the photo. For example, change your angle, get closer, or climb atop a higher point.

Respect your surroundings and leave no trace. Keep to the trails, don’t trample plants, pay attention to your surroundings, and make sure to pack out what you pack in.

STOP #7: Alpine Meadow - Deception Creek Deception Creek Road (Forest Service Road #6088), Skykomish Wildflowers grow amongst the rocks in the Alpine Meadows.

Capture the journey – Include your bikes, hiking and travel buddies, and even perspectives from the car (as a passenger only, of course!)

Have fun!

Grab & Go Eats

LAKE STEVENS

UPPER SKY VALLEY

Vick’s Burger Shack

930 U.S. Rte 2, Sultan

Vick’s features super fresh (never frozen) burgers, signature shakes and fantastic onion rings.

Union Coffee Bar

8011 20th Street SE, & 719 91st Ave NE, Lake Stevens

Conveniently located at the Trestle Station and Pioneer Station, this stop is a must on your way to catch the morning rowing crew, or ride the glass lake before the city wakes. Specialty drinks, hot breakfasts, sweets, and savory options, this is a one stop shop.

SNOHOMISH

Katsu Burger

512 91st Ave NE, Lake Stevens

This is no regular burger joint, these burgers are a Japanese fusion made with the freshest Katsu, chicken, and tofu ingredients, then fried to perfection. As they say, “let your taste buds travel.”

Zeke’s Drive In

43918 U.S. Rte 2, Gold Bar

Look for the Caboose! Zeke’s is the longest-running local drive-in in the Valley, loads of history and delicious food.

Legacy Coffee

2606 Bickford Ave #1, Snohomish

Don’t let the brick façade of 2606 Bickford Ave, built to resemble a historic train station, fool you – Legacy

Coffee is the newest addition to the Snohomish coffee scene. Fuel up on your way in or out of town with some coffee or seasonal iced tea, and don’t forget to grab café-style bites or Korean treats like choco pies.

A Bit of Taste

1301 1st Street, Snohomish

In addition to healthy, fresh olive oils from around the world, and delicious balsamics from Italy, A Bit of Taste offers a variety of gourmet snacks that would make great additions to your picnic or hike. From savory snacks, like salami, crackers, and various tapenades, to single-serve packages of nuts, olives, artichokes, asparagus, and French green beans, you won’t go hungry while you are out and about.

Espresso Chalet

Mile Post 36 on U.S. Rte 2, near Index

Enjoy the fantastic view of Mt. Index from their back deck. The home of “Harry and the Hendersons.” Take pictures with Harry and grab a keepsake from the shop.

LouSki’s Deli

5th Street & U.S. Rte 2, 148 5th Street N, Skykomish

Homemade pastries, soups, sandwiches, and much more!

Gyro Stop

19090 U.S. Rte 2, Monroe

Friendly staff immediately provide a welcoming atmosphere. This Monroe Gyro Stop offers six different gyros to choose from in addition to meal plates, appetizers, deserts, and more sides. We guarantee this delicious, authentic cuisine will leave you craving more.

Sunflower Mill

19853 U.S. Rte 2, Monroe

A quick jaunt off U.S. Rte 2, this European Deli & Grocery is filled with unique finds; fresh, frozen, fruit, sweets, salami. You name it, they have it. Drop in to fill up on one-of-a-kind snacks to try at the top of your hike as you enjoy the view. Or, to savor after your adventure as you journey home through the Skykomish and Snohomish River Valleys.

Coming Soon!

ANTHOLOGY RANCH PETTING ZOO

SEE WEBSITE FOR DETAILS

Grand Opening, June 1 FARM STAND OPEN THURSDAYS, 3-6 PM

BY APPOINTMENT: 206-605-3389

22320 YEAGER RD • MONROE, WA

ANTHOLOGYRANCH.COM

Lodging

LAKE STEVENS

The Mansion Inn Lake Stevens 1513 Mitchell Road, Lake Stevens, WA (425) 610-4746

info@mansioninnlakestevens.com

www.mansioninnlakestevens.com

SNOHOMISH

Snohomish Inn

323 2nd Street, Snohomish, WA (360) 568-2208

www.snohomishinn.com

Treehouse Place at Deer Ridge 19922 4th Street SE, Snohomish, WA (425) 224-3033

Joek97006@yahoo.com

MONROE

Best Western Sky Valley Inn 19233 U.S. Rte 2, Monroe, WA (360) 794-3111

Evergreen Inn & Suites

19103 U.S. Rte 2, Monroe, WA (360) 863-1901

monroeguesthouse@gmail.com

Evergreen RV Park

14390 Cascade View Drive SE, Monroe, WA (360) 805-6700 or (360) 388-6600

Fairgrounds Inn 18950 U.S. Rte 2, Monroe, WA (360) 794-5401

www.fairgroundsinn.com

Falling Water Gardens Glamping 17516 U.S. Rte 2, Monroe, WA (360) 863-1400

info@fallingwatergardens.com

Mountain Views Treehouse Joint 14308 Reiner Road, Monroe, WA

Tracy@mountainviewsbb.com

MONROE continued

The Grayson B&B 20302 N High Rock Road, Monroe, WA (360) 330-9491

info@graysonlife.com

Thunderbird RV & Camping Resort 26702 Ben Howard Road, Monroe, WA (360) 794-4030

SKY VALLEY

A Cabin on the Sky 800 Ave A, Index, WA (360) 793-0100

david@acabinonthesky.com

Bush House Inn 308 5th Street, Index WA (425) 298-7642

www.bushhouseinn.com

Cascadia Inn

210 E Railroad Ave, Skykomish, WA (360) 677-2030

www.historiccascadia.com

Dutch Cup Motel      101 Dutch Cup Lane, Sultan, WA (800) 844-0488

www.dutchcup.com

Nighthawk Cottage

7621 Rustic Way, Sultan, WA (360) 793-2777

https://bit.ly/41J7U3X

The Wallace Falls Lodge 14424 Wallace Lake Road, Gold Bar, WA (206) 408-8170

www.wallacefallslodge.com

Treeline Vacation Rentals Multiple Properties throughout Sky Valley (206) 735-3231

www.treelinerentals.com

Wild Sky Ranch 49603 Index-Galena Road, Index, WA (425) 785-5983

www.wildskyranch.com

The Sky & Sno Adventure Guide is published by Colibri Northwest for the City of Lake Stevens, the City of Snohomish, the City of Monroe, and the Sky Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Publisher Peter Philips, Colibri Northwest (206) 284-8285

peter@colibrinw.com

Advertising Sales

Katie Higgins, Colibri Northwest (206) 914-4248

katie@colibrinw.com

Writer Richard Porter

Contributing Photographers Chris Reedy, Dan Evans, Garvin Carrell, Jake Campbell, Mark Klein, Nichole Gaertner, Richard Porter

Events

Scan the QR codes to find full event calendars & more!

APRIL TO JUNE – MONROE

Miracle League

Miracle League was formed as a youth baseball league for children with special needs. It offers these children an opportunity to suit up in a uniform, step up to the plate, and enjoy playing the game of baseball in its purest form. Located at Monroe’s Rotary Field Saturday mornings.

THURSDAYS MAY THROUGH SEPTEMBER – SNOHOMISH

Snohomish Farmers Market

The Snohomish Farmers Market returns for its 32nd season, featuring vendors old and new as well as some added surprises. Located on Cedar & Pearl near the Snohomish Carnegie. www.snohomishfarmersmarket.org

SECOND TUESDAYS MAY THROUGH SEPTEMBER – SNOHOMISH

Snohomish Bike Nights

All motorcycles are welcome at Snohomish Bike Nights, now featuring reserved parking (first come first served) in front of Who’s on

THIRD SUNDAY IN MAY – SNOHOMISH

Sky Valley Motorcycle Show

Enjoy mechanical marvels and live music at the 26th annual Sky Valley Motorcycle Show located on First Street, which celebrates the history of motorcycling and champions individual expression. www.skyvalleyabate.com

WEDNESDAYS LATE MAY THROUGH SEPTEMBER – MONROE

Farmers Market

Head to the Galaxy Theater parking lot from 3 p.m.-7 p.m. to find local fresh produce, flowers, meats, fruits, honey, food trucks and artisans. This market showcases over 60+ vendors each week. www.choosemonroe.com

FIRST SATURDAY IN JUNE –SNOHOMISH

Snohomish Pride

A parade, street festival, and live entertainment, as well as smaller events in local businesses, will mark the firstever LGBTQIA+ Pride celebration in Snohomish. Located on First Street and at the Snohomish Carnegie. www.historicdowntownsnohomish.org

WEDNESDAYS JUNE THROUGH AUGUST – LAKE STEVENS

Lake Stevens Farmers Market Walk, boat, or ride into the park each week to support the Lake Stevens Farmers Market located at North Cove Park & The Mill. The market offers a wide variety of fresh, local produce, artisan culinary goods, and hand-crafted items every Wednesday at the beautiful North Cove Park. Enjoy a lake breeze, grab a bite to eat and picnic on the lake-front lawn. Kids will enjoy the large park and water feature too! 80+ vendors every week.

www.lakestevensfarmersmarket.org

SATURDAYS MID-MAY THROUGH SEPTEMBER – SULTAN

Sultan Farmers Market Opening Day

Join us for the opening day of the Sultan Farmers Market on May 20 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on First & Main in Sultan. The market runs every Saturday (except for 7/8/2023) until the last week of September.   www.sultanfarmersmarket.com

THIRD SATURDAY IN JUNE –SKYKOMISH

Skykomish Tunnel Days  Fun-filled, family-oriented festival celebrating community and the completion of the historic 8-mile railroad tunnel through Stevens Pass. Celebrate Skykomish, the Portal to Adventure for the upper Sky Valley from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.  www.facebook.com/TunnelDays

Evergreen Fair Park

FIRST SATURDAY IN JULY – INDEX

Bigfoot Arts Festival

The annual Bigfoot Art Festival will be held on July 1 from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. This year’s event will be held at the Espresso Chalet, just off U.S. Rte 2 past Gold Bar near Index. With a host of local art on display, food, drinks, & Harry the Sasquatch, it’ll be a great way to start your 4th of July weekend.

Espresso Chalet | Gold Bar WA | Facebook

FRIDAYS IN JULY – MONROE

Music in the Park

Grab a chair or blanket, some shades and your dancing shoes and head to Lake Tye Park around 6 p.m. to enjoy live music, local food trucks and a weekly featured brewery. Insider tip: come early as parking fills up fast! www.choosemonroe.com

4TH OF JULY – LAKE STEVENS

Old Fashioned 4th at the Lake

A family-friendly, daylong celebration full of traditional picnic games for kids of all ages, music, a cornhole tournament, and new for 2023, a parade on Main Street! All day fun for the family in preparation for fireworks over the lake.

www.lakestevenschamber.com

SECOND WEEKEND IN JULY –SULTAN

Sultan Shindig

Join us on 2nd and Main Street for a weekend of music, food, shopping, a parade, logging contests, a car show, fireworks, and all-around family fun. It runs all weekend and is held in River Park in downtown Sultan. Friday 4 p.m.-Dusk, Saturday 10 a.m.-10 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.              www.sultanshindig.com

SECOND WEEK IN JULY –SNOHOMISH

Kla Ha Ya Days Festival

A Snohomish institution for over 100 years, Kla Ha Ya Days is a summer festival where 100% of the proceeds are donated to community organizations. This year’s celebration packs dozens of events into five days of fun at various locations in and around Snohomish. www.klahayadays.com

THIRD WEEKEND IN JULY –SNOHOMISH

Kla Ha Ya Days Adult Soccer Tournament

The Northwest’s leading adult soccer tournament descends upon Stocker Fields, just outside of historic downtown Snohomish. Take in the action as a spectator or grab your cleats and participate yourself. www.snohomishyouthsoccer.org

MID-JULY – MONROE

Shakespeare in the Park

Each summer, Last Leaf produces and tours Western Washington with two, one-hour productions from Shakespeare’s folio. Skykomish River Park is fortunate to be one of the locations for this family-friendly show! www.lastleafproductions.org

FOURTH SATURDAY IN JULY –GOLD BAR

Gold Dust Days

A jam-packed, fun Saturday community event from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Complete with a parade, music, car show, food, and kid/ family activities all day. Located at Gold Bar Elementary School, 419 Lewis Ave. www.skyvalleychamber.com/gold-dust-days

Events continued

LAST WEEKEND IN JULY –LAKE STEVENS

Aquafest

Aquafest is all about the events, ranging from all kinds on land and on water. Kids ages 3-93 can all find something to do! Located in downtown Lake Stevens, this summer event is packed with attractions, food, crafts, and a carnival. www.aquafest.com

LAST WEEKEND IN JULY –SNOHOMISH

Bigfoot Soccer Tournament

Compete, camp, and have fun! Bigfoot is one of the largest youth soccer tournaments in Washington and an annual institution in Snohomish at Stocker Fields. www.snohomishyouthsoccer.org

FRIDAYS IN AUGUST – MONROE

Movies Under the Moon

Grab your kids and start the weekend off right at Lake Tye Park. A themed craft for kids begins at 8 p.m. and the featured movie will begin at dusk. On-site concessions available for drinks, popcorn, and more snacks to provide the full movie experience. www.monroewa.gov/calendar

FOURTH SATURDAY IN AUGUST –MONROE

Fairfest 3on3

Bring your family, friends and your “A” game and experience this basketball tournament. Afterwards enjoy the Evergreen State Fair, making this a new tradition for the entire family. www.fairfest.org

MID-SEPTEMBER – INDEX

Index Climbers Festival

The community celebration of Index climbing and stewardship is held Saturday 8:30 a.m.-9 p.m., and Sunday 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. The event hosts a BBQ, climbing activities, live music, games, and an epic raffle. Stewardship Day will take place rain or shine, bring your PNW uniform and help prep the area for winter by cleaning up the crag after the summer.

www.indexclimbersfest.com

FOURTH SATURDAY IN AUGUST –MONROE

Monroe Fair Days Parade & Market

Everyone’s favorite summertime event, help kick off the Evergreen State Fair by attending the Fair Days Parade & Market on West Main Street. Mark your calendars, pack a chair, and come early for a front row seat to the show! www.choosemonroe.com

FOURTH FRIDAY IN AUGUST –SNOHOMISH

Snohomish Block Party

A new tradition in the making, the Snohomish Block party brings big names and nationally touring acts to historic downtown Snohomish. Lineups to be announced soon! Main stage located at the Snohomish Carnegie in the historic district. www.snohomishblockparty.com

FOURTH FRIDAY IN AUGUST TO FIRST MONDAY IN SEPTEMBER – MONROE

Evergreen State Fair

An event that celebrates our area’s rich agricultural culture, traditions, and community. At the Evergreen State Fair, there is something for everyone. www.evergreenfair.org

LATE SUMMER OR EARLY FALL –MONROE

Swift Night Out

Celebrate the magnificent migration of the Vaux’s Swift. From 4 p.m. until dusk, nature lovers, community groups, families, and anyone with an interest in the spectacular can enjoy an evening on the lawn to watch the Vaux’s Swifts descend into their evening chimney roost at Frank Wagner Elementary School.

www.pilchuckaudubon.org

LATE SEPTEMBER – MONROE

Monroe Harvest Market

Over 60+ vendors with seasonal fresh produce, and baked goods. Food trucks, photo booth, face painting, and more. Located in Galaxy Theater’s parking lot. www.choosemonroe.com

LAST SUNDAY IN SEPTEMBER –SNOHOMISH

Classic Car Show

The buildings aren’t the only thing historic about downtown Snohomish during the Classic Car Show on First Street, which will be in its 41st year in 2023.

www.snohomishchamber.org/ classiccardisplay

LAST SATURDAY OF SEPTEMBER –SULTAN

Return of the Salmon Celebration  Celebration of the cultural heritage of the Skykomish River Valley from 10am-4pm. Honoring the legacy of Chief T’seulTed, learn about protecting our Salmon Watersheds & participate in the 5K Salmon Run/1 mile Fin Walk. Hosted at Osprey Park at 801 1st Street.

www.skyvalleychamber.com/return-ofthe-salmon