Winter hiking continues in February with five hikes. Unexpected circumstances such as weather, logging, wash-outs, construction, or road conditions may cause cancellations or changes in the following hikes. A hike will be canceled if there are high wind warnings, flooding conditions, or snowy or icy road conditions. If you have questions or want information on any of the hikes, call JOAN MELCHER, 360-424-0407, or e-mail All the hikes are on a Wednesday. Dogs are discouraged on Audubon-sponsored hikes. If dogs are on a hike, they must be on a leash at all times.

FEBRUARY 1 LUMMI ISLAND
Walk a 7 mile loop on the north end of Lummi Island. Enjoy island, sea, and mountain views. Required is $7 for foot-passenger ferry fare. Mostly the walking is level. Walking shoes are recommended. Meet at 8:30 a.m. at. the Chuckanut Drive park-n-ride, exit 231 from I-5 on the east side of I-5. There is no specified return time, although most will take the 1 p.m. ferry back.

FEBRUARY 8 DISCOVER OLD AND NEW ANACORTES
Wendy Gray and Mac Madenwald will lead us on a walking tour of the features of old and new Anacortes. Meet at 9 a.m. in the parking lot to the west of Anthony’s. Anthony’s is located along the waterfront to the east of Safeway. The walk is eight or more miles.

FEBRUARY 15 CAMANO ISLAND
Friends of Camano Island Parks (FOCIP) will lead us on hikes on Camano Island. The hike is up to 11.9 miles with shorter options available. Lunch is provided. $2 is the suggested donation. Meet at 8:00 a.m. in the southeast corner of the Mount Vernon Safeway parking lot or at 8:30 a.m. at the Blue Camano Center Building on East Camano Drive. There will be a brief orientation there. Restrooms will be available. We will first hike the Camano Ridge trails then move to the Ivy Drylake Road cul-de-sac, where hikes from there can include Cama Beach trails with a new trail available and Camano Island State Park trails. A shuttle will be available. Those wanting to do Cranberry Lake and the rest of the Cross Island trail back to Ivy can do it after lunch or just leave it out. A Discover Pass is required if you park in either Cama State Park or Camano Island State Park.

FEBRUARY 22 CONWAY-AREA DIKE WALK
The dike on the east side of the Skagit River north of Conway is now open to public use. Hike 3.5 miles one-way and then back. Meet at 9 a.m. in the parking area described below. You may leave when you return to your vehicle. Try lunch at the Conway Pub & Eatery? If the weather is clear there will be great views. Birds should be plentiful. From I-5 take exit 221, which is signposted Conway and Lake McMurray. This is also the Pioneer Hwy (SR 534) which leads to Stanwood. Turn west toward Conway/Stanwood and very shortly (100 yards) turn right on Fir Island Rd into Conway. Go over the rail road tracks and in 100 yards turn right on Dike Rd. just before the bridge. Do not go over the South Fork of the Skagit River Bridge onto Fir Island! Parking is available on the left in 200 yards north of the unsigned dike district building.

FEBRUARY 29, SUGAR CUBE AND WHISTLE LAKE
Terry Slotemaker (360-293-6514) or his designee will lead us on a hike in the Anacortes Forest Lands. There are 6.8 miles with a 1,600 ft. elevation gain. Also available, is a 3.41 mile self-guided option just around Whistle Lake. Meet at 9 a.m. in the Heart Lake parking lot off the Heart Lake Road south of Anacortes. You may leave when you return to the trailhead

MARCH 7 LILY LAKE LOOP Hike the Lily Lake Trail to Lily Lake and North Butte on Blanchard Mountain. Return to trail head via Max’s Shortcut and the Larry Reed Trail. 8.5 mile loop, 1600 ft. total el. gain. We will divide into a faster and slower group; car pool accordingly. Meet at 8:30 a.m. at. the Chuckanut Drive park-n-ride, exit 231 from I-5 on the east side of I-5. 2:00 pm return to trailhead for the faster group; 3:00 pm for the slower group. Discover Pass required to park at the trailhead.