I was surprised at the sense of loss I felt when I saw the sign. The character of North Bend's assortment of diners echoed the character of this logging town long after that identity was lost. For years, I took them for granted, these en-route ski lodges with a home-cooked meal. The stubborn small-town mentality was what I liked and disliked about living in North Bend. Now that, too, is gone. When the shiny, big "Mitzels" sign went up at the edge of town, a smaller, more significant sign went up in the window of my favorite cafe: "closed." For North Bend, losing the Swiss Chalet and Homestead (leaving only Mar-T, as seen on TV, and the worst food in town) was more than the closing of a restaurant, it was the close of an era.
Cabin Creek is a crowded Sno-Park on any weekend, and for good reason: There are some fun, easy trails out of this trailhead. The major trails follow roads, but it's easy to get away from the crowds by making your own trail into the open, wooded hills.
Photo: Not very good, I know. I was having too much fun to take pictures.
The three of us took Mae Westfalia to the pass, not sure in which Sno-Park we would end up. The Thoroughly Modern Signs on I-90 indicate which Sno-Parks are full, a very useful service. We finally found a tight space along the road, and parked. This was about an hour and a half from Seattle.
It was a cold day. We skied up an easy road to a fork. Steve and I followed the fork to an overlook, not much to see on a cloudy day. Debra waited at the fork, and commented on seeing, for the first time, the shape of a snowflake crystal. Having lived in no other snowy clime but Washington, she had never seen a snowflake land on her glove without immediately melting.
Stats: Groomed trails, 75 parking spaces.
Getting there: I-90 exit 63.
Note: This is backcountry wilderness travel. Any trail can become very dangerous in winter conditions. You are responsible for informing yourself of the hazards and taking the necessary precautions. Please read Terms of Use.