Cats and Trails and Garden Tales
Musings on cats, travel, gardens and life
Looking for Gold, Quartz and Diamond – Hiking on the Middle Fork of the Snoqualmie
We recently discovered a new hike on the Middle Fork of the Snoqualmie River, Camp Brown, in case you wondered. The hike was short, scenic and wonderfully green, with great river access for Bob to practice flyfishing.
While he fished, I enjoyed the scenery, especially Mt. Garfield.
And I focused my camera on the river and rocks, lit up by sunshine on the hottest day of the year.
Sparkly like diamonds I thought.
And I’m sure I saw flecks of gold.
“Look,” I said when we sat down for lunch, “there’s gold in the sand.”
“Fool’s gold,” he said.
“I don’t know about that,” I replied.
I knew there was gold in Washington’s rivers and streams. We’d recently stopped by the oldest mining town in the state – Liberty on Blewett Pass – where gold was discovered in Swauk Creek in 1873.
But honestly, I didn’t really think there was gold in the sand – this was the Snoqualmie River not Swauk Creek – and if there were, the flecks were miniscule. Still, it was fun to dream.
And in my pictures, I saw mostly quartz, not diamonds or gold, as it should be since quartz is abundant on the earth’s surface.
What do you see?
Sharing with Sunday Stills, Quartz and Diamond.
~ Susanne
Cats and Trails and Garden Tales 
Such a beautiful place!
Truly! Thanks! 🙂
Looks like a great spot for a hike. I love those old mining towns. So much history there and scenic as well.
Yes, they seem to have added a number of new hikes along the Middle Fork of the Snoqualmie and so far all are wonderful! And it was fun to stop by Liberty, it’s an old mining town, but people still live there!
I would love to meander through those trails. 👣👣👣
Yes, you would love it! 🙂
Imagination lets us see whatever we want! All things are seen through the lens of experience and perspective… Looks like a peaceful hike!
So true! And yes, it was a wonderful peaceful hike and we were all alone on the trail!
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That opening picture of all the bright green trees is gorgeous, Susanne! How cool to visit that mining town and then find glittering “gold” and quartz in the river. Such a beautiful shot and fun to see your close-ups, along with the bokeh! Hope you had a wonderful Easter!
Thanks so much, Terri! We love the Middle Fork of the Snoqualmie, and it was fun to stop by the old mining town last month! It was also fun to weave those into the challenge!
We took my mom out for lunch today and even had sunshine for a change!
Hope you enjoyed your Easter too! 😊
I love seeing the sparkles in the water Susanne, nicely captured for Sunday Stills.
Thanks so much! There were lots of sparkles that sunny day!
That was a lovely trip, even if the gold wasn’t real. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
My sentiments exactly! 😊
Thanks, Pete.
How pretty! What a fun hike to go on 😀
Thank you! Yes, one of many easy hikes along the Middle Fork of the Snoqualmie, all beautiful! 🙂
Gorgeous! The Northwest never fails when it comes to beautiful trails and terrain! A extraordinary place to explore. My parents lived in Chehalis Washington for 40 years! Hugs, C
Thank you so much! I am continually amazed at the beauty of the Northwest even though – or maybe because – I’ve lived here my whole life!
That picture at the end reminded me of the many years ago site of Agate Beach in Oregon. Sadly when I took my husband there 20 years ago all the agates were gone. Still in the 1950’s the whole beach was covered in them and my brother and I could spend hours playing there while my parents read.
Good memories. I love beachcombing, picking up pretty rocks.
Whatever it is, it looks beautiful!
I think so, too! 😁 Thank you!
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