Vancouver, WA

As Spring rose from its static slumber under clouds of gray, my Mother and Grandmother bolted for the outdoors. They are politely termed, “walking enthusiasts”; each logs about 25 miles a week on their cross-trainers. So on the first day of fair weather they had an adventure planned and invited me to join the fun. Like a brainless badger I agreed. The Salmon Creek Trail was the destination. The trail runs roughly east to west along Salmon Creek, Klineline Pond and the Vancouver Girls Softball fields.

We arrived at the Klineline Pond parking area and proceeded along the pathway parallel to the winding course of Salmon Creek. The trail was paved, an easy grade, and a viewpoint for many species of birds. That was well and good, if my Mother and Grandmother had not left me in the dust. They easily outpaced me, chattering on and on about the weather, the birds, the creek and the newly blooming flowers and trees along the trail.

A short distance into the trail is a group of softball fields for the Salmon Creek Sports Association and Vancouver Girls Softball. In addition to the people fishing and swimming at Klineline Pond, there were softball games afoot and many people to see me wheezing as I passed through. When I arrived at the Softball field, I met up with my family members, who turned around and began heading down the trail once again. They say that they walk 25 miles a week, but by most standards it should be considered a slow jog; thus I was once again playing catch-up. No rest for the video game generation…

Passing the time while trailing my maternal walking partners, I shaded my eyes and looked around at the bright sunlit valley of greenery. Trees were bursting with buds of many colors and water sparkled on the rocks guiding the stream. Wild birds and small scurrying animals were in full parade in the open-air sanctuary. Other hardy trail trekkers passed by on foot, bike and a few on roller blades/skates. [I quickly learned that when anyone is coming up quickly behind you and they shout, “Left, Left, Left” that means they are passing you on the left side. The results from that lesson were almost catastrophic as I turned into the oncoming traffic of a 3-bicycle caravan.]

As the hawks flew over the breadth of the valley, I finally caught up with my family again at a wide bend in the trail. It was at that point that they informed me that we had reached the half way marker of the trail; only one quarter of the walk they had planned! They laughed and sped off again down the trail under the cover of large evergreens. I bid them adieu, and returned the same way I had ventured in to the wild lands of the Salmon Creek Trail.

Later I met them at my Mother’s house. They arrived only a short 30 minutes after I returned and they had completed their 10-mile adventure in a scant 3 hours! The trail emerges at the West end at NW 36^th Ave, leading northeast in to the Salmon Creek area or south in to the Felida neighborhoods. I have returned many times to the Salmon Creek Trail, without the maternal influence to outpace me.

The Park and Trail are perfect for daytime exercise, picnics and some bird watching. There are various small rest areas along the trail perfect for snack breaks.

P.S. There is no fee currently for parking in the Softball Fields’ Parking Lot.