A Ritual to Start our Hiking Season followed by a Short Hike
We welcome you to the beginning our Wilderness Dharma Program season as we formally receive water from the Salish Sea.
You may do one, or both, of the programs.
1) Receiving Water Ceremony at Larrabee Beach.
- 1/2 mile round trip to the beach
- 100' elevation drop
- Many stair steps
At Larrabee Beach we will formally begin our ritual hiking season when, led by Wilderness Dharma Program Coordinator Reizan Bob Penny, we will receive a vial of Salish Sea water. This water will then be carried on hikes through the summer, and will be exchanged at the highest elevations we can attain with water from each of the three source branches of the Nooksack River, to then be returned to Larrabee Beach at seasons' end.
2) Hills and Streams Hike in the Chuckanut Mountains.
- 4.5 mile round trip
- 1,260' elevation gain and then loss
- Somewhat steep, especially at the start, smooth well-maintained trail
Immediately after the ceremony we will hike to Fragrance Lake. The hike will be led by lay entrusted teacher Heigaku Talus Latona, and will include a recitation of Dogen's Genjo Koan mapped over the landscape: a mini-version of our Mountains and Rivers ritual (hence, Hills and Streams).
Timing: Meet at the Larabee Park Bandshell at 10am, the Receiving Water Ceremony will end at about 11am. Expected return time from the hike is approximately 3pm.
What to Bring: For the hike bring a trail lunch, layers for this early Spring hike, and at least two liters of water.
Directions: We will begin the program at the band shell picnic area in Larrabee state park. Go to the main entrance on Chuckanut Drive and follow the access road inside the park south towards the band shell parking lot.
Carpooling: Please mention in a comment on your registration if you need to a ride and we will try to assist.
Note: A Discover Pass is needed for parking in Washington State Parks and trailheads.
Registration: While our day hikes are offered without charge, we do incur about $10 of program administration cost for each registration. There is the opportunity during registration to donate to cover these costs for your own registration or, additionally, to help another cover their registration expenses. Everyone is welcome, and no one will be refused attendance for lack of funds. As we do on the trail, we support each other.
Donations (Dana) to the Leader(s) and/or the Sangha: As with all of our events, teachers/leaders are not compensated for their time. You can include a donation to the hike leader(s) during your registration process, or at any time through our Donate to a Teacher page. You may also choose during the registration process to offer an additional donation to Red Cedar Zen Community to help with our general expenses. All donations are accepted with gratitude.
Questions? Contact Wilderness Dharma Program Coordinator Bob Penny at wilderness@redcedarzen.org and see our Wilderness Dharma Program page for an overview of this program.
