- Kathryn Taylor, trails activist, dies at 55 (seattletimes.com)
Back in the 1970s, before the Sammamish Plateau became a housing developer’s paradise, it was a haven for deer, bears and horse lovers like Kathryn Taylor, who once said that in those days the plateau was covered with riding trails “from hell to breakfast.” Most of those trails are gone now, but a few remain thanks to Ms. Taylor’s activism. In 1988, she formed the King County Executive Horse Council, which helped preserve miles of trails from encroaching development. The group also succeeded in persuading several Eastside cities to create equestrian zoning.
- Sholes Creek Falls (waterfallsnorthwest.com)
Sholes Creek Falls is sort of the big brother to nearby Wells Creek Falls. Sholes Creek plunges over a two-stepped waterfall in drops of 62 and 103 feet into a very deep amphitheater at the head of a gorge just above its confluence with Bar Creek. Framing either side of Sholes Creek Falls are huge pillars of volcanic rock rising well over 200 feet above the creek at the base of the canyon, one of which effectively blocks views of the upper tier of the falls itself from all locations where views are unobstructed.