Stories by author "Rachel Baker": 7
Stories
Friends of Moran – The nonprofit group that supports Moran State Park
Most tourists visiting Orcas Island have Moran State Park on their travel itinerary. With nearly 40 miles of hiking trails, several lakes, scenic picnic vistas, and home to the highest point in the San Juan Islands offering a stunning view at 2,409…
The Madrone Tree – A lot of background behind a colorful tree
Anyone unfamiliar with coastal plants of the Pacific shoreline will surely be intrigued when they first see what looks like a tropical tree growing along rocky coasts. Ranging anywhere from 15 - 100 feet tall with smooth bark that peels away in…
Obstruction Pass State Park – The hidden gem of Orcas Island
Orcas Island is well-known for Moran State Park, one of the largest state parks in Washington and home of the highest point in the San Juan Island chain. At 76-acres, Obstruction Pass is much smaller than Moran, but definitely worth the trip to…
Roots of Fruit – Early American settlements on Orcas Island got their start as fruit farms
Today Orcas Island is known for scenic hiking, quaint artist studios, and farm-to-table dining, but the island wasn’t always best known for these features. While produce is still grown on the island, fruit farms used to dominate the landscape of…
The CCC on Orcas Island – The national service crew working on Orcas Island today looks a little different than the crew that helped develop Moran State Park.
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was a work relief program established by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on April 5th, 1933. The New Deal program operated until 1942 and provided a source of work and income for hundreds of thousands of young,…
Puget Sound vs. Salish Sea – For conservation efforts, distinction matters.
Puget Sound is a diverse marine habitat with significant ecological, cultural, and economic importance for people all across Washington. Although there are slight discrepancies among definitions, simply put, a sound is a narrow passage of water…
The Naming of Orcas Island – Contrary to what one might think, the island isn’t named after whales!
Spanish naval officer Francisco de Eliza led several expeditions through the Pacific Northwest in the late 1700s to explore the area’s rich ecosystems, and visited the San Juan island chain in 1791. The Viceroy of Mexico commissioned this particular…