A "must" hike: Mist, mud, waterfall and waffles

A midwinter dip into the Big Gore-Tex Northwest Mailbag, which soon will announce its plans to move to another city if it is not provided with new, publicly financed drawstrings by the end of the month:

Q. We just recently moved here and somebody said we MUST go see Snoqualmie Falls. Is this true? And what happens if we don't? We're only half-kidding here: We want to go, and are curious about what kind of shape the trail to the falls is in this time of the year. And is the Salish Lodge a good place for lunch?

A: Yes, you have to go. Just get it over with. Once you're there, peering over the side of a cliff at what would be a stunning, 268-foot waterfall — if you could see it through the swirling mist — you'll be glad you came. Probably.

The trail to the falls is in great shape. We hiked the full 100 yards of it from the car to the overlook recently, and nary a blemish was to be found in the concrete.

If you're talking about the other trail, which leads to the Snoqualmie River at the bottom of the canyon: It's probably OK in March. However: Like every other trail within several hundred miles of Westlake Center, expect torrents of rain, inches of mud and angry swarms of banana slugs.

But those are all survivable. Remember the time-honored rule of Northwest winter hiking: Wear just what you need to stay warm, and carry dry clothes with you for when you stop. You can only get so wet, and moisture won't kill you — at least right away.

Some facts on the trail to the bottom: It's steep, about a half-mile and 300 to 400 vertical feet down to the river floor, then another half-mile scramble or so back up toward the base of the falls. Note: Those big rocks are slicker than snot. Watch for broken ankles.

That said, a trip to the falls is always a worthwhile jaunt — one made by 1.5 million folks a year. Some people say the canyon has healing powers. We say: If they believe it, then it probably does.

As to the Salish Lodge: Too high-rent for us. The closest we get to eating there is using the waffle mix with the waterfall on the package at home on Sundays.

Q: Speaking of pancakes: Is that Snoqualmie Falls Lodge mix really made or served at Salish Lodge & Spa?

A: Uh, no. The pancake/waffle mix with the falls pouring down the front is a product of Continental Mills, of Seattle. For many years, the stuff was ground in St. Louis by Bunge Foods. But Continental acquired the Snoqualmie Falls line of mixes in 2000 and mills some falls products in Kent.

Since you didn't ask: Continental also makes baking mixes under another familiar brand: Krusteaz, a line whose roots, according to the company, date to 1932, when women in a Seattle bridge club came up with an idea for a simple pie-crust mix ("crust" and "ease" — get it?).

As to the serving part: The Salish Lodge & Spa, at the site of the former Snoqualmie Falls Lodge (which served a famous six-course breakfast back in the days when men were men and their arteries were clogged), now sells its own competing brand, "Falls Country Buttermilk Pancake Mix."

The lodge says "variations of" this recipe have been served on the site since 1916. And the mix they sell in the gift shop is slightly different than what you get in the restaurant, because — duh — the packaged version must have a shelf life.

We know it's all quite baffling, and leaves one wondering whether, if you made waffles with Snoqualmie Falls-brand mix, and topped them with Salish Lodge & Spa-brand syrup, it might cause an explosion or something.

Somebody clearly is going to have to find out.

Q: I've decided I'd like to win an Olympic gold medal and am wondering what the best way to get started toward that is.

A: We thought no one would ever ask. It just so happens that you can win an Olympic medal essentially by being ballast, provided you pick the right sport. And by that we mean luge, which, of course, is French for "AAAAAAAUUUUGGGGHHH!!"

Every year, the U.S. Luge federation — don't laugh until you've been to one of its parties — travels the country to give people who've got that lugin' feeling a chance to exorcise and exercise it. And they will be at our own White Pass ski area March 10-11 to stage another Verizon Luge Challenge.

The skinny: Sliders aged 10 years and older can get a short course on luging, then actually try out a "recreational" luge sled on a short snow course which is, naturally, much slower than a real, ice luge track. But you can get the idea.

Real U.S. lugers and coaches will be on hand, and registration begins daily at 9 a.m. See www.verizon.com/lugechallenge for details and a discount coupon. The same show moves to Mount Hood's Ski Bowl March 17-18.

Ron Judd's Trail Mix column appears here every Thursday. To contact him: 206-464-8280 or rjudd@seattletimes.com.