Tag Archives: bayview stairs

Walking with Tica: Working out on Beacon Hill stairs

View of the African-American Museum from Beacon Bluff. Photo by melissajonas.
View of the African-American Museum from Beacon Bluff. Photo by melissajonas.
I’m a foul-weather gym member. The Meredith Matthews YMCA  (just off 23rd in the Central District) has a great facility and low rates—and they allow me to join and cancel at will with no fees. This allows me to workout outside when I want, and inside when the weather shifts.  I prefer to spend as much time outside as possible in the summer, and to integrate my workouts into the rest of my life as much as possible.

If you’re looking for a great workout in our neighborhood, check out the stairs running east-west on the streets between 15th and 17th. I created a Google map to give an idea of stair locations and the route we take.  Be creative and explore the area—I usually incorporate a few hills in addition to the stairs.

Depending on how much time I have (and how Tica’s feeling) we’ll walk or jog the stairs while heading north, then slow down and head south towards home along a less steep route.

It’s a great workout with some breathtaking views. I put some of my shots from this area in the Beacon Hill Blog Flickr photo pool—share yours!

Much thanks for all the hard work neighbors and volunteers have been putting in to make these stairs usable!

Neighbors bearish at BAN meeting

Perhaps the bear pictured on this Beacon Hill bus shelter is the legendary Beacon Hill Bear. Photo posted by Kim from Seattle Daily Photo to the Beacon Hill Blog Photo Pool on Flickr. See more of her wonderful photos at seattle-daily-photo.blogspot.com.
Perhaps the bear pictured on this Beacon Hill bus shelter is the legendary Beacon Hill Bear. Photo posted by Kim from Seattle Daily Photo to the Beacon Hill Blog Photo Pool on Flickr. See more of her wonderful photos at seattle-daily-photo.blogspot.com.
Craig Thompson sends a report from last night’s meeting of the Beacon Alliance of Neighbors (BAN). Here are some of the highlights:

At last night’s BAN meeting, four neighborhood project coordinators decided that whenever we call 911 about crime, etc., we will indicate a bear is part of the action. An all purpose report would go something like:

Fourteen youths have been jumped by a bear making gang signs off campus, near Cleveland High. The bear was later reported pushing a Goodwill shopping cart, and carrying a gas can, while approaching drivers at the Shell station. A bear – identity unclear – was then spotted traversing several backyards, carrying a cash register and an application for a
liquor license. A bear – presumably an ursa minor – was spotted in possession of several cans of Old English 800, Red Bull, and acrylic enamel. Near evening, a bear accosted several residents about free burglar alarm equipment while stealing their potted plants.

80 significant trees in the woods south of Dr. Jose Rizal Park were saved from ivy infestations by two EarthCorps crews this past Tuesday, May 19; a crew will return on June 8 to continue heading south along the west side of Beacon Hill.
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