Lake Serene 09-15-2018

I was lamenting the weekend's forecast for rain, and a friend of mine said, "Tina, you live in the northwest - get your rain gear on and hike anyway!"  I don't mind a shower, just don't love a downpour out there, so I hoped for the best today and headed out with my adventure dogs to Lake Serene.

On the way through Sultan I saw a coyote trotting down the railroad tracks.  Last time I saw a coyote on the way to the trail head, it was one of the best hikes ever, so I took this as a good portent.

I got out to the trailhead before 8:30am and there were plenty of parking spaces left.  The trees were dripping, but the sky wasn't, and mist was rising here and there amongst the hills, so it was really a beautiful northwest fall day.  The first mile and a half or so of this hike, while climbing slightly, is flat compared to the rest.  This hike was closed all summer due to logging in the area - you could see where they had been from the trail.

We skipped the stairs to the waterfall viewing area and headed straight for the lake.  The mossy trees were so green and beautiful.

Although we skipped the waterfall overview, there is still a lower view of the falls that we enjoyed.  Also there were other falls further up the trail.

I had forgotten how many stairs were on this trail! And boulders and stone steps!  Up, up, up!  Cedar and Luna sprung up them like they were both puppies on springs.  Lucky things with four legs instead of two.

Once we cleared the stair stepper switchbacks through the trees, we could enjoy misty views of the peaks surrounding us, as well as the fall colors of the devils club and vine maple leaves.

The lake was a lovely turquoise color and we enjoyed watching the rain start to come down again and dimple the surface as we ate our lunch.

On the way back down, at the base of the falls again, I met a couple people with two dogs and the husky really seemed especially curious and pretty and soft.  She sat between two trees as we walked up and looked like some dog out of a story book.  She reminded me of a white husky I had met on this trail 7 yrs ago who stepped out of the mist at a switchback looking like a white wolf, but also very sweet.  I chatted for a moment and then went on.  They later passed me, and when they did the man seemed familiar too.  I didn't think I would catch up, but they stopped to talk to a ranger and I did catch up then and asked the man if he had a white husky on that trail back in 2011 - he had given me advice for my attempt at climbing Mount Rainier.  He said, "That was Misty!"  It WAS him.  Such a small world.  We talked about hiking for a bit, and then we all went our separate ways.  I don't know what it is about his dogs, but they are enchanting.
The ranger said I was the 105th person she had counted that day, and it was only about 1pm.

Barclay Lake 09-07-2018

I took most of the day off on Friday to get to dog camp on Lake Wenatchee, so I had time for a hike on the way.  Not wanting to wear the dogs or myself out before camp, I chose a pretty mild hike - Barclay Lake.  I had not done this one before. 

The lake is about 2 miles from the trailhead, and the trail is fairly flat, with just a few little dips and climbs as it wends through the little valley carved by its outlet stream.  Barclay Creek itself was actually dry when we did this hike.  Here is Cedar and Luna looking each way for the water.

The beginning of the trail starts out in that thick conifer forest that can spring up after logging, where the trees are so thick and competitive that there is not enough light for undergrowth.  Once through that you get into a much more natural feeling and beautiful forest.  A nice mix of trees, including some nice big firs and hemlock, as well as a healthy jungle of northwest undergrowth - different ferns, mosses, huckleberry, and some devils club as well.  The devils club has berries on, and some of the leaves are starting to turn their orangy autumn color.  There are a lot of cool boulders along this trail, and a lot of trees that grew with their roots around boulders or nurse logs and now have interesting spaces underneath - it looked super fun for kids!

Not sure what this plant is

Along the way there are peek-a-boo views of the towering rock faces that preside over the valley.  I think they are Merchant, Gunn, and I believe the huge one in my lake photo is Baring Mountain.

We had this trail almost entirely to ourselves, passing two ladies on our way in as they were hiking out, and then just two parties on our way out!  It was so peaceful and the sun shining through the trees and lighting the craggy peaks above made me really glad I chose this hike. 

When we got to Barclay Lake we could see why the stream was dry - the lake is too low to reach its outlet right now.  It is still lovely, with the sun sparkling on the water.  There is a lot of beach so you can really walk around it, and a lot of logs to pick for nice lunch spots as well.  The peaks tower up above you, and it seems so wild and peaceful that it is pretty amazing that it is just a few miles off the highway. 

On our way back out, a baby mouse tumbled out of the little embankment on one side of the trail and landed directly in front of Cedar and Luna!  Both of them were VERY interested in it, but I held them back to get this photo, and then I was going to scoop it up and try to get it near to where I thought it had come from.  Poor little thing was all eyes and head with a tail, and seemed stunned.  When I reached close, it scuttled off the path on the downhill side though - so I hope it found its way home.

Get out on this trail!  If you have kids, take your time and let then climb and explore along the way.  Find your inner child and climb a few boulders as well!  : )

Cascade Pass & Sahale Arm 09-02-2018

My day started out driving before sunrise toward a hike I'd never done.  I watched the valleys turn rose and then lemon yellow.  As I neared Marblemount in the Skagit Valley, I saw a coyote trotting through a misty field.  Day already made.

The road into this hike is a bit over 15 miles of unpaved road out of the 23 miles you're on the road.  It is heavily wash-boarded and a bit rough, but you pass beautiful waterfalls and end up at the trailhead surrounded by sheer rock faces that stretch jagged into the sky.  Thick chunks of ice cling to them in the places the sun can't reach as well.

The trail starts out going up switchbacks for almost 3 miles.  I was expecting a leg burner, but thought these were actually pretty gentle.  It was cool to see the big old trees get smaller and more bent the further up I went.  I imagine it's tough against the increasing snow and wind in those high places.  Finally you come out in the sun and cross some rocky stretches before reaching Cascade Pass.  This was an excellent place to pull up a rock, say hi to some fellow hikers and look out over the views of the valley.

Pikas were scurrying everywhere, as were marmots.  The hillsides resounded with squeaks and whistles. One marmot was on a rock in the trail.  I didn't see him until I was almost stepping on him and he hopped off the rock.  I pulled out my camera to get his photo and he decided it wasn't worth waiting for me to leave and hopped right back on the rock by my feet.  I was so happy! 

I saw a grouse (I think?  Or is it a partridge or ptarmigan?) and her young ones, another similar bird later, chipmunks, ground squirrels, Douglas squirrels, a raven, a red tail hawk, and many other little wildlife, but I MISSED the bear!  I guess about 50 other hikers saw it today.  Bummer!  I'll have to go back.

Also very cool that there were still some late season flowers blooming along the trail.  The butterflies were flitting all around them.

After this, the trail really gets more serious about climbing.  Up and up to where you can see Doubtful Lake, and the cascade that flows into it. 

Then up and up more... I am pretty sure the trail leveled out in a few places, but I can mostly remember the climb.  Not just the steepness of the trail, but the rock steps in places. 

I started up the final scramble a ways, determine to push my aching muscles the last bit of the way, but I noticed my legs were getting shaky.  I thought about how embarrassing it would be if they didn't hold me up for the descent and called the hike right there.  By then I felt like I had reached the top of the world and could see all the rugged jagged peaks over the top of the peaks I had been looking at on the way up. 

Everyone on the trail was especially nice.  I don't know if it was just because they were all as delighted as I was with the incredible views and photogenic animals, but they smiled, chatted, greeted me, were polite at moving to the side or thanked me for moving aside... just a great bunch. 

By the time I got back to my vehicle it was 5pm, and I started hiking around 9am.  What a long wonderful day!  So worth the painful muscles!