Iron Goat 05-30-2020

The dogs and I headed out early for Iron Goat Trail near Stevens Pass on Hwy 2 to avoid any crowds and hopefully beat the rain.  So far the morning had been dry, but rain was expected.  From the look of the forecast it sounded like showers and then increasing later, possibly some thunder later.  As I parked the Xterra the first drops began to fall.

The dogs were game, so we headed out into some light sprinkles - I could see some brightness in the sky so expected the rain to diminish.  The trail was empty of people, beautiful and dim halls of green, carpeted with wildflowers - bleeding heart, wild currants, and some tiny white and blue flowers I didn't know the names of.

Here was a little thing I wasn't expecting to see on the trail - I left it for some child to find.

As we hiked along I heard a crackle of thunder.  Cedar missed the first one, but not the next - he HATES thunder.  I tried to tell him because we were hiking it was FUNder, but he wasn't having it.  I have never been in the mountains on a trail in a storm like this - the thunder started ripping across the sky, booming and rolling from peak to peak, like something from a J.R.R.Tolkien novel.  Then the rain started to come down hard, and after an hour of thunder Cedar was panting and shaking so much that I was worried about him.  We found a dryish spot under some thick trees and huddled together.  I checked my phone and it looked like within a half hour the rain would subside and the storm would be gone.  While we were sitting there the rain came down even harder.  I decided we should go back, but looking at my Apple Watch I saw we were about halfway.  Might as well finish.  The rain now was pelting down so hard it was bouncing back up off the trail.

As it didn't show signs of slowing, we headed out after our break - after that we got so wet that we didn't dare stop again as nothing we had was dry enough to warm us up if we quit moving.  The rain got even harder!  I didn't even think that was possible!  It wasn't just falling anymore, but being cast down forcefully upon us by storm gods gone mad.  It stung right through my raincoat and for the first time I was glad that the groomers have been closed for so long... with shaggy and wooly coats, the dogs seemed pretty comfortable other than being wet.

We didn't poke into all of the tunnels or go up to all of the viewpoints, but pretty much just marched on - the dogs wanting to go even faster than I did.  It was still glorious!  If it wasn't for Cedar being upset it was exhilarating to be up inside the storm, hearing it playing across the peaks.

The waterfalls were full and water was spilling over the edges of the snow walls in more places than usual.

When we got back to the car, I gave the dogs their salmon stick and all the treats I had with - they earned the today!!

Apple Watch stats:  6.39 mi and 713 ft of elevation gain.

Blue Lake 7-21-13

Sunday's hike had a completely different feel right away.  It was on the west side of the pass and was greener and lusher.  Instead of a gravelly rocky trail, there was more packed earth trail.

 

Although I enjoyed the green shade of the trees, I was delighted to come out into the first clearing full of wildflowers.  A couple I met later at the lake told me this was created by an avalanche just 5 years ago.

 

There were more clearings of wildflowers further up as well.

 

This little guy screamed at us in annoyance after we passed or I never would have turned and seen him.

 

After the 11 miles roundtrip the day before, this 4.5 mile trail seems short and we were at the lake in no time, checking out the ramshackle cabin that my guidebook had intrigued me with.

 

 

 The lake was teal and crystal clear.  Again, Adventure Dog and I had the trail to ourselves until we'd arrived at the lake.  I LOVE morning hikes!

 

These waters are also stocked with trout.  They all looked eating size to me and were everywhere.  Not eating enough mosquitos fast enough to save me from losing most of my blood, but it was fun to watch them.

 

 

The nice couple that came up the trail after me were from Twisp and took a picture of me by Blue Lake to prove that Cedar isn't just having these adventures by himself. 

Cutthroat Pass and Cutthroat Lake 7-20-13

Adventure Dog and I spent the weekend camping up on Highway 20.  I love this mountain highway!  It is so rugged and majestic and beautiful.  The craggy peaks' alluring wildness changes with the movement of the sun, sometimes illuminated in brightness, sometimes dark and foreboding, always completely enthralling.  Even just driving along it will take your breath away, but if you want to stretch your legs, the trails are well-marked, well-maintained and all that I saw had a decent parking lot and privy.
We stayed at Lone Fir Campground, which I've stayed at before, and early Saturday morning headed for Cutthroat Pass via the Cutthroat Lake Trail.  If you're doing this one on a warm day, going early is the key. It is a steady climb and the rocks soak up the rays of the sun and radiate them back at you.  The first cool thing we found along this trail was an old trough.  I'm not sure what cattle would eat up here.. I didn't see a lot of grasses, just brush, wildflowers, pines and larch.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that there were quite a few streams still burbling along from the melting snow above.  The rock were tinted pink, orange and peach, so the streams took on a rosy look also.

 As I hiked along the trail I enjoyed a view of the surrounding mountains.

 

Another important thing for this hike in the summer is plenty of water.  I brought 2 liters and there were also streams for Cedar, but between the two of us we used all the water, and ran out with just a little under 2 miles left to go on our way back to the car.

 

I'm not sure what this cairn signified, if anything, but I added a stone on the way back down.

 

And after toiling along, taking breaks every time I saw Cedar's tail start to droop, my legs starting to feel the climb and feeling some of my first and worst hiking blisters, we were at the top and among the jagged stone peaks and patches of bright white snow.

 

The Pacific Crest Trail runs across this pass, and you can see how much respect for signs the wind and snow have.  I only saw one person all the way up and that was just as we reached the top and he was heading off along the PCT with a larger pack than mine.

 

This is how Cedar celebrated getting to the top.

 

 The surrounding mountain ridges.  There was just one jagged line after another, all layered and stretching on into the horizon.

 

We ate our lunch on this flat rock and just soaked in the awesomeness of where we were.  At least I did.  Once Adventure Dog knew the sandwich was gone, he went off and stood in the snow again.

 

There is Cutthroat Lake wayyyyy down there which we hiked to on our way back down.

 

Here it is.  I was really hoping to get in and swim at this point, but the edges were deep mud and reeds.  I waded in the outlet stream instead.  This was a worthy hike!