2023 Hikes

The year in hikes started with a bluebird New Year’s snowshoe at Mt. Rainier and ended with a typically drizzly and atypically muggy hike along the Middle Fork. In between, I tallied 108 unique hikes, a record for me. This was in no small part thanks to three trips with a focus on hiking – in the tropics, Alps and desert.

Here are the hikes, with new hikes marked with an *.  All hikes are in Washington unless otherwise noted.

Mazama Ridge – It was a gorgeous bluebird New Year’s Day at Mt. Rainier. I took the path less traveled and went up Mazama Ridge, and I was treated to so many fluffy snow-covered trees. That’s why I generally prefer that route in the winter vs. the more popular Panorama Point.

High School-West Tiger 3-School Bus Loop* – The first few months of the year seem to be when I do a bunch of Tiger Mountain trails. I had always wondered why one of the trails was called “School Bus,” and now I know!

Middle Tiger – This is a less crowded section of the Tiger Mountain trail system, but based on signs posted on some trees, I suspect a lot of where I hiked this year is now logged out.

Maple Valley Gnome Trail – It pairs nicely with Middle Tiger because it’s relatively close. A largely different gnome population compared to my visit last year.

Mt. Si – This is another one of my standard winter hikes. I always like it when there’s some blue sky to go with the snow.

Oxbow Loop* – I was still looking for more after Mt. Si, so I did this short and scenic loop right off the Middle Fork Road.

Poo Poo Point via High School – I prefer this longer and quieter route up to Poo Poo Point.

Three Coconuts (Moorea)* – The small French Polynesian island of Moorea has a number of hikes through lush landscapes with views of the surrounding lagoon. There used to be three coconut trees at the summit, but there are zero coconuts now.

Three Pines (Moorea)* – This hike actually did have three pines at the top, and this swing was hanging from two of them.

Magic Mountain (Moorea)* – You can pay $45 to take a jeep tour to the top or pay $2 to hike up; I choose the hike and managed to avoid the tours and have the summit to myself. When I got down, the café at the bottom gave me a “free” fruit plate for my $2, a good return on investment.

Temae Ridge (Moorea)* – This is a short, hot, steep hike that gets you just a slightly better view than you can get from an overlook right along the road below.

Hoa Tapuna (Moorea)* – This crossed some of the same area as the Three Pines and Three Coconuts hikes, but it also offered a lot of wandering through the pineapple fields and some old village ruins.

Garfield Ledges – Back home to the land of fungus.

Stegosaurus Butte – It was cold being back home, but at least it was sunny to help ease the transition!

Cable Line-West Tiger 3-Tiger Mountain Trail Loop* – I continue to tweak my Tiger Mountain routes to provide variety and minimize time in the clearcut zones.

Wallace Falls – It’s always a treat to visit when the falls are partially frozen. I think it had been awhile for me since that happened.

Patterson Mountain – I’m sure these mosaics have always been here, but I’ve never noticed them before.

Pearrygin Lake – This photo isn’t black and white, it was just a particularly dreary day.

Steliko Lookout – It’s becoming a tradition for me to stay here after the Winthrop balloon festival each March. “Martin” is the temperamental heater that fortunately I was able to get to work for the second year in a row.

Coal Creek Falls Loop* – This local hike was new to me and gave me my closest woodpecker encounter yet. It was right off the trail and didn’t seem bothered by me.

Sugarloaf-Whistle Lake-Mt. Erie Loop – This trail system in Anacortes is a nice winter spot to get some miles and variety…and usually eagles. I like to stop by the Gere-A-Deli in Anacortes for a nice sandwich and dessert when I’m done.

Mt. Si Old Trail – I wasn’t as lucky with the weather this time – totally fogged in and freezing.

Middle Fork Snoqualmie – Lots of river views and mossy surroundings on this one.

Deception Pass Headlands – It was a grey and moody early spring day, but there were already some wildflowers starting to bloom, including orchids and paintbrush.

Goose Rock* – This was a new-to-me hike in the Deception Pass area. Lots of madrona.

Cashmere Canyons – As usual, spring wildflowers started popping up in April on the east side of the mountains. This is a new trail system with expansive views and lots of flowers if you time it right.

Sage Hills Main Loop – I did this a week or so before peak flowers, so I was able to avoid the crowds.

Sage Hills Horse Lake Loop – This is the quieter side of Sage Hills with better scenery in my opinion.

Lyle Cherry Orchard – One of my annual Gorge wildflower hikes. Flowers were sparse this year, but I guess there were falcons.

Memaloose Hills (Oregon) – This is probably my favorite Gorge wildflower hike for the consistency and density of flowers. I also saw some elusive white lupine this year.

Deschutes River State Park Loop (Oregon)*- I’ve been trying to explore some new areas when I visit the Gorge. This one didn’t have a ton of wildflowers, but it had some good scenery.

Weldon Wagon Road* – I had read this is a great less crowded Gorge hike. I think it’s less crowded for a reason – it was just okay.

Tom McCall (Oregon) – I watched a beautiful sunset over the flowers. 10 out of 10.

Seven Mile Hill (Oregon)* – Another less-traveled Gorge hike I had read about that was just okay. The first part is through a construction (?) zone with big dirt pits and heavy machinery, but the flowers start in earnest higher up.

Olalla Canyon* – A less-traveled central Washington wildflower hike. I was a little too late for peak wildflowers, but it was still beautiful and I saw its potential.

Chelan Lakeshore – This was again my first backpack of the season. This year was somewhat tougher than normal because it was already really hot during this mid-May weekend. As always, I stocked up on pastries at the Stehekin Bakery before heading home.

Dirty Harry’s Peak – Seeing this little guy helped break up the slog in the snow.

Billy Frank Wildlife Refuge – Lots of to see in the late spring.

Icicle Ridge via 4^th of July of Creek – Between the variety of wildflowers, expansive views of the Enchantments, and good early season workout, this is a favorite of mine.

Chiwaukum Creek* – I’d seen the sign for this on Highway 2 many times, but I finally checked it out after a couple friends recommended it for the flowers. I turned around when it started getting too brushy because some folks hiking out had warned me about a rattlesnake, and the last thing I wanted to deal with was a rattlesnake I couldn’t see.

Enchanted Valley – This is another good early season backpack when the bears are still in the valley and the waterfalls are still flowing down the valley walls.

World’s Tallest Hemlock Tree* – This is a short hike from Enchanted Valley. On the way there, we learned the top of the tree had fallen and was no longer the world’s tallest. There were some nice mountain views along the river below it.

Annette Lake – I know it’s almost summer when the days are long enough for me to do this one after work.

Earl Peak & Bean Creek Basin – The combination of expansive mountain views and a flower-filled basin make this a late spring favorite of mine.

Pratt Balcony* – This is a short hike right off the road, but very few people do it. Really cool view from the top…and maybe next time I’ll bring dinner!

Thorp Mountain – It’s always a bummer when you do a lookout hike and get fogged in.

Icicle Gorge River Loop* – This is a nice short and scenic hike right off Icicle Creek Road.

Windy Pass* – I spent two nights car camping in Leavenworth to do a long hike on the middle day, and this was it. I had done the first part of this hike to Lake Caroline before, but the trail above it to Windy Pass was even more spectacular. A couple hours of the hike down were in a torrential rainstorm, making the hike even more “memorable.”

Alpine Lookout* – This is a spectacular remote and lonely fire lookout. I saw only two other people on this 10-mile trail. I saw millions of mosquitoes though (and ate at least one of them).

Rattlesnake Ledge – This was a first for me – a work event that was a hike. Nice way to spend a weekday morning!

Johnston Ridge via Hummocks/Boundary* – A road washout several weeks earlier blocked normal access to this area, so I went up to Johnston Ridge a new (for me) way. When I got up there, I saw the dozen or so cars that were trapped behind the road washout. I spoke with a ranger who told me the people were helicoptered out.

Lake George* – I had a backpacking permit for this quiet corner of Mt. Rainier over 4^th of July weekend. It served as a great base to day hike to some more remote areas of the park.

Emerald Ridge* – This was one of my favorite spots on the Wonderland Trail, and it was “close” enough to Lake George that I headed up the South Puyallup trail and made an afternoon out of it.

Gobblers Knob* – Both roads that would make this a short day hike are no longer drivable, so this is now a pretty remote fire lookout. But it’s close to Lake George, so I did an after-dinner hike up there. As an aside, as I look at my list of hikes, I can’t believe I backpacked to Lake George and then day hiked to both Emerald Ridge and Gobblers Knob all in the same day – it was 18 miles and over 5,000 feet elevation gain on a hot day.

Klapatche Park – This (and St. Andrews Lake along the way) was another one of my favorite spots on the Wonderland Trail and also day-hikable from Lake George.

Frog Mountain* – This wasn’t just a new-to-me hike, but also a new trail. The views from the top are nice, and there are meadowy open slopes near the top. I did this in the summer, but I’ve heard the fall colors are pretty good.

Gothic Basin/Foggy Lake – I always have to work for this one, but the payoff is sweet.

West Tiger 3 – One of the benefits of the recent clearcut was a superbloom this July.

Sauk Mountain* – It’s hard to believe this was my first time hiking this one. It was a perfect hike to fill the morning before meeting some friends up north in the afternoon.

Loowit Falls – I did the long drive to the Windy Ridge area of Mt. St. Helens to see the lupine superbloom up close. It was pretty impressive!

Thunder Mountain Lakes & Nimbus Mountain* -These are remote lakes that are becoming more popular for backpackers. I did it as a day hike, but I saw a campsite on the way up to Nimbus Mountain that makes me want to stay there sometime.

Phelps Basin – Most day hikers stop in Spider Meadows, but it’s worth the extra effort to get to Phelps Basin. It’s always so peaceful there.

Sahale Arm – This is the one hike I did twice this year. The first time I saw so many mom and baby goats, and one bear slowly ambling down the trail for quite awhile before finally getting off and letting hikers safely pass. It was pretty much the perfect hike, but when I found a backpacking permit online a few weeks later, I couldn’t resist. It’s always a privilege to camp up there, but wind and smoke definitely increased the level of suffering.

Ruby Mountain* – This is a long and challenging hike, with a lot of it unmaintained trail, some steep elevation, and some gross blowdown sections. Although I don’t think I’d do this one again, the views from the top are spectacular. I shortened the hike a tiny bit by getting a permit for a camp two miles in.

Enchantments – I never have much luck in Powerball or Mega Millions, but I’m a double winner in the Enchantments lottery, getting an early August Core permit two times. It’s such a treat to be able to spend time up there and not have to rush through it in a (very) long day. We camped at Lake Colchuck, Inspiration Lake and Leprechaun Lake, visited by mice at the first one and goats at the last two.

Crystal Lake* – This is the lake you see below to the right as you are nearing the end of the upper Core. It’s a relatively short and easy hike there from Perfection Lake, and it’s very peaceful and has some good campsites.

Little Annapurna – People like to add this onto their thru hikes, but there’s no way I’d have the time or energy to do that. However, it’s a perfect hike if you’re staying in the Core.

Gnome Tarn – I like the views from the ridge behind the tarn at least as much as the tarn itself.

Snow Lake – I did this hike on a sunny summer Saturday, so I knew what I was getting myself into. It was quiet on the way up, but I counted almost 500 people on the way out. An (overpriced) taco truck in the parking lot was a fun new addition this year.

Sprite Lake* – This is the Salmon La Sac Sprite Lake, not the Enchantments Sprite Lake. This is a quiet corner of a generally crowded area.

Tre Cime di Lavaredo (Italy)* – I spent the first two weeks of September in the Dolomites and hiked every day. This hike is one of the most popular, and even on a weekday, the parking lot was full before 8:30. I packed into a shuttle bus to get up there, and many sections of the trail were choked with people. However, the photos show that some solitude was possible.

Lago di Sorapis (Italy)* – This is another very popular hike. There were already people at the lake when I arrived, but I got there early enough to enjoy some peace and quiet. I made the hike into a loop and took the less-traveled way back, which was great, except it required a careful descent down a steep scree slope.

Lago di Braies (Italy)* – This is an Instagram-famous spot, and road restrictions meant I needed to skip my wonderful hotel breakfast buffet to get there before the road closed to cars at 9 am. The setting was spectacular, and lots of people were lined up to rent a row boat.

Lago di Dobbiaco (Italy)* – This was on my way back from Lago di Braies, and had I not just been there, I probably would have found this lake more scenic.

Lago di Landro (Italy)* – This was just a little further down the road on my drive back, the least impressive of the three lakes that day. The bar was set pretty high.

Lago Federa & Croad da Lago Circuit (Italy)* – This has a good variety of scenery and was the site of my first rifugio (mountain hut) lunch – I was so excited about this! It was also on this hike that I realized most of these hikes are very larchy. None had started turning when I was there, but it was fun to think about how pretty it must be when they start turning golden.

Cinque Torri & Rifugios (Italy)* – Cinque Torri are rock formations surrounded by an open-air World War I museum. That was cool to see, but the high point of this hike for me was eating a freshly grilled burger at 8,000 feet. I couldn’t get enough of the rifugios!

Lagazuoi to Falzarego Pass (Italy)* – This was right across the road from Cinque Torri, so after taking the cable car down from there, I took another one up to Lagazuoi and hiked back down. This also had some World War I artifacts along the way.

Lago di Limeades (Italy)* – I did this short quiet hike the morning of my big drive through many windy mountain passes to get from the eastern Dolomites to my new hotel in the western Dolomites. The two sides of the Dolomites aren’t too far apart as the crow flies (think Snoqualmie and Stevens Pass as a local equivalent), but splitting my stay between the eastern and western sides really helped cut down on daily drive times.

Seceda (Italy)* – The parking lot for this one was an absolute nightmare, but the area was so pretty, with one of most photographed views in the Dolomites. In fact, a photo of this same mountain was recently the Windows rotating screensaver.

Puez-Odle Altopiano (Italy)* – I really loved this hike. Amazing views and landscapes, a nice rifugio stop in the middle, and not too crowded.

Alpe di Siusi (Italy)* – After a week of beautiful sunny weather, my luck finally ran out, and I was totally socked in and eventually rained out on this hike. Alpe di Siusi is the largest high alpine meadow in Europe, and based on photos I’ve seen, the place is surrounded by dramatic views of craggy mountains. I’ll definitely have to revisit it if I’m ever in the area again.

Sassolungo Circuit (Italy)* – This was another hike I really loved for many of the same reasons I loved Puez-Odle, plus there were sheep. After starting five of my last six hikes with a cable car ride, I did this one the old-fashioned way and hiked up and down the whole thing.

St. Maddalena (Italy)* – This was more of a stroll through a village than a hike, but there were dirt and cows, so I’m calling it a hike! Every trip has a money shot, and this was it.

Rifugio Fuciade (Italy)* – I had seen a photo of this marmot statue online while searching for something else, and I knew I needed to go there. Fortunately, it was (somewhat) on the drive back to Venice. There was also lots of other marmot art at this rifugio.

Rampart Lakes Back Door* – While shorter than the standard route to Rampart Lakes, the road and parking are a lot sketchier, and there was a wasp nest at an already precarious spot on the trail. I probably won’t do this route again.

Stiletto Lake* – I had done the first part of this trail to Twisp Pass before wildfires burned down the forest near the beginning of the trail. I was trying to remember how it had been before, but I couldn’t. After Twisp Pass, the approach to Stiletto Lake is gorgeous, especially with the fall colors.

Cutthroat Pass – I knew there would be a lot of crowds, but I was close and I knew the colors would be good. Once I got past the pass it was nice and quiet.

Mt. McCausland – I did this one in the late afternoon on my way to eastern Washington. The colors were past peak, but the views were nice.

Carne Mountain – Always one of my favorite larch hikes.

Heather Lake – Another hike where I was a little late for the fall color.

Marten Lake – The lake was quiet and there were lots of cool mushrooms. This might be the last time I do this hike because for the second consecutive year I fell and injured myself while doing it.

Goat Lake – This lake is always such a pretty destination, and the hike there is pretty nice too.

Cherry Creek Falls – I had forgotten there is a ford required right before getting to the falls. I was too close to not do it, so my soggy feet sloshed all the way back to my car.

Poo Poo Point – There was good fall color in the Seattle area this year, and this shot shows some of it. I stopped by to say hi to Dambo troll Jakob Two Trees on the way back home.

Lookout Mountain Forest Preserve* – I had read about this trail up by Bellingham recently, and it sounded good. It was fine, but when this is the view from the “lookout,” things could be better. The trip was salvaged by a tasty dessert stop!

Mt. Dickerman – The last part of this is a slog in the snow, but the views make it well worth it. I like to try to fit this one in after the first snow has hit but before the road closes for the season.

Lake Serene – It was a truly serene morning at the lake. Lots of scary icy patches in the half mile leading up to it.

Fortynine Palms Oasis (California)* – This is a nice hike in a quiet corner of Joshua Tree National Park.

Wall Street Mill (California)* – This is a short flat hike that has some historical artifacts to see along the way.

Arch and Heart Rocks (California)* – I loved the rock formations on this hike, especially those just past Arch Rock. Another short hike.

Other misc Joshua Tree ramblings (California) – Three very short hikes that I’m lumping into one entry here – Hall of Horrors, Cap Rock, Cholla Cactus Garden. There are a couple slot canyons along the Hall of Horrors, which I checked out but didn’t do thanks to claustrophobia.

South Lykken (California)* – The full trail was a lot longer than I had time for, but I got a good flavor of it (and a steep climb!) by hiking 1.5 miles and turning around.

Murray and Andreas Canyons (California)* – Both of these canyons had running water – what a sight to see in the desert! I really enjoyed the scenery here.

Little Si – An old winter favorite. First time I can remember doing it in the winter and the trail being completely dry/no mud.

Lake Whatcom Park Loop* – I read about a new trail recently added to this park, so I decided to check it out on a sunny December day. Fortunately, unlike my last hike near Bellingham, the viewpoints on this one actually had views.

Teneriffe Falls – Some years this has slippery snow and some years there’s hardly any water in the falls. This year was perfect.

Granite Lake – On a balmy late December day, all the snow from a week ago was gone. Part of the lake was still frozen though.

52 Hike Challenge

I didn’t start the year with a hiking goal, but I ended up doing a different hike for each week of the year with a few to spare. I will thank our incredibly mild winter of 2015 that allowed me to accomplish this. I hiked 32 of these for the first time this year, with a total distance of 535 miles.

Here are the hikes. First time hikes are marked with an *.

Lake Serene (Index) – New Year’s Day hike to an icy lake (that was probably melted out by February).

Annette Lake (Snoqualmie Pass) – One of my go to quick early season hikes became a quick REALLY early season hike on January 3.

Mt. Pilchuck (Mountain Loop Highway) – I watched lots of people slip and slide on this trail in the snow –traction devices advised.

Little Si (North Bend) – One of my go to winter hikes that gets much higher rotation during a normal winter.

Wallace Falls (Gold Bar) – My traditional New Year’s Day hike got bumped to Valentine’s Day this year.

Blanca Lake (Skykomish) – The lake just isn’t the same when you can’t see its otherworldly blue/green color, but it was fun in the snow.

Marmot Pass* (Olympics) – A rare opportunity to hike at 6,000 feet in February.

Park Butte (Mt. Baker) – I missed gorging on berries like I’m able to in the fall, but the winter views of Mt. Baker are tough to beat.

Goat Lake (Mountain Loop Highway) – One of my few negative hiking memories this year. A very cold and windy day got the best of me on this hike, knocking me out for the remainder of the weekend.

Fourth of July Creek to Icicle Ridge* (Leavenworth) – So. Many. Blowdowns. I ran into one of my other hiking junkie friends on the trail and I think this was one of her few negative hiking memories for the year.

Cedar Butte* (North Bend) – Less than a minute from Rattlesnake Ledge and less than 1% of the crowds.

Cow Heaven* (Marblemount) – Right by the ranger station, no people, lots of waterfalls, great name.

Camp 2 Lookout Mountain* (Bellingham) – Meh.

Mt. Ellinor* (Olympics) – The WTA trip description is very clear, but I was not prepared for how steep this is. And the false summit – ugh! Great views from the top and on the way up though. And goats.

Umtanum Creek Canyon & Ridge* (Yakima) – Next time I do this I will do the ridge first and then the canyon second because I always like to get the hard part out of the way first.

Navaho Peak* (Teanaway) – I found the first part of the hike long and tedious, but the views from the top were incredible.

Green Mountain* (Mountain Loop Highway) – So steep! The snow was pretty, but next time I’ll go when I can see the green mountain.

West Tiger 3 (Issaquah) – I never take pictures on this hike except when I see something like this.

Colchuck Lake & Lake Stuart (Leavenworth) – First time I’ve done both of these on the same day, which wasn’t good for my unique hike count!

Mt. Townsend* (Olympics) – Saw my first significant wildflowers of the season on this one at the end of May.

West Fork Foss River and Lakes (Skykomish) – One of my favorite hikes, even though I hit only four of the five lakes this time.

Melakwa Lake (Snoqualmie Pass) – I don’t normally hike with big groups of people or at night, and I did both here. It was fun until someone tripped in the dark.

Thorp Mountain & Lake* (Salmon La Sac) – This was back when Cle Elum Lake still had water. The side trip to Thorp Lake is a quick and worthy detour.

Forch-Kusnacht (Zurich) – Perfect Swiss waterfalls – no drop out of place.

Granite Mountain*(Snoqualmie Pass) – Why I decided to do this at 3pm on one of the hottest days of the year I will never know. People looked at me like I was crazy as I was heading up.

Spray Park* (Mt. Rainier) – So many flowers!

Spider Meadow & Phelps Basin* (Leavenworth) – This was a nice easy hike with a lot of marmots, but I will probably never do it again because the last road to the trailhead scared the crap out of me.

Summerland & Panhandle Gap* (Mt. Rainier) –I liked the Spray Park hike better, but this one would have bumped up a couple notches had I seen the resident goats.

Snow Lake (Snoqualmie Pass) – I did this after work on a cloudy day and it was STILL crowded.

Heather Lake (Mountain Loop Highway) – I’m not a fan of the wooded first half of this hike, but the lake makes up for it.

The Enchantments…half of it* (Leavenworth) – I didn’t have faith I would have the stamina to do the entire 18 miles or get a ride back to my car, so I went up Aasgard Pass (2,000 steep rocky feet in a mile for those not familiar), turned around at Perfection Lake and went back down Aasgard. My only 2016 hiking goal is to do the entire thru-hike.

The Incline* (Colorado Springs) – Because what else would I do after a margarita at happy hour three days after the Enchantments?

Sahale Arm (Marblemount) – Big views and big marmots, both of which are featured in the photo.

Talapus & Olallie Lakes* (Snoqualmie Pass) – Quiet and uncrowded after work hike.

Hyas, Tuck & Robin Lakes* (Salmon La Sac) – Much of this hike uses the term “trail” very loosely, but the payoff comes at the Robin Lakes.

Poo Poo Point (Issaquah) – Fortunately I haven’t been carried away by a paraglider…yet.

Lake Valhalla* (Stevens Pass) – A mountain lake with a sandy beach? Where have you been all my life?!

Spectacle Lake* (Salmon La Sac) – This is a looong day hike, but it’s not too steep and the lake lives up to its name. This was plan B after weather made the Enchantments an unappealing option.

Silver Peak* (Snoqualmie Pass) – A nice short hike on the PCT. Next time I will go on a clear day so I can see the views.

Paklencia National Park* (Croatia) – The best part about this hike was having a wonderful home cooked meal at the top.

Horseshoe Lake* (Leavenworth) – I found this elusive lake thanks to detailed WTA trip reports. Great during larch season.

Heather/Maple Pass Loop (North Cascades Highway) – Beautiful fall colors and larches until the whiteout descended. First snow hike of the fall.

Easy Pass* (North Cascades Highway) – What an awesome fall hike – fall colors, larches, and crazy mountain views. It is NOT easy however.

Lake Ingalls (Teanaway) – Larches – check. Mirror-flat lake – check. Goats – check. Most crowded hike I went on all year.

Third Burroughs* (Mt. Rainier) – Got to break trail on fresh snow as I walked toward Rainier. Also saw a creature I had never seen before.

Mailbox Peak* (North Bend) – A rite of passage for Seattle area hikers, but I prefer less punishment and more scenery.

Wallace Lake* (Gold Bar) – It was about this time I started focusing on getting 52 unique hikes, and this happy log was cheering me on.

Gem Lake* (Snoqualmie Pass) – A pretty little lake tucked away past one of the busiest lakes in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness.

Colchuck Lake in the winter (Leavenworth) – I’m not counting this as a unique hike since it was my third time hiking to it this year, but it’s such a different hike in the snow and ice I couldn’t resist sharing a few photos. Extra bonus – ample parking at the trailhead, which never happens.

Paradise snowshoe (Mt. Rainier) – Not my first time at Paradise, but my first time snowshoeing there, and it was beautiful.

Artist Point snowshoe (Mt. Baker) – Like Paradise, not my first trip, but my first time snowshoeing there. Gorgeous!

Barton Creek* (Austin, TX) – An extensive network of trails in Austin. I was pleasantly surprised by Texas hiking.

Teneriffe Falls* (North Bend) – This was a good hike in the snow that was accessible when the passes weren’t.

Rattlesnake Ledge (North Bend) – One of my go to hikes that I was shocked to realize I hadn’t done all year until the day after Christmas.

Oyster Dome (Bellingham) – Snow added a whole new element to this already solid hike.

Franklin Falls snowshoe* (Snoqualmie Pass) – FROZEN

On to 2016!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Washington Summer Hiking II

After an extremely mild winter that made it possible for hardy souls with proper traction devices to do summer hikes in February, overcrowded trailhead parking lots signal the summer hiking season is now officially here. About a year ago I wrote about summer hikes close to Seattle (which I would link here if I was more WordPress savvy).  Since then I’ve expanded my hiking radius, and since summer is made for sequels, I’m going to write about some of my favorite hikes from last summer. As always, wta.org is the best source about hiking trails in Washington; consider this my personal take on a handful of the hikes you can find there.

Heather Lake (Mountain Loop Highway) – This isn’t one of my top hikes, but I’m including it here because it’s a short hike that’s within about an hour of Seattle and can be enjoyable and pretty even when the weather isn’t great – I did it on one of the few crummy weather weekends we had last summer. This is close to Lake 22 but usually less crowded.

Hidden Lake Lookout (Marblemount) – Unless you have technical climbing skills, this truly is a summer hike. Some people did make it up during our mild winter, but I would never be so brave to try. Getting to the trailhead involves a white knuckle drive on a narrow and bumpy road with a number of blind curves with steep drop-offs, but the hike it worth it. You cross through forest, mountain meadows with expansive views and then eventually scramble up to a lookout with even better views. The lookout can be used for camping on a first-come, first-served basis, and it’s worth spending some time in it exploring the nooks and crannies.

Oyster Dome (Chuckanut Drive) – This hike can be done year-around, but since I did it for the first time last summer, I’m including it here. It’s also just about an hour from Seattle and a great workout. But the really great thing about this hike is the views of Puget Sound and the San Juans. There is a steep and slippery section near the top that really calls for hiking poles (especially on the way down), but the WTA has done work on the trail this spring, so that part might not be as treacherous anymore.

Park Butte (Concrete) – Go in midsummer for the wildflowers or go in late summer for the huckleberries. I did the latter and filled a container with enough berries to make a cobbler when I got home! Go any time of year for in-your-face views of Mt. Baker. This is another hike with a lookout that can be claimed for camping first-come, first-served, and I think the view from this one is even more breathtaking than Hidden Lake. Make sure check out the tarns once you come down from the lookout. You can also lengthen your hike by either taking the Railroad Grade climbers’ route toward Mt. Baker or taking the Scott Paul Trail loop.

This is the climbers’ route. You can make one of them out in the center of the photo – he’s carrying orange skis.

Tatoosh Ridge (Mt. Rainier) – This is a long day from Seattle, but the wildflowers and views of Mt. Rainier are incredible (with views of Mt. Adams and Mt. St. Helens to boot). It should say something that I enjoyed this hike despite not being able to figure out the proper turnaround point and going several miles more than planned, running out of water on an 85 degree day (what happens when you go farther than expected), being attacked by dozens of biting flies (next time I wear pants on this hike, no matter how hot it is) and eating a very dissatisfying Subway sandwich after returning to civilization in Enumclaw.

West Fork Foss River and Lakes (Skykomish) – Saving the best for last. I love alpine lakes, and this hike has five of them in seven miles (that’s each way – so 14+ miles total). Given the distance, this is a long day hike; it would be better as an overnight backpack if you’re into that sort of thing. You can shorten the hike by about four miles roundtrip by not going to Big Heart Lake. This hike will definitely be part of my regular summer rotation.

Trout Lake

Malachite Lake

Copper Lake

Little Heart Lake

Big Heart Lake

This summer I’m hoping to discover some new wildflower and lake hikes to write about next year.

Fall Color Hikes Worth the Long Day from Seattle

I took my last summer hike this weekend. I’m out of town the next two weekends, and then it will be fall. I’m sad to see such an incredible summer come to an end, but I’m looking forward to the fall colors. The fall hiking season in the northwest is even more fleeting than summer. The stars really need to align – getting good weather when the colors are at their peak – and some years they never do. And often you need to drive to eastern Washington, so it’s a big time commitment for Seattlites. However, I have found a few good fall color hikes that are doable in a day from Seattle, and I’m hoping to find more this year.

The best source I’ve found about hikes in Washington is the Washington Trails Association website (wta.org). Hikers’ trail reports give helpful information about snow conditions and when/where the fall colors are appearing. The site also has directions to each hike and tells you what pass you need to park at the trailhead (almost all hikes require either a Discoverer or a Northwest Forest Pass). I highly recommend hiking poles and/or microspikes for fall hiking in case you encounter snow or ice. I also recommend a camera or you’ll be kicking yourself.

Artist Point and Heather Meadows (Mt. Baker) – These aren’t hikes, but rather very scenic viewpoints at the end of the Mt. Baker Highway. There are hikes in the area, but I’ve only done them in the summer, so I can’t comment on their fall colors, although if the viewpoints are any indication, they are probably pretty good. Snow usually closes the road by late October or early November (and some years the road never even opens), so it’s a special treat to get up here.

Blue Lake (North Cascades Highway) – This is a long drive from Seattle for a short hike, but it’s one of my favorites. It’s larch heaven. I’ve done it both when the trail is clear and dry and when the trail is snow and ice. It’s definitely easier when the trail is dry, but it’s so pretty with the snow. I like to stop by the Cascadian Farms stand on Highway 20 on the way back and get a giant pumpkin ice cream cone.

Colchuck Lake (Leavenworth) – Since discovering this hike last year, I’ve done it four times, with hopes to do it again this fall. That’s saying a lot since it’s a 2-1/2 hour drive from my place in Seattle. In the fall, this is all about majestic snow-dusted mountains, a beautiful alpine lake and some larches to make the whole scene really pop.

Maple Pass (North Cascades Highway) – This is a solid hike with lakes, good views and a bunch of larches. Like Blue Lake, this hike allows me to get a Cascadian Farms ice cream cone on long drive home.

Rachel and Rampart Lakes (Snoqualmie Pass) – I’ve done this once in the summer and once in the fall, and it’s much more interesting and beautiful in the fall. It’s about 10 miles east of the pass, so weather can be good there when it’s bad in Seattle. There is a steep and rooty part that can be wet, but I think it’s worth it once you get to the top. Rachel Lake is nice and is a good turnaround point if you don’t want to go further, but I like continuing the climb up to the Rampart Lakes, which look like a poor man’s Enchantments to me (coming from someone who has only seen pictures of the Enchantments, so don’t put too much stock in that comment).

This fall I’m hoping to add Lake Ingalls and Yellow Aster Butte to the list.

Gas Is Expensive and I’m Cheap – Summer Hikes within About an Hour of Seattle

I love a good mountain hike that ends at an alpine lake. Around Seattle, generally the only time these types of trails are hikable is in the summer and early fall. After a great summer for hiking last year, I’ve spent most of the spring not-so-patiently waiting for the snow to melt so I could start hiking some of my favorite trails. I’m still waiting in most cases. In the meantime I’ve put together this list of some of my favorite summer hikes that are close-ish to Seattle, although I hope to add some new ones this summer.

The best source I’ve found about hikes in Washington is the Washington Trails Association website (wta.org). Hikers’ trail reports give helpful information about current conditions and when trails are snow free. The site also has directions to each hike and tells you what pass you need to park at the trailhead (almost all hikes require either a Discoverer or a Northwest Forest Pass).

All of these hikes get crowded, and I try to be at the trailhead no later than 8 am to beat the crowds and get a spot in the parking lot.

Annette Lake (Snoqualmie Pass) –While not the best reason to like a hike, this one’s on the list primarily because it’s less than an hour from my home, it’s a relatively short hike to a pretty alpine lake and I can stop by the office and work on the way home if I need to (yes, this is sad but true – it happened several times last summer after this hike and others). The trail provides a good workout but isn’t too tough, and the lake really is nice, particularly if you arrive early and get to the lake while it’s still flat before the wind kicks up. There also seem to be some nice camp sites at the lake if you’re into that sort of thing. The trail is also mostly in the forest, so it doesn’t get too hot.

Bandera Mountain (Snoqualmie Pass) – You want to do this one when the bear grass is blooming and blankets the final steep climb to the summit. It will make the slow climb (at times on all fours – at least for me) much more bearable (no pun intended). The views are awesome both on the way up and at the top, though the downside is there isn’t a lot of tree cover near the top and it can get quite hot. Once at the top you will see Mason Lake, which you can also hike to. Doing both took me about four hours one hot afternoon. If you only do one, I’d do Bandera if the bear grass is in bloom; if it’s not blooming, it’s a toss up. The trail to the lake is certainly less strenuous. If you have a giant truck or car, I wouldn’t recommend taking it to this hike. I’m pretty sure the truck parked next to me wasn’t able drive very far down the access road, which was filled with cars on both sides and barely cleared by my Camry after I left the parking lot after a hike during bear grass season.

Denny Creek/Melakwa Lake (Snoqualmie Pass) – I really love this one. I think it’s the variety of the trail – natural water slide, two big waterfalls, classic alpine lake – and the fact that after I do it I feel like I really earned my post-hike cheeseburger. Lots of families just do the first mile to the water slide and bring a picnic. The falls are about a mile further. After that it’s all about rocky slopes and steep climbs until you reach the lake, which is stunning.

Lake 22 (Mountain Loop Highway) – This is another hike that I like primarily because it’s quick. If I don’t walk around the lake I can do it in less than two hours. But the lake really deserves to be walked around if you have the time. This is another one of those hikes that gives you a workout but isn’t too tough.

Lake Serene (Index) – This lake really is serene, and once the sun gets high enough in the sky on a clear day, the lake turns bright blue. Do yourself a favor and hike this one on a sunny day so you can see that; it’s just not the same on cloudy day. In the summer I rarely take the side trip to Bridal Veil Falls because after the snow melts the falls aren’t that impressive, and all that detour does is delay my post-hike lunch at Zeke’s.

Mt. Pilchuck (Mountain Loop Highway) – The turnoff for Mt. Pilchuck is less than an hour’s drive from Seattle, but then it’s another 20+ minutes up a bumpy mountain road to reach the trailhead. I like to do this hike once a year for the views. The key is to find a clear but not too hot day because the last half of the trail is fully exposed. The fire lookout at the top is worth the climb, although the last scramble up the rocks always freaks me out a little bit.

Poo Poo Point (Issaquah) – This is a good after work hike for me on a summer evening, the big draw being the views of the lakes and mountains to the west and watching the paragliders jump off the top. The parking lot gets full quickly and the paragliding bus always seems to be blocking it, but if you can find parking somewhere it’s a good short steep hike.

Rachel Lake/Rampart Lakes (Snoqualmie Pass) – Like Mt. Pilchuck, this slightly violates my “within an hour of Seattle” rule because it’s a little bit east of the pass. I’ve only done this hike once and it was in the fall, but this is a really pretty hike I need to do again soon. It’s tough too – really steep with lots of rocks and roots (plus a dicey stream crossing if I remember correctly) – but getting up to the lakes is totally worth it.

There are some hikes I’m willing to really drive for. Here are some I’ve discovered so far.

Blanca Lake (Skykomish) – The turnoff for this trail is near Skykomish on Highway 2, but then you still have almost another hour on forest roads until you get to the trailhead. Then you have a pretty steep climb both up and down before you reach the lake, which really has to be seen to be believed. It’s been pretty each time I’ve gone, but I am still waiting for the perfect set of conditions to see the incredible shade of azure (?) blue I’ve seen in some pictures. I’ve heard the best chance of this is early afternoon on a clear day in the summer.

Blue Lake (North Cascades Highway) – For this hike I violate my standard rule of thumb to not spend more time driving than I spend hiking – I have driven three hours each way for this very short (four mile) hike because I find the lake so pretty. Sometimes I even drive the extra hour round trip to go to Winthrop for an ice cream cone.

Colchuck Lake (Leavenworth) – I just discovered this hike last summer and I am in love. The lake took my breath away when I first saw it, and it’s the only hiking destination so far that was so pretty I almost wanted to camp there so I could truly savor it. Good thing camping permits are so limited that I will never really be tempted. The first part of this trail is shared with the trail to Stuart Lake, and after I hike to Colchuck, I like to hike toward Stuart Lake for a bit to get to meadows that offer expansive views of the mountains. This adds about 45 minutes round trip to the hike and is almost completely flat so it’s a no brainer to me.

Ingalls Creek (Blewett Pass) – I wouldn’t drive all the way over there just for this hike, but if it’s wildflower season, it’s worth a stop if you’re in the area. The WTA site recommends an 11 mile hike, but I think you can hike in less than an hour and then turn around and still feel like you saw a lot of great wildflowers. I did the 11 miles and got really bored after awhile.

Time to pack my bags for a short trip to Leavenworth for some wildflowers and Colchuck.

All Weather Hiking – Winter and Spring Hikes Around Seattle

People often ask me for hike recommendations. After enjoying my two first “warm weather” (i.e., no jacket required) hikes of the year this past week, I figured it was time to get this list down.

Summer hiking in Washington is the best, and last summer was the best yet. However, I also like to get out in the winter and spring when all my favorite hikes are still buried in snow – in part to get outside and in part to burn enough calories so I don’t feel too bad about eating a huge meal every now and then. Plus, if you love moss, winter/spring hiking is for you! I have a short list of go to off-season hikes, and all are within an hour’s drive of Seattle. For me, a hike needs some elevation gain, so that’s all there is here. I will do these rain or shine, but of course I prefer the shine.

Before launching into the list, I want to note the best source I’ve found about hikes in Washington is the Washington Trails Association website (wta.org). Hikers’ trail reports give helpful information about current conditions, which is particularly important in the off-season. The site also has directions to each hike and tells you what pass you need to park at the trailhead (almost all hikes require either a Discoverer or a Northwest Forest Pass, with Poo Poo Point and Rattlesnake Ledge listed below being two rare exceptions).

Little Si (North Bend) – I don’t like Mount Si (too steep with no real payoff), but I really like this hike. It’s relatively short but you still feel like you get a good workout, and it’s interesting most of the way up. When a friend got to the middle part by the rock climbing walls (yes, you can rock climb there if you are so inclined), she said it looked like where Yoda lived – and I realized she was right. This gets crowded quickly if the weather is even remotely nice, so I always get there early. Side bonus, the winter morning light sometimes gives you a view like this:

Poo Poo Point (Issaquah) – Yes, it’s really called this. This hike is so close, but I just did it for the first time last summer. It’s super steep but mercifully short. It’s a lot more interesting on a clear summer evening when you have expansive views of Lake Washington and beyond and can watch the paragliders jump off the top, but I also like to do it as a winter workout hike. This one is steep enough I bring a hiking pole to help me on the way down. Note there is a longer and flatter version that starts near Issaquah High School, but I take the Chirico Trail, which starts at the paragliding landing field.

Rattlesnake Ledge (North Bend) – If I’m going to drive all the way to North Bend, I prefer Little Si, but this is also a good one, and it’s a little shorter than Little Si. The hike up isn’t as interesting as Little Si, but the views from the top are much better, plus there’s a lake at the bottom. This one is also pretty crowded though. I took a long lunch and did this one on our first 70 degree day last week, and it felt like everyone who was on spring break in the Issaquah School District was there – I passed scores of people on the way up, and there were about 50 people at the top when I got there.

Twin Falls (North Bend) – I’ve only done this one once, but I remember it being nice and definitely hikable in the winter. It was a friend’s go to winter hike when she lived here.

Wallace Falls (Gold Bar) – I try to do this hike every New Year’s Day. There is a lot to see along the trail, and you don’t have to hike even half the trail to get to the first big waterfall. There is also allegedly a lake you can get to via a side trail off the main trail although I’ve never been – one of these days… Right before you head into the woods, the view of the mountains to the east is amazing on a clear morning. Just try to ignore the buzzing power lines above you as you take in that view.

West Tiger 3 (Issaquah) – Things I like about Tiger: it’s close, it’s quick, it’s a good workout and the trail is wide in most places. Things I don’t like about Tiger: it’s crowded and it’s boring, which is probably why I don’t have any pictures of it. Oh, one more thing I like – I regularly see women carrying pocket dogs in their backpacks on this trail.

These final two hikes are not consistently good winter hikes, but most years they are good once we get well into spring. With the late snow year, I was able to do both this January, and I just did Lake Serene again today.

Lake 22 (Mountain Loop Highway) – This is a nice hike with a waterfall and a lake. I enjoy it more in the summer when it’s easy to walk around the lake, but it’s a good winter/spring hike that’s not too crowded, so you really feel like you’re getting away. Plus, you get some good climbing in, but the trail never feels too tough. Hiking poles for snow at the top are a necessity (for me at least); traction devices would help too.

Lake Serene (Index) – This is one of my favorite summer hikes because it ends at a deep blue lake surrounded by mountains – it’s breathtaking on clear day. However, if you don’t mind slipping and sliding along a snow and/or ice covered top ridge, seeing the lake in all of its winter glory is pretty nice too. After falling a few times and having to crawl across some icy rocks a few others, today I finally decided I needed to get some good microspikes for doing hikes like this before the snow melts. Fair warning about getting to the lake in any season – the middle part of this hike is steep and has a lot of stairs. I’ve done it enough that I’m used to it and actually enjoy the stairs, but the first couple times I was in pain.

Another thing that’s nice about this hike is you can still get some bang for your buck by taking the much shorter hike to Bridal Veil Falls, which is a half mile side trail about 1.5 miles in. I don’t take this side trip much in the summer, but in the spring I do because the snowmelt helps Bridal Veil Falls put on a nice show.

Happy trails.