Lake 22, revisited.

Hike Name: Lake Twentytwo (click here for forest service description)
Round-Trip Distance: 5.4 miles
Elevation Gain: 1350 ft
Season: Mid-May through Nov
Difficulty: easy
Forest: Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest (click here for current conditions)
Contact: Verlot Public Service Center (360) 691-7791
Map: Green Trails # 109, 110
Directions: From Granite Falls, follow the Mountain Loop Hwy east for 11 miles to the Verlot Public Service Center. Proceed 2 more miles to the trailhead, on your right. Northwest Forest Pass required at trailhead.

Many of my days off this year will not be consecutive, so I will be exploring the "Day Hike" concept more than I have in the past. This year I decided to commit to exploring hikes nearer to Seattle, since I have a tradition of driving up to the Northern Cascades and spending hours in the car. When you only have one day, it's sometimes nice to pick something closer to home. That is why I'm so excited that the Mountain Loop Highway is open again! Hooray!

Since it is early season, I decided to try a hike that happens to be one of the first Cascade hikes I ever did: Lake 22. This would also be one of Nate's first summer hikes, and I wanted to make sure it was an enjoyable distance and difficulty, as well as being beautiful.

Considering it is still early season, most hikes are still snow-packed. But not Lake 22! The climb up was quite pleasant. We saw a few folks on the way, and quite a few at the lake itself (quite a few dogs too). The lake was quite stunning, with snow around its banks. Virtually no snow on the trail, however.

We thoroughly enjoyed our day, were not bothered by bugs, nor hindered by snow. We did put on long-sleeved shirts at the top, but weren't too chilly. While this hike is popular, there is enough space for all to enjoy the stunning beauty of this gem, and it is worth the drive and the time spent!

Summer begins for Hiker Foxtail!

Since the Mountain Loop Highway (heading out past Granite Falls) has opened again (actually last year), I am eager to explore all of its many treasures, as I did when I first moved to Seattle. The mountain loop is so packed with great hikes, and is so close to Seattle, yet is not as busy as the I-90 corridor. It had been closed for almost 5 years, due to extensive flood damage.

One thing I have learned in the last 10 years, is that you never know when a crazy storm will hit the northwest (winter 2003, winter 2007, winter 2008) and wash away bridges, roads, trails. How lucky I was to hike the Spider Meadow - Buck Creek Pass Loop (near Glacier Peak) in 2002 before the wild storms hit, rendering much of that area impassable for years.

Lesson being: take advantage of what you can. If there is a hike you have set your mind to do, do it! It may disappear before you know it. Nature's power is amazing. Man builds a bridge that looks indestructible, and then floods carry huge boulders and uprooted trees downstream, crashing through these brand-new bridges!

Also exciting to me this year is to have a new boyfriend who is eager to explore the mountains. He moved here from Missouri one year ago, and hasn't had lots of experience with mountain hiking, but he appreciates the views, the exercise, the learning process. So it is fun to have a new partner to explore old and new places with! I remember when I had no idea what the heck hiking and backpacking was about, and how thankful I now am, for those special people who patiently showed me the ropes and introduced the joys of the mountains to a young weak midwestern gal such as myself!

It's always nice to be a tour-guide in your own area - now that I have lived here over 10 years, I consider this my home state, and love to show it to those I love.

So on to the blogging!