tiggymalvern (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
tiggymalvern) wrote2022-10-14 08:51 am
tiggymalvern) wrote2022-10-14 08:51 am
Margaret Lake
And still the sunshine rolls in! Wednesday's hike was Margaret Lake, another place I'd never been to. Definitely chilly in the mornings now, but it warms up nicely, and 11am is a really good time to arrive at the trailhead.
Most of the trail climbs up through forest, so not many views. There's an occasional break in the trees that lets you see across to the hills on the other side of Snoqualmie Pass.
A Cascade golden-mantled ground squirrel munching away.
Eventually, you climb high enough that a break in the trees to the south looks over the surrounding peaks to Tahoma/Rainier itself.
Then it's back into the trees all the way up to the ridge and down the other side. Too many trees here for a fabulous view down like you get at Snow Lake, just a brief hint of what's to come.
Finally you get the first glimpses of Margaret Lake.
The surrounding undergrowth at that elevation is in full autumn colour.
Following the trail along the shore a little.
And the north shore of Margaret Lake is exposed is in its dramatic, rocky bowl.
The southern part of the lake offers a gentler view.
A glorious October day, 6 miles round trip and 1500 feet of climb. Although the climb all comes in 2 miles, so it's steeper and more energetic than that makes it sound!
Driving back down from the trailhead, I stopped to take in the view of Snoqualmie Pass, with Keechelus Lake on the other side of I-90.
I'm off to the Hood Canal (fjord) today for a couple of days of diving, and the weather forecast remains golden. We timed it well, I hope, but the vis will tell for sure!
Most of the trail climbs up through forest, so not many views. There's an occasional break in the trees that lets you see across to the hills on the other side of Snoqualmie Pass.
A Cascade golden-mantled ground squirrel munching away.
Eventually, you climb high enough that a break in the trees to the south looks over the surrounding peaks to Tahoma/Rainier itself.
Then it's back into the trees all the way up to the ridge and down the other side. Too many trees here for a fabulous view down like you get at Snow Lake, just a brief hint of what's to come.
Finally you get the first glimpses of Margaret Lake.
The surrounding undergrowth at that elevation is in full autumn colour.
Following the trail along the shore a little.
And the north shore of Margaret Lake is exposed is in its dramatic, rocky bowl.
The southern part of the lake offers a gentler view.
A glorious October day, 6 miles round trip and 1500 feet of climb. Although the climb all comes in 2 miles, so it's steeper and more energetic than that makes it sound!
Driving back down from the trailhead, I stopped to take in the view of Snoqualmie Pass, with Keechelus Lake on the other side of I-90.
I'm off to the Hood Canal (fjord) today for a couple of days of diving, and the weather forecast remains golden. We timed it well, I hope, but the vis will tell for sure!