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nwhikerHike: Eightmile Lake.
Distance: about 7 miles round trip.
Elevation gain: 1300 ft.
We headed out to Eightmile Lake last Sunday, July 31st. It was a rather warm day, which was nice since the previous time we'd done this hike we'd encountered the nasty white stuff. Gotten up to the top, looked around and headed straight back down. We hoped to have a more enjoyable time at the lake this iteration.
The wonderful thing about this trail is how different each part of it is: from clearcut to rock slide, to burnt out remnants of the early 90s Icicle Creek fire to forest. It's never boring, and the terrain changes quickly.
The trail starts out with a very steep uphill, lasting close to 1/2 mile, I guess. I didn't realise how steep it actually was until the way back down. I so much prefer uphills to downhills! The views are already spectacular, snowy rocky Cascade peaks. So nice.
The first few stream crossings area easy hops, then there is the one that scares me: log bridge, no railing, over a very steep creek with very fast water. Years ago, when we last hiked this trail, I had a panic attack in the middle of the bridge: I had Perry in the backpack and could not make myself finish the crossing. I managed to get back, passed Perry and the pack over to dh and walked across with no problems. This time I had no problems, but it's always never wracking to watch the kids cross. AC did hold Linnea's hands, which was good.
At 1 mile, we entered the Alpine Lakes Wilderness.
There were wildflowers blooming by the side of the trail. I saw lupine, Indian paintbrush, columbine, avalanche lilies, and a few others that I'm forgetting. So pretty.
The trail goes through a rock slide area, which is -gasp!- rocky! We passed Little Eightmile Lake, which is small and murky, but kinda pretty anyhow.
The last bit of trail is done right next to the lake's outflow, Eightmile Creek. It isn't too steep, but the kids were getting tired and hungry, and dh was beyond starved. We'd planned on eating lunch at the lake, but in retrospect, should have eaten before. And considering the amount we drank, I was quite happy we had the water filter so we could refill our bottles.
Then there it was: Eightmile Lake, under Eightmile Mountain (imagine that!). It was SO pretty, and despite a stiff breeze, so much warmer than last time! We hung out for a while, threw some rocks, had lunch. AC tried to pretend she was on a beach somewhere!
Then it was back down, that icky downhill thing! But first we encountered a marmot, by the side of the trail. It ignored us, so we watched for a while. The kids attempted some photos. I love encountering marmots!
Some photos.
This is from back in fall of 2002!
This is last week:
Heh. Much more friendly at this time of year, eh?
AC tries to pretend she is still on a beach in Costa Rica with her friends, not stuck with her parents on a hike in Washington.
I can't resist adding this one, from waaay back when. That is AC, and the lump that you can't see inside the backpack is Perry!
The lake outflow.
And of course the infamous "We were here!" photo!
More photos at the Flickr set. It was a really pretty hike, and a glorious lake, so check them out!
Tomorrow we're headed to Heather Lake, off the Mountain Loop Highway. Won't be quite as pretty, but it's a short -only about 5 miles- hike, and not too long of a drive.
Distance: about 7 miles round trip.
Elevation gain: 1300 ft.
We headed out to Eightmile Lake last Sunday, July 31st. It was a rather warm day, which was nice since the previous time we'd done this hike we'd encountered the nasty white stuff. Gotten up to the top, looked around and headed straight back down. We hoped to have a more enjoyable time at the lake this iteration.
The wonderful thing about this trail is how different each part of it is: from clearcut to rock slide, to burnt out remnants of the early 90s Icicle Creek fire to forest. It's never boring, and the terrain changes quickly.
The trail starts out with a very steep uphill, lasting close to 1/2 mile, I guess. I didn't realise how steep it actually was until the way back down. I so much prefer uphills to downhills! The views are already spectacular, snowy rocky Cascade peaks. So nice.
The first few stream crossings area easy hops, then there is the one that scares me: log bridge, no railing, over a very steep creek with very fast water. Years ago, when we last hiked this trail, I had a panic attack in the middle of the bridge: I had Perry in the backpack and could not make myself finish the crossing. I managed to get back, passed Perry and the pack over to dh and walked across with no problems. This time I had no problems, but it's always never wracking to watch the kids cross. AC did hold Linnea's hands, which was good.
At 1 mile, we entered the Alpine Lakes Wilderness.
There were wildflowers blooming by the side of the trail. I saw lupine, Indian paintbrush, columbine, avalanche lilies, and a few others that I'm forgetting. So pretty.
The trail goes through a rock slide area, which is -gasp!- rocky! We passed Little Eightmile Lake, which is small and murky, but kinda pretty anyhow.
The last bit of trail is done right next to the lake's outflow, Eightmile Creek. It isn't too steep, but the kids were getting tired and hungry, and dh was beyond starved. We'd planned on eating lunch at the lake, but in retrospect, should have eaten before. And considering the amount we drank, I was quite happy we had the water filter so we could refill our bottles.
Then there it was: Eightmile Lake, under Eightmile Mountain (imagine that!). It was SO pretty, and despite a stiff breeze, so much warmer than last time! We hung out for a while, threw some rocks, had lunch. AC tried to pretend she was on a beach somewhere!
Then it was back down, that icky downhill thing! But first we encountered a marmot, by the side of the trail. It ignored us, so we watched for a while. The kids attempted some photos. I love encountering marmots!
Some photos.
This is from back in fall of 2002!
This is last week:
Heh. Much more friendly at this time of year, eh?
AC tries to pretend she is still on a beach in Costa Rica with her friends, not stuck with her parents on a hike in Washington.
I can't resist adding this one, from waaay back when. That is AC, and the lump that you can't see inside the backpack is Perry!
The lake outflow.
And of course the infamous "We were here!" photo!
More photos at the Flickr set. It was a really pretty hike, and a glorious lake, so check them out!
Tomorrow we're headed to Heather Lake, off the Mountain Loop Highway. Won't be quite as pretty, but it's a short -only about 5 miles- hike, and not too long of a drive.
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