What a Gem in Gem lake: Alpine lakes wilderness

Snow lake

If your an avid hiker, then the two words Snow Lake is a quick reference for a crowded accent up to a huge beautiful alpine lake. Its usually packed on all non rainy weekends and can be bumper to bumper up and down the trail .
But it's well worth it as any hiker has to go at least once. The best time to go is on a weekday or in the off season to miss the crowds. There's also another way to visit the area...... via backpacking.
I headed up the Snow lake trail last fall but  hiked past Snow lake to explore the lakes beyond.
Gem lake, Lower Wildcat lake and Upper Wildcat lake lay beyond Snow lake among many other numerous off trail lakes.
Gem lake is quite a gem with several nice camping sites but can also be packed with backpackers like Snow lake. My advice is to head to Upper Wildcat lake.

Thunderstorms presiding over Upper Wildcat lake

                 
The trail to Upper Wildcat is overgrown and can be hard to follow but only lasts about .3 miles beyond Lower Wildcat.
Lower wildcat doesn't have much to see as its banks are thick with brush and no scenery of the above mountains. The trail looks like it ends at Lower wildcat but don't be fooled, cross the little foot bridge on the right side of the trail and get cozy with the under story of fauna. Very soon you'll be in solitude along Upper Wildcats shoreline pitching your tent. Bring your fishing pole as the fish should be biting!!
I had no luck fishing at Gem lake but caught one nice brook trout at Upper Wildcat along with several bites within one hour. 
Feeling adventurous? Head off trail over Upper Wildcat's North ridge and the lake list expands: Lake Caroline, Hatchet lake, Derrick lake, Little Derrick lake, Horseshoe lake, Shamrock lake and Elbow lake.
My plan was to make it to Lake Caroline but thunderstorms stopped my plans so i rested awhile longer at Upper Wildcat.
The following day before heading back to my car I climbed Mount Roosevelt. This is a quick steep climb which only requires scrambling skills. To get there follow the trail on top of the west ridge above Gem lake. Just keep following the trail as its pretty self explanatory once you find the trail.
Hopefully some day I'll head back and see  all the lakes, with such close proximity to each other these lakes would be a blast to explore.

Heading up to Snow lake

First break at Snow lake

Gem lake

My campsite up above Gem lake

The start of the sunset

The view from my campsite looking at Gem lake

Sunset

Another fishing break at Gem lake

Sunset

Looking east from Mount Roosevelt 

Looking north from Mount Roosevelt 

Kaleetan Peak on the R and Chair Peak on the L looking south

Snow Lake from Mount Roosevelt

I found a friend in Gem lake

                     

Cooper Lake Snowshoe

HIKING ACROSS COOPER LAKE LOOKING NW

Today the weatherman called for rain, yet again! Its the weekend and a whole day laid in front of me. I decided to do my best to get away from the wet skies and go snowshoeing in the sun. So where should i go? Eastern Washington of course.

I've heard many a people say "IT ALWAYS RAINS IN WASHINGTON"! I simply reply, "You mean in Western Washington."

The Pete Lake trail in the Alpine lakes Wilderness was on my hiking list. But sadIy I slept in and got driving to the area late. Going through Cle Elum I drove up to Salmon La Sac and found myself the only hiker among Snowmobilelists. My plan was to snowshoe to the Salmon La Sac campground then connect with trail 1311, then to trail 1323 which would lead me to Pete lake.

Once i parked i decided to take the groomed forest road 46 hoping to safe time by snowshoeing faster. It was probably faster but once i met up with trail 1323,(Pete lake trail) i found no tracks or signs of the trail just the trail sign. With lack of time, because of my sleepy head, i called off Pete lake and explored around Cooper lake.

At first i tried my fishing luck in the cooper river at the outlet then the inlet to the lake with no avail. With the lake frozen over and the sun reflecting off the snow I'd beaten the rain. So i hiked on top of the lake exploring its nooks and crannies. The lake is creek fed but I soon learned its also spring fed. I came across several shallow thawed areas where i could visually see the water bubbling up from the bottom of the lake.

At the inlet of the lake i spotted two river otters. Both went about their business of sunbathing and cruising the inlet until i got too close for comfort.

Overall not a bad day of exploring with the goal of getting some vitamin A totally accomplished.

FROM THE INLET OF COOPER LAKE LOOKING SE

MY NEW ATLAS SNOWSHOES

PETE LAKE TRAIL SIGN COVERED IN SNOW

A SPRING BUBBLING UP FROM NEAR THE SHORELINE

TWO RIVER OTTERS ENJOYING THE SUN

HITCHED A RIDE FOR THE LAST 3 MILES BACK TO THE TRAILHEAD

 Total miles: 10.2 miles

National Forest: Okanogon Wenatchee National                                Forest

Total Ascent: 3,280 feet

Highest Point: 2874 feet

Map: Kachess Lake #208

Trail Conditions: I found Pete lake trail but lost it                              within 500 feet, too much snow. Forest                            road was well groomed
Nearby Trails: Mountain Trail 1330, Howson Creek                       Trail 1349, Jolly Mountain trail 1307,                               Paris Creek trail 1393.1 , Davis Peak trail                      1324, Waptus River trail 1310, Cooper                              River trail 1311, Pete Lake trail 1323
                     
Parking: Plenty of parking along Salmon La Sac                            road
Camping: Cooper Lake has a campground

Trailhead amenities: a map, no toilet

Wildlife Seen: two river otters

Fishing: Cooper River and Lake holds fish but i got                         skunked

Rules and Regs: Fires permitted at Cooper lake,                                 Cooper river selective gear rules with                               fishing permitted between the Saturday                          before memorial day to October 31st

Directions: From 1-90 take exit 80 Salmon La                                   Sac/Roslyn. Take left on Bullfrog road if                        driving east on 1-90 or take right on                                  Bullfrog road is driving west on 1-90. Next                    drive 4.3 miles going around two round                          abouts. After the second round about                                Bullfrog road turns into Highway 903.                            Once in Roslyn take a right on W Nevada                        Ave. Then after .3 miles take a right on                            highway 903. Next drive 13.7 miles to                              forest road 46 which is a bridge going                              across the Cooper river. I started                                        snowshoeing at the bridge but in summer                      the forest roads go right up to Cooper lake.

Trout Lake: Alpine Lakes Wilderness

FOSS CREEK

Another day, another lake, and another gorgeous hike. Trout lake sits at low elevation in the North central part of the expansion Alpine Lakes Wilderness. 
Being a short 3.2 mile round trip hike its perfect for a quick half day trip or an all day summer lounge on the lake hike. 
With fishing pole in hand we took to the trail. The trail starts of rather easy following the west fork of the Foss River. The river is close by almost the whole time. A bridge crosses over the river where below the bridge the river was flowing downstream but above the bridge there was no flow. Further up the trail the river is heard roaring again. It reminded me of how much more H20 there is to a mountain river that we don't usually see, via the underground path. 
Next a GIGANTIC Fir stands alongside the trail about half way up. Its been awhile since I've seen anything larger. 
Snow covered the last half mile of trail which is where most of the elevation in gained.
The lake was mostly frozen over but I threw my line into the outlet of the lake which was shallow, too shallow. I wanted to keep the few lures i had.Therefore we strategically decided on plan #2, ice fishing! 
After cutting through the ice we realized it was thick enough to support us. I dropped my line in about 20 feet away from shore and fished from the 1 1/2 ft diameter hole i was able to chisel out. NO luck!! No worries because the scenery was beautiful with a fresh covering of snow the forest glisten above us. The clouds broke and the sun popped its head out a couple of times to show off the snow capped mountains to the south of us.
All in all another great hike, another great lake and an amazing friend to share it with!!

ICE FISHING AT TROUT LAKE

LANDSLIDE SHOWY THE CRAGGY MOUNTAINS ABOVE

PANORAMIC VIEW OF LAKE

                                                              TRAIL INFO:
  
Trail: #1064

Miles hiked: 1.6 to the lake/ 3.2 miles round trip

Elevation gained: trailhead 1600 ft/ lake 2100           ft/ total of 5 feet gained

Forest: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National                   forest/ Alpine Lakes Wilderness

Permit Required: NW forest pass

Trailhead Amenities: Parking lot, bathrooms,               picnic table

Map: Green Trails Maps 175

Wildlife seen: None

Fishing: None caught, supposedly has trout

Camping: numerous sites 

Trails close by: the same trail hikes another 5.7                  miles pass Lake Malachite, Copper                lake, Little Heart lake, and Big Heart lake

Trail condition: Great! Snow is trail, 3 downed              trees

Rules and Regs: No fires at Trout lake

Directions: Take Hwy 2. From hwy 2 take Foss            River rd (FR 6800) just east of the town of          Skykomish. After 3.5 miles take a slight              right and stay on 6800. After another .6              miles keep going past trailhead 1062. Then          after 1.3 miles take a left on FR 6835 and            the trailhead will be 1.9 miles ahead.

Sunday Lake: Alpine Lake Wilderness

Sunday Lake, looking south

I recently bought a REI Quarter Dome T1 tent and needed to try it out. Like all outdoor gear junkies when i say "need" i mean "need". New toys are made to play with right away. Therefore i headed up to the Alpine Lakes Wilderness for a quick overnighter at Sunday Lake.
Sunday Lake is a low elevation lake at 1900 feet, in the far western portion of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. 
I was hoping to do some fishing, thinking the lake would be mostly unfrozen.
The drive to the trailhead is on a bumpy long forest road. I used my phone's GPS and it took me through some of Hancock's forest roads which only lead me to an closed gate. I had to backtrack. Using Hancock's back roads is faster and less miles (nicer roads) compared forest road 5700 but if one of the gates is not open your screwed. Follow my directions on the bottom of this post for access to the trail. 
The trailhead is not much of a trailhead. It starts at gate 30. I had to park alongside the forest road as there's no parking spots. 
Heading up the forest road (5720) from gate 30 quickly i came to the Sunday Lake trail sign. Soon after the sign, i was forced to dance from log to log to rotten log around a year round pond. The logs are on the left side of the road.
After the pond the trail starts which really is an old logging road. After a rather easy stroll through the woods Sunday Creek is your first challenge and the main challenge depending on what time of year your hiking. From where the trail meets the creek i headed down stream about 500 ft. There i found rocks, slippery rocks, from which i jumped across with only one boot falling into the creeks icy hands. 
The trail starts up again just on the other side of the creek with red trail ribbons marking the rest of the trail. 
Next, remains from the old logging days are easily discovered just off the right side of the trail. 

Old Logging Equipment

From here the trail starts to climb as roots and rocks line the trail. I bet most of this upper section of trail is wet or is filled with a stream in spring.
After the last 1/4 of a mile, the hardest section, Sunday lake opens up as much as it can.
The lake is very marshy and with shrubs and trees lining the shoreline. The eastside of the lake is open which is the best location for fishing  as the shore itself is a large boulder field.
Sadly the lake was mostly frozen and i couldn't entice any trout to bite from the unfrozen shallow waters.
I did see several minnow sized fish dart by as i hiked around the lake.

Frozen part of the lake

They say never hike alone...... and never walk across a frozen lake.. alone. But I couldn't help myself. I scurried across the lake nervously with the sun's beams warming up the ice. I could hear ice cracking with it's echoes moving across the lakes frozen waters. I never could see the ice cracking as the ice was 4 inches deep.  I found a nice mossy area near the northern part of the lake and made camp. Perfect solitude, not a soul was on the trail. The evening Barred owl gave me company for several hours. 

Morning fire with my handmade cotton ball fire starter

Sunday Lake from my campsite

Trail: Sunday Lake trail #1000
Forest: Mt Baker - Snoqualmie National Forest,        Alpine Lakes Wilderness
Miles: 6.5 miles roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 400 feet
Elevation at Trailhead: 1500 feet
Elevation at lake: 1900 feet
Pass Required: NW Forest Pass Link to buy pass
Wildlife: Chickadees, Grouse- not sure what         kind, Hairy Woodpecker, Common                 Goldeneye, Barred owl
Fish: WDFW stocked Cutthroat Trout. No fish         caught, but did see two small fish. 
Camping: Permitted, i found four nice camping       spots, Fires permitted
Parking: Minimal, along the Forest Road, No         bathrooms
Directions: From North Bend - Take exit 31 to North Bend. Follow North Bend Blvd N, then take a right on W. North Bend Way. Quickly take a left onto Ballarat Ave N. Follow this for a little while as it will veer left and right and turn into NE 12 st. Soon veer left as 12th turns into 428 ave SE. Cross the Snoqualmie river twice then the road veers left and turns into N Fork Rd SE. Soon you will gaining elevation and join Forest Rd 5700 for about 14.5 miles to trialhead. Stay on this road for awhile and just pass gate 11 it will turn into Fury lake Rd/Forest Rd 5700. Don't take Gate 11 like i did!!! Follow this road until you cross the N. Fork of the Snoqualmie River. Park at gate 30/ NF rd 5720.

Grand Valley

Looking Southwest at Mt Olympus

Three weeks ago I became enamored with the majestic Grand Valley as I hiked through the area on my 42 mile trek. You can see my 4 posts for the whole backpacking throwdown, called 42 Miles 4 Passes in 4 Days.
Grand Valley is the perfect backpacking hangout trip. You will see why... read on! My best amigo and I ventured out to see what Grand Valley could offer us and we definitely came back with our noggins full of good memories!!
Thursday was a full day of work for me but 2pm finally rolled around. It seems that work days take longer when your leaving for a trip that same day.
I met my buddy in Shelton and off we drove arriving in Port Angeles about 6pm. After a stop by the Ranger station to pick up our wilderness permits we headed up to Hurricane Ridge.
Hurricane Ridge holds the visitor center with marvelous views of the Northern Olympics.

Looking south at Grand Pass area

The forest road to the trailhead starts at the beginning of Hurricane Ridge's parking lot. After winding up and down the forest road the trailhead appeared. It sits just below Obstruction Peak at about 6,000 . It was 7 pm and the sun almost had it's arms around the western Olympic mountains as i pulled the e-brake. I had hiked in the dark a couple times before but never as the sun set at 6,000 feet. Simply amazing!!! We started to hike and two girls followed suit with the same idea, or with the same issue of being late.

Views like these are mesmerizing

The first part of the hike treks along a ridge. After about  1 1/2 miles the trail starts to drop into Grand Valley. The sun was hiding behind the mountains at this point. Darkness was pressing in but we combated it with our trusty headlamps. Never ever forget headlamps. I've used my headlamp countless times unexpectedly as hiking never goes exactly as planned. We trudged on doing our best to stay ahead of the girls behind us!!! They weren't gonna pass us!!!!!!!!!!!!



Switchbacks guided us down off the ridge into the lake valley. The trail straightens for awhile as it became treed for the first time. Soon we came to a "y" and took a left up to Moose lake. We wandered around trying to find a nice campsite in the dark. We first came across a group site but decided to wait on it and find a single site. We looked and looked and came across a trail with a sign at the start. We hiked up to the trail and smelled something nasty. The trail came to a clearing in the trees and suddenly laying in front of us was the outhouse!!
We ended up setting up camp back at the group site. Dinner was tacos with pre-made taco meat. Delicous!!

Moose Lake Brook Trout

Morning woke us up as sunlight descended on our eyes. Breakfast was cranberry pancakes, my favorite. The deer smelled the salty bacon we cooked. Two families of deer circled around us finding our piss hole. They devoured everything growing in and around our hole. After breakfast we grabbed out trusty fishing poles and plopped them in Moose Lake. Instantly we had bites and the fish were flying everywhere. Rooster tails, wedding rings and spinners were all loved by the fish. I even threw out a fly on the end of my spin casting pole just to see what would happen. Instantly the brook trout darted up from the bottom, coming within inches of the fly then veering off.

Small but beautiful

The bite slowed, and we packed up camp and headed to Grand Lake, the bigger of the three lakes. Our backpacks plopped down as well as the lures sank into the lake. The action was less than Moose Lake but the fish were larger. All in all we caught 36 brook trout in 5 hours of fishing. Not bad huh!!!! All fish were released and we're hoping they will mature for next times casting.

Its what's for lunch!!

Between Moose and Grand lakes there's a river that flows from one lake to another. We decided to explore the river after hearing what sounded like a waterfall and knowing the elevation drop the trail held. As we waded into the thick brush we heard some movement coming from the brush 20 feet in front of us. We paused, listened and decided the brush was too thick for our fishing poles that we held in our hands. As we pulled out of the brush the commotion continued. We paused again as a young adult black bear meandered out from the brush 50 feet away from us. We stood and watched trying to take pics as he wandered behind a group of firs. No luck....no pic, but it's always exciting to see a bear so close!!! We headed back up the trail to Moose Lake warning other hikers to be aware of the bear!! It didn't feel right just letting other hikers find out on their own.

Guess who saw each other first?!!

After warning the others, we headed down to Grand Lake. We throw in our lures at the far western part of the lake where the a stream flows in. A deep pool existed on this side. A couple sat across the lake watching us as a young family with kids hiked in behind us. The father of the young family started asking me questions about how the fishing was going. Suddenly my pole bent and i jerked back reeling. All eyes were on me and i produced a nice brook trout. Its belly bright red with amazing purple and pink silver spots. The trout was the largest we caught about 10 to 11 inches. As i was holding up my prize fish for the young couple's kids to see and touch, i quickly realized this trout had sharp teeth. Letting go for one second i lost him and splash into the water he went. Embarrassed i finished talking with the couple but with no more bites after that.
Down to Badger creek we hiked. Before we reached the creek we came across a 10 foot waterfall on Grand Creek. Feeling like i needed a bath i jumped off the waterfall into the pool below. The pool ended up being only 4 feet deep, surprise! Still worth it though, as i cooled off.
Next we crossed badger creek and like its a perfect spot for a bear to hang out. No bears but headed up Badger Valley. The upper valley was pristine. Every time i hike through this valley i seems there's bear watching me. Yeah i know that weird but it seems  one stubborn marmot chirped nonstop! Leadership definitely requires boldness and persistence and I'm always amazed how marmot are a good example of this!!!
Our hike was coming to a close as Obstruction Peak appeared ahead of us. After completely the final switchbacks around the corner the parking lot jumped out at us. No matter how long the trail is the parking lot always brings joyous pleasure that home is close and the trail has been conquered. But soon again the following day the trailhead is never close enough until the e-brake is pulled again!

Badger Valley

 

Mount Olympus

Moose Lake

The View From The Trailhead

Sunset Hiking Is The Best