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

                     

Birds of Discovery Park Seattle, WA

It was a beautiful winter day in Seattle a couple weeks ago so i spend an afternoon at Discovery Park.
Seattle's biggest park it sits magically on the Puget Sound. I've spent many sunny days at discovery park as it offers biking, hiking, walking and running trails. It also provides Beach combing, tidal pools, birding viewing, a lighthouse, native plant life etc. My goal was to learn how to capture some time lapse videos but as you can see below i also captured some bird life!
If my I.D. any birds is wrong please let me know!!!


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Chestnut-Backed Chickadee
Poecile rufescens

Black-Chinned Hummingbird
Archilochus alexandri

Black-Chinned Hummingbird

Black-Chinned Hummingbird

California Sea LionZalophus californianus

Male Bufflehead
Bucephala albeola

Female Bufflehead

Female Bufflehead

Female Bufflehead

Male Bufflehead

Glaucous-Winged Gull
Larus glaucescens

Red-Necked Grebe

Red-Necked Grebe
Podiceps grisegena

Female Common Goldeneye

Male Common Goldeneye
Bucephala clangula

To the Top of Blustery Mt Adams

Lupine in full bloom

Looking south with Mt Hood in view

Mt Hood

Sunset at 7,500 ft

Our protected campsite!! Perfect site!!

The beauty laden landscapes of pure blue skies over endless wind melted white snow started to slightly become blended with  a weak headache. At 10,000 feet up Mt Adams, my joyous adventure slightly strayed off course from normal back and leg soreness to a painful headache and slight shortness of breath . Altitude sickness was a term i could explain if asked about but not because of any experience dealing with it. 
We trekked on with our micro spikes piercing snowy step after step. The headache slowly became more painful as time and elevation climbed on. 
Once at the top, 12,276 ft, i was over joyed, partly because we conquered the mountain and partly because soon we'd start our decent which meant relief for my head.
The wind was howling atop the summit to the point where standing up was difficult especially now that the altitude sickness made me slightly dizzy. 
Later on down the mountain a fellow hiker spread the news that the winds were clocked at around 75 mph on the summit block 
We took pictures, rejoiced and soaked up all the views!! 
Next came the incredible glissading down the snowy slopes. From near the top all the way down to near 9,500 ft we slid on our wet cold bums enjoying one snowchute after another.  
Climbing Adams was a feat I'd do all over again! It was a new high point for me. Saying i hiked the 2nd highest peak in Washington state will never get old.
The climb was easier than i thought, minus the altitude sickness. It was more about endurance than anything else. Microspikes, an iceaxe, proper mountain boots , a sturdy tent and proper apparel for the ever changing high mountain conditions was all we needed. 
We camped just above 7,000 ft near the Crescent glacier area. I was surprised by the number of campsites and rock shelters that lined the trail from 6,000 ft to 10,000 ft. The crowd of people was shocking! It was a great weekend to be on Adams, with crystal blue skies and warm temps. This was July after all. We saw nearly  100 plus people climbing the peak that weekend.
There was a boyscout group from Spokane, Washington ascending up. Their plan was to climb Adams in two nights and three days. Skiers were also enjoying the slopes along with dogs who climbed along side their partners! I saw people who didn't come prepared. Some had no iceaxes, no crampons or microspikes, with only boats, wearing shorts, and no gloves. The guy wearing shorts did have gloves though, lol!
The wildflowers put on a display and i kept firing shots left and right with my camera.
The sunset was incredible with all the colors a hiker could ask for.
The landscapes were magnificent! They changed from dry forest lands to recent wildfire swept lands. Then to alpine wind blown forest lands and finally to the craggy high alpine snow swept lands which blankets the volcano from 8,000 ft up to the summit.
By the way have a blast on the 4 to 5 hour drive from Seattle or anywhere else as Adams lies in the middle of nowhere!
If your a hiker and you haven't climbed Mt Adams is should be on the top of your list for 2015!!!
My phone battery went dead about 2,000 ft from the top. Wish i had pictures. I will update this blog later with hope allison who joined me on this trek will send me her pictures.



Mt Adams info:
US Forest Service http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/giffordpinchot/passes-permits/recreation/?cid=fsbdev3_005104
Summitpost http://www.summitpost.org/mount-adams/150198

Davis Peak, Alpine lakes wilderness

Starting the adventure

The Davis Peak trail is a great day hike with some of the best views of Mt Stuart and Mt Daniel along with many other numerous peaks. Sitting at 6,426 foot the peak has an old fire lookout along the trail just before the summit. 
With switchback after switchback the hike is mildly strenuous. After you reach remnants of an old wildfire the trees thin out with majestic mountain landscapes completing surrounding you.
If you enjoy photography its worth your time!!

Angel wings mushroom?

Indian Paintbrush along the trail

Mt Stuart from near Davis peak

Cle Elum River and lake from an old fire lookout

Mt Rainier from near Davis Peak

The old fire lookout

Mt Daniel's three peaks

Atop Davis Peak looking North

Lake Terence with Mt Daniel (r) and Mt Hinman (l)

Lake Opal with Mt Stuart

My view on the hike out