[Quark]

This isn't a real trip report, just a cool story about a storm. Rich and I wanted to do an easy trip yesterday; I had been out a couple times over the weekend, and so had he. I always liked the name of “Swimming Deer Lake,” so we decided to check that out. We didn’t get to that lake, but rather got stuck at Josephine. We had heard thunder rumbling in the distance, and that was cool. Just as we arrived at the junction of the trail to Josephine and the PCT, a thunderstorm rolled in near the lake. Intrigued, we perched atop a cliff above the lake and watched the roiling clouds, and listened to the thunder booms. We decided to go down to Josephine. Gorgeous forest. Wow. Just as we arrived at the lake and crossed the mighty Icicle Creek headwaters, it suddenly began raining pigs & chickens. Thunder rumbled, then rolled, then was soon directly overhead. The wind kicked up, and the hail began to hammer us. It hurt, too. Lightning was all around, and we were a little worried about it, but we figured what the hell, there’s not much we can do about it. Standing at the lake shore with ice axes and trekking poles sticking out of our packs, we guessed wasn’t the smartest thing to do, so we retreated to the trees and took off our packs. It wasn’t until I saw a bolt of lightning dive into the lake that I got more than a little worried. THis was my second experience with an intense lightning storm, and lemme tellya, you feel pretty helpless out there exposed to the power of Nature. Rich pointed out that our hair wasn't sticking up, but mine was plastered down with 2 days worth of bug dope and sunscreen anyway, so it wouldn't stand up no matter what. We still weren’t sure about what to do, so we did what came naturally when faced with certain disaster - we foraged around in our packs and found sumpin’ to eat. So we stood under the trees and ate, listening to and watching the wonderful spectacle of the storm. After it was over, we headed out, thunder serenading us the whole way back to the trailhead. God, the rain smelled good! There’s nothing else like the fragrance of the mountains after a rainstorm! The flower show was beautiful; in another week it’ll be stupendous! Patches of snow on trail, mostly solid, but in the next week, snow bridges will be weakening. Will post pics later; Rich probably has pics available now. Great trip, surprisingly gorgeous trail, right out of the ski area. I truly wasn’t expecting such a pretty set of lakes (Susan Jane and Josephine).

[Quark]

Well my misty photos didn't turn out very good, so I'll spare you that. Here are some others I took though:

Josephine tarn reflection

Josephine hellibore art2

Josephine hellibore art

Ice in tarn

Columbine

[Rich Baldwin]

I'll add the trail stats too: Trail: Pacific Crest Trail #2000 Area: Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Stevens Pass Access: Stevens Pass Ski Resort, south side of US 2 Length: 4 miles to Lake Josephine Elevation gain: 1470 ft in, 860 ft out Trailhead elevation: 4070 ft The high point is the King-Chelan County Line on the ridge between Coyboy Mtn and Big Chief Mtn, about 1000 ft of gain in the first 1.5 miles. From here the trail drops about 500 ft in the next half mile. Then it's up to the ridge above Jospephine and down again to the lake. Here are some pic's. Flowers first:

Pink Mountain Heather - Phyllodoce empetriformis

Showy Jacob's Ladder - Polemonium pulcherrimum

Spreading Phlox - Phlox diffusa

Glacier Lily - Erythronium grandiflorum

Pretty maids all of a row

Sitka Valerian - Valeriana sitchensis

Early Blue Violet - Viola adunca

Tall Bluebell - Mertensia paniculata

Cowboy Mtn from PCT:

Cowboy Mountain from PCT

Entering the Wilderness (finally):

The PCT takes its time entering the wilderness south of Stevens Pass

Many, many patches of snow on the PCT, some fairly steep:

One of many snow banks athwart the PCT

Lake Susan Jane area:

Lake Susan Jane

Tarn above Lake Susan Jane

Views of Lake Josephine:

Lake Josephine

Lake Josephine

Lake Josephine

Scenes in the mist on the way out:

Tarn above Lake Josephine - mist and reflections

Tarn above Lake Josephine in the mist

Ripples from raindrops in a tarn

Tarn above Lake Susan Jane in the mist

Mist rolling in from the west behind Cowboy Mtn

[Jeff R]

Those pictures have a great 'feeling' to them. I need a new camera, what do you use for your trips?

[Rich Baldwin]

Quark has a much better camera (and much better photography skills) than me. I use a Pentax Optio33WR, which is small, light-weight, water-resistant, and not too difficult for an inept person to operate.

[Jeff R]

Thanks. I would like a higher end digital SLR of course( and the skills to match), but for now I just need a decent, small, and light weight point and shoot for most trips. I like to keep it in my pocket most of the time and am looking into a hip belt pouch for my pack as a alternative storage place.

[treasureblue]

Thanks Quark and Rich, for that great trail report and pics. What a nice July 4th surprise for mom nature to stage a fireworks show of her own just for you!

[bonobo]

Great report, amazing pics! Thanks for sharing, looks simply beautiful!