[Elvis]

This was my second hike for today. I started out with the Heybrook Lookout and then headed to the Lake Serene Trailhead with the intention of visiting Bridal Veil Falls. Upon arriving at the trailhead there were three other cars in the parking lot, with 2 or 3 inches of snow. Again, I left the snowshoes in the car, not expecting them to be necessary. Probably a good choice. There were a few spots where the trail had been wiped out, presumably from the recent floods. Additionally, there was a lot of silty-type sand/mud over early sections of the trail and you could clearly see the impacts on the trail.

Lake Serene River crossing

One such small washout actually had a hole where underground water was rushing out and you could hear it cascading and bubbling from deep under the trail shoulder.

This rock sprung a leak!

While pondering the realm of possibilities that could develop with unknown amounts of water underneath my feet, I continued onward, enjoying the distant views, the close views and also the solitude.

Lake Serene Trail vies

Moss on Lake Serene Trail

Eventually I came to the trail junction where I could continue toward the Lake, or venture upwards toward the waterfall spur trail. All the footprints in the snow continued toward the lake... but I really wanted to see the falls up close, so I started breaking trail on my own. Fortunately, the route was easy to follow and the frequent encounters with the wooden steps on the trail kept me comfortable in knowing I hadn't made a wrong turn along the way. Eventually I crossed the avalanche gully (as others called it) - being overly cautious even though I couldn't picture an avalanche occurring with these conditions in this location. (Patting myself on the back... oh, I am so brave!) The trail reentered the woods and there was a lot of cedar branches on the ground from the recent storm. Quite a sight - but moreover, the smell of fresh cedar generated from mother nature herself was sublime. Suddenly... I was at the falls. With all the water cascading over the falls it was hard to keep the camera dry, so I didn't take the time to set up a tripod and compose better shots. Maybe another day. Here is what I did end up with:

Bridal Falls

Bridal Falls

Bridal Falls

Uneventful on the return trip, except I caught mother nature sending out spies to check on the climate:

Mother Nature checking out the climate

Finally, back to the almost empty parking lot at 2:15pm.

Lake Serene Trailhead

Trail (parking lot to waterfall spur and to waterfall) was about 2.2miles each way. Elevation gain estimated to be 1,130 feet. Off to my third and final destination for the day: Wallace Falls

[ree]

[Elvis]

My not-so-secret attempt to boost my post totals has been thwarted.