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mntsun Wunderer
Joined: 08 Jul 2007 Posts: 206 | TRs | Pics Location: Squaresville |
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mntsun
Wunderer
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Fri May 23, 2008 9:40 am
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With gas prices rising in feverish anticipation of the western masses heading east to avoid another rainy Memorial Day Weekend (is there any other type?), a distant TNAB lake-bagging adventure was not looking probable for me until Mark placed me in contact with Malachi. The ride to Index was not bad in the carpool lanes and we arrived at the trailhead before 6pm. This was my first trip to Lake Serene and anticipation was running high!
The groups were spread out with travelers heading up as they arrived. The lower trail was humid, verdant and buggy, portending a banner year for Index-area brush bashing.
The verdant underbrush of the Index area
The only other folks we encountered were a friendly family with kids coming down the trail. The falls were terrific; I imagine they are a draw by themselves.
Malachi and water falls Peak-a-boo view
Soon the trail turned steep, with stairs! Stairs! These were a real treat, you don’t get stairs often. How far off is the elevator? Not knowing who was behind us, I ran up them to ward off the inevitable interception by dynamic Team S. I heard the ground rumbling, a howl in the distance, thought “here they come”, but it was only a train.
There was snow, a lot of snow, except at critical junctures. The massive TNAB group size caused irreversible environmental impact from destroying all the natural snow bridges, leaving none for future hikers this year. We had planned to leave a single snow bridge but Malachi found it on the return. I considered changing my handle to SnowBridgeBasher; apparently testing them with your poles is not effective. One series of three break-throughs (with exposure) left me vocalizing three and four letter words; luckily the children were safely off the trail. I was pleased there were no witnesses with video equipment nearby, lest I be the next unwilling YouTube phenomenon.
It was a birthday treat having the opportunity to kick steps for TNAB. The snow was wonderfully consolidated with snowshoes and traction devices not required, although Malachi tried out his crampons for fun. The first four to the lake ventured to the picnic rock ledges, but there was no convincing the others to join us. The cloud level kept things intimate and subdued, while Lake Serene (at least I’m guessin’ that’s what it was) beckoned from underneath its mantle of snow. No avalanches were witnessed, which may be a good thing.
Jim and Lake Serene Picnic Rock early adaptors Though the cloud ceiling raised slightly, this was as high as it went This sliver of water kept our thoughts of a lake traverse in check Lake Serene gets TNABeb Mark and Yet action photo
Everyone made it to the lake except Layback (who experienced health issues?). The clouds held back the moonlight, but headlamps were not donned until the waterfalls.
Snowfield traverse The perils of lake bagging include not being able to view the sunset. Or is that the peril of hiking around Mt Index? This was much better in person, for all those who could not make it!
In the parking lot debrief, Yet received her snow-traversing degree, an honor she may not have been expecting for a lake-bagging trip. Indeed, a Highway 2 TNAB had a spicier feel compared the traditional I-90 treks; was it the lower cloud levels, the thinner snow bridges, the logs across the trail, the mistier rain? Ixtapa was ruled out due to the late departure time (10:30) and the long ride home. My birthday TNAB was made specialer when Yet assigned me TR responsibilities . A big thanks to Mark for organizing. An all-around splendid outing with great people, for those who made the journey!
Yet, Mesahchie Mark, Layback, Larry (plus Digger), twodogdad (plus Boone and Dox), Malachi Constant, mountainsun, JimS, Mark (w/no headlamp) and ????, the smallest outing this year?
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mtnwkr Member
Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 1332 | TRs | Pics Location: Bremerton. I'm the Lorax, I speak for the trees |
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mtnwkr
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Fri May 23, 2008 10:35 am
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Good job guys!!
There's a mostly unspoken acknowledgment among the voluntarily impoverished that it's better to be fiscally poor yet rich in experience-living the dream-than to be traditionally wealthy but live separate from one's passions.
There's a mostly unspoken acknowledgment among the voluntarily impoverished that it's better to be fiscally poor yet rich in experience-living the dream-than to be traditionally wealthy but live separate from one's passions.
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Malachai Constant Member
Joined: 13 Jan 2002 Posts: 16086 | TRs | Pics Location: Back Again Like A Bad Penny |
"You do not laugh when you look at the mountains, or when you look at the sea." Lafcadio Hearn
"You do not laugh when you look at the mountains, or when you look at the sea." Lafcadio Hearn
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gone Member
Joined: 08 Feb 2008 Posts: 1051 | TRs | Pics
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gone
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Fri May 23, 2008 11:21 am
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Great trip report mountainsun!
Looks like it was an interesting (albeit snowy) outing.
Sure wish I could have joined you, but I was on a train probably somewhere in Lewis county about the time you all were reaching the lake. Can't make the next one either, as I'm home alone with child until Friday. But I'll be looking forward to the next great report!
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Yet Member
Joined: 23 Apr 2005 Posts: 2634 | TRs | Pics Location: Happily Ever After |
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Yet
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Fri May 23, 2008 1:15 pm
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yukon222 Member
Joined: 12 Mar 2007 Posts: 1893 | TRs | Pics
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yukon222
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Fri May 23, 2008 1:20 pm
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Very fun trip report to read, mountainsun! Sounds like the massive TNAB freight train blasted thru the forest, snows, creeks and anything else in its' path. Unstoppable!!
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Schmidt Alti-Babe The Ice Queen
Joined: 11 Mar 2008 Posts: 606 | TRs | Pics Location: Buried by backlogged pictures |
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drewcoll Member
Joined: 19 Sep 2007 Posts: 288 | TRs | Pics Location: Seattle |
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drewcoll
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Fri May 23, 2008 2:49 pm
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Looks like fun. Too bad I was busy writing addresses on graduation announcements...
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wamtngal Member
Joined: 13 Jun 2004 Posts: 2382 | TRs | Pics Location: somewhere |
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wamtngal
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Fri May 23, 2008 3:46 pm
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Looks like you guys had a great time! Love the waterfall shots!
Opinions expressed here are my own.
Opinions expressed here are my own.
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Ursus Member
Joined: 23 May 2008 Posts: 2 | TRs | Pics Location: Seattle Wa. |
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Ursus
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Fri May 23, 2008 8:04 pm
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Nice job guys! I tried Lake Serene a few weeks ago, but had to turn back at some snow-covered avalanche chutes that we were under equipped to cross.
The pics are great though!
“Cynicism appears to be the quality most prized by those who accept defeat but not the responsibility for its consequences.” -John McCain
“Cynicism appears to be the quality most prized by those who accept defeat but not the responsibility for its consequences.” -John McCain
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Layback Cascades Expatriate
Joined: 16 Mar 2007 Posts: 5712 | TRs | Pics Location: Back East |
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Layback
Cascades Expatriate
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Fri May 23, 2008 11:03 pm
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Sorry I turned around guys. My acid reflux started kicking up and the rain had me in a so-so mood to begin with. I shouldn't have had those pizza slices - I know better. Home sounded nice...
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Yet Member
Joined: 23 Apr 2005 Posts: 2634 | TRs | Pics Location: Happily Ever After |
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Yet
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Fri May 23, 2008 11:05 pm
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Sorry you were not feeling well. But it was nice to see you again.
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Yet Member
Joined: 23 Apr 2005 Posts: 2634 | TRs | Pics Location: Happily Ever After |
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Yet
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Fri May 23, 2008 11:06 pm
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goats gone wild Mr. Goat
Joined: 19 Aug 2007 Posts: 2524 | TRs | Pics Location: Vampireville |
.....leaving me wanting to return over and over in what ever capacity that may be, even if one day my knees are too old and I can only see the mountains from my porch.
Jason Hummel
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Backpacker Joe Blind Hiker
Joined: 16 Dec 2001 Posts: 23956 | TRs | Pics Location: Cle Elum |
Who wouldnt? Happy birthday!
"If destruction be our lot we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen we must live through all time or die by suicide."
— Abraham Lincoln
"If destruction be our lot we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen we must live through all time or die by suicide."
— Abraham Lincoln
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