[Elvis]

This is my first visit to Snow Lake.  Since it's a popular destination and well reported on, I'll spare the unchanging details, but here is the official description.

The weather was fantastic from the moment I left the house and I was surprised that there wasn't even a trace of snow at the pass.  Surely most of you already know this as the I-90 corridor was seemingly over run with nwhikers based on the trip reports already posted. 


The descent down to Snow Lake has lots of ice so we were glad to have  Stabilicers and Yak Trak with us to minimize the slippage.  Others were envious.

We enjoyed the typical views from the trail that most people see on a sunny day:

We also came across a few surprises:

1)  Looks like the third little pig may not have fared as well as originally reported.

Really though, what's the story behind this structure?  I'm curious.

2)  We spotted this "Prayer Tree" a short ways after the trail junction.  What's the story with this thing?  Again, just curious.

3)  While trying to take a picture of a frozen waterfall, Glinda, the good witch kept interrupting us.

4)  We caught this guy sunning himself in the lake. 

8buck and I took the trail to the lake, poked around, headed back up the ridge, found the old trail (or some old trail) and followed it until it was lost in the snow, returned to the ridge, descended to the trail junction, headed off to the Source Lake overlook, took a break and headed back to the car.

All in all it was a great day on the trail.

Happy Trails to all, and to all a good hike.

~E

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Sedro-Woolley:  Where butter is a spice and gravy is a beverage.
"Ill habits gather unseen degrees, as brooks make rivers, rivers run to seas."  ~John Dryden
My Trip List

[EastKing]

Great trip report and photos!!  

Nice to see Snow Lake finally melted out from 07-08' winter.      Now where is the 08-09 winter?????   

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I am addicted to summits! I can't eat, drink or breath without them. Life without mountains would really suck.

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[GaryT]

Tibetan Prayer flags are often found in beautiful places, especially in the mountains (reflections of Tibet, perhaps).

No special occasion required, just an opportunity to promote peace, compassion, and wisdom.

[Matt]

December and Snow Lake still isn't freezing.  Amazing.

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"Matt, you are truly full of it.  But you take great --- pics, in spite of that."  Scrooge

[peltoms]

I had not thought of the break that Pika and Marmots are getting with the lack of snowcover to date.  I have never seen a December Pika before.

[Go Jo]

[kevino]

where exactly is that waterfall? on the trail? by the lake?

[Flow]

[polarbear]

This is as clear a picture of the creature as I've seen.  I'm waiting for someone to get in there with that new Nikon 25 megapixel camera.


Note how it is swimming towards the South end of the lake.  It is probably dinner time.  Definitely not a good time to be dipping one's toes in the lake, though who would at this time of year?

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...and a window that looks out on Corcovado...  Corcovado Hill

[stacymarie]

I've seen the question asked so many times, but does anyone have any idea what the deal is with that structure?

Great pics, by the way!

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life is short, but sweet for certain

my blog: http://mini-breaks.blogspot.com/

[wamtngal]

From what I've heard, before Snow Lake was in the ALW, it was just someone's private cabin...years and years ago.

[hermes]

Many years ago a ranger doing restoration work up there told me it used to belong to the Bullitt family (yes, another of their country retreats) of King TV fame.

[Elvis]

Thanks everyone for the comments, feedback and info on the cabin.

Kevino - that waterfall is to your left when you first come down the ridge to the lake.  Following the trail about 50 feet past the cabin remains you can turn left and reach the lake shore... falls are to the left.

It wouldn't surprise me if there is some sort of worn trail to their base, but it wasn't obvious with the few inches of snow in that area.

~E

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Sedro-Woolley:  Where butter is a spice and gravy is a beverage.
"Ill habits gather unseen degrees, as brooks make rivers, rivers run to seas."  ~John Dryden
My Trip List

[Hiker Mama]

Good to see you getting out, Elvis.  You picked a nice trip!

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My blog: http://forgetmenotdays.blogspot.com

[raz2sea]

Cool, was wondering about the remnants of that cabin from my trip a few weeks ago.

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Remember, when you forget a piece of gear do as HJT suggests: "WWRD? - What Would raz2sea Do?"