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Highwalker's Daughter
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Location: Bothell, WA
Highwalker's Daughter
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PostThu Jul 07, 2011 10:07 pm 
We headed out at the wickedly early hour of 10:45 a.m. (due to vet appt that a.m.), set up a car camp at Lake Kachess, and then hit the Easton Ridge trail at 2:30 p.m. We were assaulted by mosquitoes the instant we entered the woods. I was reminded of the sign on the Lakeshore Trail - don't dilly dally. We certainly tried our best to move quickly through there. Then we came to the open area. Phew! We aren't used to heat dizzy.gif We guzzled liquid all the way up the open area; then the steep section after the fork with the Domerie Ridge/Baldy trail. We were rewarded with flowers galore and grand views of Rainier, Lake Easton, Lake Keechelus . . . We came back and dipped in the lake - very refreshing. Apparently where we were wading and swimming is usually a beach as there were stairs below us underwater.
flowery ridge walk, Easton Ridge
flowery ridge walk, Easton Ridge
Easton Ridge, Mt. Baldy, Iron Horse Keechelus 004
Easton Ridge, Mt. Baldy, Iron Horse Keechelus 004
Easton Ridge, Mt. Baldy, Iron Horse Keechelus 005
Easton Ridge, Mt. Baldy, Iron Horse Keechelus 005
flowers
flowers
looking over at Baldy - tomorrow's destination
looking over at Baldy - tomorrow's destination
Lake Easton
Lake Easton
our piece of paradise
our piece of paradise
wading and swimming spot - normally it's a beach with steps but covered now
wading and swimming spot - normally it's a beach with steps but covered now
sunset on Lake Kachess
sunset on Lake Kachess
Day 2: Domerie Ridge and Mt. Baldy We got an early start which made so much difference as it was still relatively cool making the ascent a lot easier. The trail is deceptively easy on the ridge; then it gets down to business. I hadn't slept much the night before as the dogs were restless in the tent so once I got to the ridge with Stewarts, Mt. Daniel and Lake Cle Elum on one side and Rainier, Adams, Lakes Easton and Keechelus on the other, I decided that dropping down and then back up to bag the peak just didn't matter to me. Lying down and soaking up the views was what my body wanted. The others went on up the peak. Afterwards, I kind of regretted it as I still had a bunch of energy so while my companion napped, I swam and took a short hike around the Lake Shore Trail at Kachess. Little Kachess is still inaccessible as the bridge is out and the river water high.
at the lower ledge - Kachess Ridge trail in the background on the next ridge over - on Domerie Ridge on way up to Baldy
at the lower ledge - Kachess Ridge trail in the background on the next ridge over - on Domerie Ridge on way up to Baldy
Balsam root section
Balsam root section
more flowers
more flowers
flowers were out
flowers were out
Stewarts and Lake Cle Elum on the other
Stewarts and Lake Cle Elum on the other
Rainier and Adams and Easton and Keechelus Lakes on one side
Rainier and Adams and Easton and Keechelus Lakes on one side
Mt. Daniel and part of Stewarts with Lake Cle Elum below - blissful ridge
Mt. Daniel and part of Stewarts with Lake Cle Elum below - blissful ridge
Destination ahead
Destination ahead
looking back down; this isn't even the steepest part by far
looking back down; this isn't even the steepest part by far
looking out from our perch
looking out from our perch
Domerie Ridge rest stop
Domerie Ridge rest stop
Boo is waiting for dinner to be ready.
Boo is waiting for dinner to be ready.
Day 3: woke to sunny skies and already warm; planned on Little Kachess Trail but alas, the bridge is still out and water is high so change of plan - let's explore past Crystal Springs CG to Iron Horse trail section around Keechelus - very pretty - we walked about 6 miles - lake is higher than I can remember seeing it in past years. BTW, we saw what appeared to be a well worn trail - unmarked and departing from the Iron Horse at the Roaring Creek Bridge. Where does it go? We then explored up around Lost Lake before heading into the gray skies. I was supposed to do an hour walk with someone once I got home, but it was pouring on this side of the mountains - yuck - can you say spoiled?
patch of sun
patch of sun
windy
windy
looking west - bad weather rolling in
looking west - bad weather rolling in
love the rock passage
love the rock passage
looking east
looking east
Keechelus Lake is high this year.
Keechelus Lake is high this year.
waterfall near Lost Lake
waterfall near Lost Lake
Boo
Boo
The dogs are pooped out after three days of hiking.
The dogs are pooped out after three days of hiking.

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Joined: 21 Mar 2010
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Location: Living the dream in my 5th Wheel
half fast
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PostFri Jul 08, 2011 8:53 am 
Highwalker's Daughter wrote:
Stewarts and Lake Cle Elum on the other
Stewarts and Lake Cle Elum on the other
Nice... up.gif up.gif Looks like you all had a great time and fun adventure... agree.gif Thanks for sharing... biggrin.gif

It's all about the fun, oh and maybe the chocolate - half fast
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flatsqwerl
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Joined: 23 Feb 2010
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Location: tacoma
flatsqwerl
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PostFri Jul 08, 2011 8:56 am 
those dogs are sure cute.

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