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furthur
Berry Bagger



Joined: 21 Sep 2006
Posts: 341 | TRs | Pics
Location: onward and upward
furthur
Berry Bagger
PostMon Sep 19, 2011 6:29 pm 
Despite the wet and windy forecast, Highwalker's Daughter and I wanted to try for 2 nights at Spectacle Point. Starting at the Pete Lake TH off the Cle Elum River Road, we enjoyed sun on the mostly flat, wide trail leading to the east hump of the lake. The path curves west to a clear lakeside lunch spot, then moves away from the lake to a wide, icy ford at about 4 miles. The creek is flowing in two 15 yard sections, with a rocky bar between. The current is strong and over calf high in spots.
Good thing it's only bear season
Good thing it's only bear season
Pete Lake lunch spot
Pete Lake lunch spot
Officially on the PCT, we moved through a forest with a thinner trail, still with only minor dips and dups. With the bear hunt in progress, we encountered a number of horses, all well mannered (but then, so were we). Only after passing through a long section of the Lemah Meadows burn did the trail begin the many low grade switchbacks that characterize the PCT.
Lemah sentinels
Lemah sentinels
hot!
hot!
We worked our way over to the Spectacle Lake outlet falls, which is sturdily bridged. Huckle and blueberries crowd in; still, evidence of horses continued most of the way to the Spectacle Lake turnoff. We saw only one very obvious trail to the lake, signed as a half mile down. We were not tempted.
Spectacle Falls
Spectacle Falls
Eventually Three Queens were visible at switchback turns, then the trees and brush thinned to an open sloping meadow cut by a trickle of water. Spectacle Lake waved far below. Just a bit further up was Spectacle Point, above a generous plateau with an acceptable pond for water. Views here are very good, though by the time we arrived, darkening clouds were tagging the peaks and graying the horizon.
Queens queuing up
Queens queuing up
Spectacle Lake
Spectacle Lake
Stuart, briefly
Stuart, briefly
Spectacle Lake from Spectacle Point
Spectacle Lake from Spectacle Point
Chikamun and Lemah, I think
Chikamun and Lemah, I think
Royal sunset
Royal sunset
After a night of intermittent rain and wind, and a morning that was dry but gloomy, we decided against a second night. We did make a quick trip down to Park Lakes. As we were stuffing the last of our homes into our packs, the rain started sputtering again, and our disappointment at a shortened trip lessened considerably.
Home on the sedge
Home on the sedge
Park Lake
Park Lake
4 Queens
4 Queens
Tres chic!
Tres chic!
The Roslyn Café has golden crispy onion rings sprinkled with freshly shaved parmesan, among other treats, so at that point, civilization didn’t seem so bad.

"You're either on the bus or off the bus." Kesey
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Highwalker's Daughter
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Joined: 12 Aug 2006
Posts: 1575 | TRs | Pics
Location: Bothell, WA
Highwalker's Daughter
Member
PostMon Sep 19, 2011 7:34 pm 
The highlight: Roslyn Cafe's onion rings and sweet potato fries! Oh yeah, the hike was awesome also wink.gif . Loved the Four Queens title - lol.gif Here are some of my photos.
starting out
starting out
peaceful Cooper River
peaceful Cooper River
fall color at Pete Lake
fall color at Pete Lake
fording the creek
fording the creek
fire area
fire area
nice bridge
nice bridge
Mt. Stewart in the distance
Mt. Stewart in the distance
sun hits Three Queens just before it socked in
sun hits Three Queens just before it socked in
Spectacle Lake and the last of the sunshine
Spectacle Lake and the last of the sunshine
Furthur on top of the world
Furthur on top of the world
Mineral Creek Park
Mineral Creek Park
Mineral Creek Park Lakes basin
Mineral Creek Park Lakes basin
one of the Mineral Creek Park Lakes
one of the Mineral Creek Park Lakes
the latest fashion in raingear
the latest fashion in raingear
fireweed and ghostly trees in the Lemah Meadows fire area
fireweed and ghostly trees in the Lemah Meadows fire area

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