furthur Berry Bagger
Joined: 21 Sep 2006 Posts: 341 | TRs | Pics Location: onward and upward |
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furthur
Berry Bagger
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Mon Sep 19, 2011 6:29 pm
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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 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 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
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 Spectacle Lake Stuart, briefly Spectacle Lake from Spectacle Point Chikamun and Lemah, I think 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 Park Lake 4 Queens 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
"You're either on the bus or off the bus."
Kesey
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Highwalker's Daughter Member
Joined: 12 Aug 2006 Posts: 1575 | TRs | Pics Location: Bothell, WA |
The highlight: Roslyn Cafe's onion rings and sweet potato fries! Oh yeah, the hike was awesome also .
Loved the Four Queens title -
Here are some of my photos.
starting out peaceful Cooper River fall color at Pete Lake fording the creek fire area nice bridge Mt. Stewart in the distance sun hits Three Queens just before it socked in Spectacle Lake and the last of the sunshine Furthur on top of the world Mineral Creek Park Mineral Creek Park Lakes basin one of the Mineral Creek Park Lakes the latest fashion in raingear fireweed and ghostly trees in the Lemah Meadows fire area
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