Trail Log #2: Granite Lakes - Middle Fork of the Snoqualmie

Our second hike of the season was an attempt to go somewhere I had never been before and push ourselves further. Somewhere I had never explored was the wilderness of the Middle Fork of the Snoqualmie River. The entrance to this area is up Highway 2. 

The parking lot was amazingly well groomed. It immediately didn't feel that wild. But quickly as we ascended on the trail it seemed like as wild of a place as any. 

The trail wound around the base of the mountains and we were completely enveloped in clouds. We were worried that the predicted sun would not show up, but as the elevation rose so did the cloud cover. Amongst that all was the most beautiful sun breaks that beamed through the trees.

The climb then became more intense. The grade at the beginning of the trail was fairly flat, being an old road. The grade on the final stretch was a long plod, constant grid to the fork between Johnson and Granite Lakes. We had originally wanted to continue out climb to the ridges above. But our time was short and our legs tired so we opted to check out the lake below. 

It was disappointing to have to head downward to the bowl between the mountains to reach the lake but once we got there, the lake felt as alpine as a lot of the high mountain lakes I have been to.

We found a place along the lake to have lunch and there were several other parties there enjoying the lake view. Sipping on whiskey and bok choy we were quite the eclectic group.  

The trail really peters out at the end. The lake is within site but we had a hard time getting to it. We had to bushwack a tiny bit to make it to the water edge.

At the end of the day, Middle Fork impressed me quite a bit. It felt like a wilderness area and I felt like I could lose myself and forget the hard work/school week. It also was a tough climb and really got us working hard for it. It was a great training hike for us kids that are still out of shape.

Trails Log #1: Serene Lake

Jan 20 - Lake Serene

Weekend before last brought a beautiful winter hike up to Serene Lake. Part of our beginning training circuit in the lower Cascade Mountains before the warmth of summer melts the bigger mountains. This year I want to climb some of the bigger scrambles in the high alpines, so we have to start training now.

Was happy that the traffic back up from Monroe was mostly because of Steven’s Pass skiers as the trailhead parking was pretty light. For winter, the trail is still very popular despite being a pretty long and steep (in parts) trail.

The trail passes by some pretty impressive falls at about the halfway point and would be a great lunch spot if it hadn’t been so cold.

As we got higher in the mountains, it was advantageous to have microspikes but not necessary. Most just some remnants of packed snow on the trail itself left from multiple people compacting its surface. The trail is fairly flat hiking up the edge of the hillside and then the middle portion of the trail inclines steeply with the aid of stairs that can be hard on the knees. The switchbacks take you up not completely to the top of the mountain but then curve around the side, traversing along till you see the lake.

Mt. Index is high enough above to collect snowy and rockies views that are pretty spectacular from the lake. Make sure to head all the way to Picnic Rock (even thought it is up a steep little hillside) as the view becomes unobstructed and there is a completely smooth rock that you can sit and gaze upon the mountain from.

Leave early if you can as Highway 2 has a lot of stoplights through small towns like Sultan and Gold Bar making traffic barely a crawl later in the day -- when people visiting eastern washington and skiing come back from the pass.

HIGHWAY 20 pro tips

Excellent breakfast spot that started our day: Sultan Bakery. It will now will be our go-to for Mt. Loop hikes. They sport a breakfast burrito for only $3 and coffee and pastries as far as the eye can see.

There is a Safeway in Monroe on the way out that does have supplies of snacks and protein bars. Yay!

On the way back, we stopped at my favorite drive-in Alpen Village in Sultan. Pretty good post hike meal!