Distance 2 miles out and 3 miles back
Elevation Gain: 2200 ft
Why this trail today? Because it is highlighted as the "Hike Of The Week" at the WTA site - supposed to be free of snow while the wild flowers are blooming, both of which actually turned out to be true. In consideration of Amlan - my hiking companion today who has not hiked much before, I was also looking for a trail that would not be too arduous, yet would have a rewarding experience at the end. This trail fitted the bill on both counts. Initially I was reluctant to travel 60 miles to get to the trail head. However,the weather forecast for areas/trails closer to home included thunder showers. So I thought we would have lesser possibility of getting rained on in the rain shadow area to the East of the Snoqualmie Pass. So that is where we went and were able to enjoy a rain-free hike.
We saw just one car at the trail head parking lot when we reached there around 9:20 AM. As soon as we got out of the car, a host mosquitoes descended upon us. So without lingering on, we immediately put on our hiking boots, changed to long trousers and charged on. The mosquitoes followed us in forested segments of the trail all the way through to the top, but their number gradually decreased as we ascended the the mountain. This mosquito incident has taught me a lesson to add another hiking essential to my arsenal - some kind of mosquito repellent.
After climbing through an elevation of about 900 ft over one mile distance, we met a couple of hikers returning who alerted us about the loop - basically consisting of two segments: the regular trail two miles long thereafter and a steeper alternate trail of one mile distance, both climbing through the remaining height of 1300 ft. This alternate trail forked just a few hundred feet beyond where we met those other hikers. We reasoned we would do the shorter ascend so the longer descend would be easy on our knees. Though climbing the 1300 feet over a mere 1 mile stretch did turn out to be pretty tough, yet it rewarded us with excellent views of both distant clouds and mountains as well as of wildflowers on the nearby hill slopes .
The views from top would be better on a cloud free day yet still satisfying in the cloudy weather today. My regret is that we were denied a sight of the Mount Rainier. But all other relatively closer mountain ranges with snow-clad white peaks and both the Easton and Kachess lakes below were great treats to our eyes. At least I am hoping it wasn't disappointing to Amlan.
We met one other hiker at the top who hiked from a different trail head. As we were leaving after spending three quarters of an hour, more hikers arrived. We met many more on our way back - this time on the regular trail. This precisely was the reason we were here early - to beat the crowd. I expected that "Hike of the Week" report at the WTA site to nudge a big crowd to this trail today, and it actually so happened.
Elevation Gain: 2200 ft
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| The Beacon |
Why this trail today? Because it is highlighted as the "Hike Of The Week" at the WTA site - supposed to be free of snow while the wild flowers are blooming, both of which actually turned out to be true. In consideration of Amlan - my hiking companion today who has not hiked much before, I was also looking for a trail that would not be too arduous, yet would have a rewarding experience at the end. This trail fitted the bill on both counts. Initially I was reluctant to travel 60 miles to get to the trail head. However,the weather forecast for areas/trails closer to home included thunder showers. So I thought we would have lesser possibility of getting rained on in the rain shadow area to the East of the Snoqualmie Pass. So that is where we went and were able to enjoy a rain-free hike.
 |
| Colorful Meadow |
We saw just one car at the trail head parking lot when we reached there around 9:20 AM. As soon as we got out of the car, a host mosquitoes descended upon us. So without lingering on, we immediately put on our hiking boots, changed to long trousers and charged on. The mosquitoes followed us in forested segments of the trail all the way through to the top, but their number gradually decreased as we ascended the the mountain. This mosquito incident has taught me a lesson to add another hiking essential to my arsenal - some kind of mosquito repellent.
 |
| Wild Flowers |
After climbing through an elevation of about 900 ft over one mile distance, we met a couple of hikers returning who alerted us about the loop - basically consisting of two segments: the regular trail two miles long thereafter and a steeper alternate trail of one mile distance, both climbing through the remaining height of 1300 ft. This alternate trail forked just a few hundred feet beyond where we met those other hikers. We reasoned we would do the shorter ascend so the longer descend would be easy on our knees. Though climbing the 1300 feet over a mere 1 mile stretch did turn out to be pretty tough, yet it rewarded us with excellent views of both distant clouds and mountains as well as of wildflowers on the nearby hill slopes .
 |
| Distant Mountains |
The views from top would be better on a cloud free day yet still satisfying in the cloudy weather today. My regret is that we were denied a sight of the Mount Rainier. But all other relatively closer mountain ranges with snow-clad white peaks and both the Easton and Kachess lakes below were great treats to our eyes. At least I am hoping it wasn't disappointing to Amlan.
 |
| Me and Amlan at the Beacon |
We met one other hiker at the top who hiked from a different trail head. As we were leaving after spending three quarters of an hour, more hikers arrived. We met many more on our way back - this time on the regular trail. This precisely was the reason we were here early - to beat the crowd. I expected that "Hike of the Week" report at the WTA site to nudge a big crowd to this trail today, and it actually so happened.
 |
| More Wildflowers |
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