Lake Twenty-two is along the Mountain Loop Highway near Granite Falls, Washington. It is in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, but south of Mount Baker and the North Cascades National Park. It is on the shoulders of Mount Pilchuck and in an area we have not hiked very often.
We had taken the day off again and had looked for a hike that was low enough to be snow free. The highest point of the hike, the lake itself, is only 2400 feet with a mere 1350 feet of elevation gain. We also wanted a hike that was short enough to finish before dark, though we barely made that.
The hike was a grand success. There are numerous waterfalls along the trail, some old growth forest, and the lake itself is worth the hike, lying at the foot of Mount Pilchuck. We took so long on the trail that by the time we arrived at the lake it was already getting dark.
This is another hike we want to do again in better weather and with longer days, but the snow and ice certainly made this hike memorable, though I forgot our backpacking stove and we had to content ourselves with granola bars and other cold food before heading back down.
frost and ice along the trail
unusual ice crystals
old growth forest
the first waterfall
Western Red Cedar
Red-banded Polypore
the second falls
my hiking companion
the third falls
ferns
the fourth falls
more old growth forest
remains of summer flowers
an open slope
view across the valley
lichens and moss
Red Alders
frost
the trail
ice
fading light
ice crystals
pink lichens
old Western Red Cedar stump
cedars
the last falls
leaves
some sunlight
ice
near the lake
Lake Twentytwo
last light
the lake
old logs
ice
the lake
Dipper
mushrooms
frost heave
the lake
the lake's outlet
reflections
mossy trunk
last views of the lake
on the way down
