Monday, September 28, 2015

Blue Lake


On Monday, September 21, my wife and I and a friend hiked the Blue Lake trail near Washington Pass.  Washington Pass is along the North Cascades Highway before it descends the eastern side of the mountains to the town of Winthrop.  The dominant peaks in the area are Cutttroat Peak and Whistler Mountain north of the highway and the Liberty Bell Group south of the highway.  The Blue Lake trail took us around the back of the Liberty Bell group to a small alpine lake where the Larches were changing color.

Cutthroat Peak from the trail


Conifer Coral Fungus


Liberty Bell




 Larch



lichens


 Cutthroat Peak


Liberty Bell, Lexington and Concord Towers




 Larches





autumn color along the trail










 more Larches




at Blue Lake











old ruined cabin near the lake


Larches










hiking above and beyond the lake to a small pond





I'd rather be down here


the Liberty Bell Group, the lake and always more Larches













Whistler Mountain








more Larches






 blueberries



back to the lake and back down the trail










 After hiking at Blue Lake we also stopped to hike the short paved trail to Rainy Lake.  The trail is about a mile round-trip and takes you to a viewpoint near the lake.