Annette Lake
May 29, 2009
by
Halftrack
—
last modified
May 30, 2009 11:53 AM
- Type of Outing
- Day hike
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Annette Lake
- Region: Snoqualmie Pass -- Snoqualmie Pass
- Agency: Mt. Baker Snoqualmie National Forest, Snoqualmie Ranger District
- Trails: Annette Lake (#1019)
- Avg Rating: 3.50
- Why You Should Go Now
- Wildflowers blooming
- Be Aware Of
- Blowdowns
- Snow on trail
recently fallen Western Hemlock, just before Iron Horse Trail crossing
photo by Tad Anderson
Silver Peak scramble via Annette Lake Trail
Friday, May 29, 2009, hottest day of year so far (83 deg in Seattle)
Left parking lot (1900 feet) at 10:45am and returned by 5:15pm (6.5 hrs), with lunch on top (5605 feet) and 3 or 4 short rests.
The trail is in good shape (up to snow line; can't really tell after that) with just a few blow-down trees. Just before crossing the Iron Horse Trail is a large Western Hemlock with shattered, rotten stem across trail. This will be interesting to clear, but easy to step over for now.
The trail goes up a north-facing drainage (Humpback Creek) protected from sun. We encountered snow at about 3000 ft (about halfway to Lake Annette) and it soon covered the trail and surrounding landscape. The lake (3640 feet) was frozen except for a few melt patches.
Turning left at Annette Lake, we walked straight up the snow-covered rock field, kicking steps with no trouble. As it was midday, snow was soft on top and well-consolidated underneath. It's perhaps 3 feet deep and melting fast on a day like this. We had a great seated glissade on the way down. The ridge and peak get more sun and are mostly snow-free. Easy, non-technical scramble to top.
Trillium was in bloom on lower portion with skunk cabbage just emerging.
The forest is remarkable in being hemlock the whole way: Western Hemlock down low with more and more Mountain Hemlock as you ascend to the peak. (The little 3/4 inch Western Hemlock cones at your feet gradually get intermixed with 2-3 inch Mountain Hemlock cones.) Lower portions include some Douglas Fir and a few Pacific Silver Fir but the stand is almost pure Hemlock much of the way. At the ridge, Mountain Hemlock is mixed with Subalpine Fir.
Friday, May 29, 2009, hottest day of year so far (83 deg in Seattle)
Left parking lot (1900 feet) at 10:45am and returned by 5:15pm (6.5 hrs), with lunch on top (5605 feet) and 3 or 4 short rests.
The trail is in good shape (up to snow line; can't really tell after that) with just a few blow-down trees. Just before crossing the Iron Horse Trail is a large Western Hemlock with shattered, rotten stem across trail. This will be interesting to clear, but easy to step over for now.
The trail goes up a north-facing drainage (Humpback Creek) protected from sun. We encountered snow at about 3000 ft (about halfway to Lake Annette) and it soon covered the trail and surrounding landscape. The lake (3640 feet) was frozen except for a few melt patches.
Turning left at Annette Lake, we walked straight up the snow-covered rock field, kicking steps with no trouble. As it was midday, snow was soft on top and well-consolidated underneath. It's perhaps 3 feet deep and melting fast on a day like this. We had a great seated glissade on the way down. The ridge and peak get more sun and are mostly snow-free. Easy, non-technical scramble to top.
Trillium was in bloom on lower portion with skunk cabbage just emerging.
The forest is remarkable in being hemlock the whole way: Western Hemlock down low with more and more Mountain Hemlock as you ascend to the peak. (The little 3/4 inch Western Hemlock cones at your feet gradually get intermixed with 2-3 inch Mountain Hemlock cones.) Lower portions include some Douglas Fir and a few Pacific Silver Fir but the stand is almost pure Hemlock much of the way. At the ridge, Mountain Hemlock is mixed with Subalpine Fir.
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Snow-covered rock field, approach to Silver Peak; ice-covered Annette Lake at bottom.
photo by Tad Anderson
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Mountain Hemlock at ridge
photo by Tad Anderson
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Looking west from Silver Peak. Abiel Peak in foreground; Rainier in background.
photo by Tad Anderson
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