Heather Lake
Aug 29, 2009
by
MrG'sMom
—
last modified
Aug 30, 2009 08:59 PM
- Type of Outing
- Overnight
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Heather Lake
- Region: North Cascades -- Mountain Loop Highway
- Agency: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Darrington District
- Trails: Heather Lake (#701)
- Avg Rating: 3.68
- Why You Should Go Now
- Wildflowers blooming
- Ripe berries
Reached a full parking lot Saturday morning, but four guys coming down told us they had just vacated the "best camping spot right on the lake." The first third of the trail is former clear cut, filled in by younger trees, some of them growing right out of the trunks of the old giants. That spooky, devastated feeling one always senses in former clear-cut areas gives way, as one rises higher, to a sense of peace, perhaps helped by the ever-present sound of cascading water. Our two boys cooled off by wetting their caps under the waterfall.
Despite the heavy layer of mist, lots of day-hikers were circumnavigating the lake on Saturday with plastic bags for gathering huckleberries, which were plentiful and delicious. Some wild flowers still ablaze along the boardwalk, and lots of frogs jumping around, despite the diminished water table. Our camp site was perched right next to the water, with a large fire pit, and a bit of mud left over the rainy night before. Despite all that, it was practically perfect--we had the lake entirely to ourselves, no doubt because of the heavy mist hanging over us. As promised, the air cleared overnight. Stars everywhere around midnight. No bugs worth mentioning. Even the birds seemed quiet. The sound of the waterfalls in the distance were lovely to fall asleep to. Woke up to blue sky and was glad to get down before Sunday's hordes came rushing up the slope. A perfect first-time overnight hike for two 9-year-old boys and their moms.
Despite the heavy layer of mist, lots of day-hikers were circumnavigating the lake on Saturday with plastic bags for gathering huckleberries, which were plentiful and delicious. Some wild flowers still ablaze along the boardwalk, and lots of frogs jumping around, despite the diminished water table. Our camp site was perched right next to the water, with a large fire pit, and a bit of mud left over the rainy night before. Despite all that, it was practically perfect--we had the lake entirely to ourselves, no doubt because of the heavy mist hanging over us. As promised, the air cleared overnight. Stars everywhere around midnight. No bugs worth mentioning. Even the birds seemed quiet. The sound of the waterfalls in the distance were lovely to fall asleep to. Woke up to blue sky and was glad to get down before Sunday's hordes came rushing up the slope. A perfect first-time overnight hike for two 9-year-old boys and their moms.
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