Palisades Lakes
Sep 04, 2009
by
Hikingqueen
—
last modified
Sep 04, 2009 06:20 PM
- Type of Outing
- Day hike
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Palisades Lakes
- Region: Mt. Rainier -- NE - Sunrise / White River
- Agency: Mount Rainier National Park
- Avg Rating: 3.33
- Why You Should Go Now
- Ripe berries
Palisades Lakes 9-4-09 My second bear sighting!
Today I choose this trail because I knew mountain would be mostly behind clouds and I love this trail, it’s up and down and in perfect shape, no rocks or roots to trip over.. hardly any people ever. I had a feeling berries would be ripe and bears would be chilling in the meadows. I started out around 8:00 AM and it was a great drive up.
I stopped at Clover Lake first and took some picture, then on to Hidden Lake, I’d never been there before. I stopped at these big rocks and had a snack and little did I know just around the corner after the sign to Hidden Lake in the small meadow was a black bear eating berries. I managed to get out my camera and take a few shots but my hands were shaking and my heart pounding he was much close than the last bear I saw and could easily hurt me if he wanted.. I would say he was about 30 feet from me. He was eating berries and then smelled me and then he saw me and then he BOLTED so fast.. all I saw was this huge butt darting off away from me. I wasn’t sure what to do, head back to my car or on to Hidden Lake. After a moment of composure I headed up to Hidden Lake since he went to other way. Man that was exciting!
I got to Hidden lake and walked all around and wanted to jump in the lake but it was a bit windy up there and I just dipped my legs instead, it felt great. I saw fresh tracks in the mud. Took a ton more pics and headed back down. The golden mantled ground squirrels were out in full force as the pikas, saw about 20 of each. I snacked on berries the whole day. Blueberries then Huckle then more blue.. then.. well you get the picture. I saw one group of kids at Clover lake on my way out and then one other group I had to tell about my bear..I stopped at Sunrise Lake on my way out and walked around it. I couldn’t get enough. When I got about 15 mins from my car it started raining.. perfect end at the perfect time I’d say.
Today I choose this trail because I knew mountain would be mostly behind clouds and I love this trail, it’s up and down and in perfect shape, no rocks or roots to trip over.. hardly any people ever. I had a feeling berries would be ripe and bears would be chilling in the meadows. I started out around 8:00 AM and it was a great drive up.
I stopped at Clover Lake first and took some picture, then on to Hidden Lake, I’d never been there before. I stopped at these big rocks and had a snack and little did I know just around the corner after the sign to Hidden Lake in the small meadow was a black bear eating berries. I managed to get out my camera and take a few shots but my hands were shaking and my heart pounding he was much close than the last bear I saw and could easily hurt me if he wanted.. I would say he was about 30 feet from me. He was eating berries and then smelled me and then he saw me and then he BOLTED so fast.. all I saw was this huge butt darting off away from me. I wasn’t sure what to do, head back to my car or on to Hidden Lake. After a moment of composure I headed up to Hidden Lake since he went to other way. Man that was exciting!
I got to Hidden lake and walked all around and wanted to jump in the lake but it was a bit windy up there and I just dipped my legs instead, it felt great. I saw fresh tracks in the mud. Took a ton more pics and headed back down. The golden mantled ground squirrels were out in full force as the pikas, saw about 20 of each. I snacked on berries the whole day. Blueberries then Huckle then more blue.. then.. well you get the picture. I saw one group of kids at Clover lake on my way out and then one other group I had to tell about my bear..I stopped at Sunrise Lake on my way out and walked around it. I couldn’t get enough. When I got about 15 mins from my car it started raining.. perfect end at the perfect time I’d say.
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Hidden Lake
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My second bear sighting, yipee!
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