Annette Lake
Feb 20, 2010
by
Jimbo Brian
—
last modified
Feb 21, 2010 11:05 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
- Be Aware Of
- Snow on trail
A wonderful sunny day in a winter of many sunny days. I picked Annette Lake with the idea that lower trails would be packed with people, and I wanted to check the snow level. As I passed High Point on I-90, the roadside parking was definitely full of cars. Annette Lake had only a few cars, just what I wanted. The lower trail was in great shape up past the John Wayne trail and beyond. Although John Wayne was snow-covered, the trail was not. It was still clear of snow until the switchbacks at about 2 miles. As I climbed, the patches were longer and longer, becoming permanent at about the 3rd switchback with about a foot of packed icy snow. I put on Yak-Trax and kept going. A couple parties coming down also had Yak-Trax or traction. They were definitely useful. The packed snow varied in depth as you cross open areas and shaded areas. After the switchbacks, the trail crosses several potential avalanche slopes. These slopes seem to have 2-3' of packed snow, well settled at the moment. After passing through the last set of trees, the lake appeared, covered in a layer of ice several inches thick, except near the outlet. I did not walk on the ice. We never know where volcanic hot springs may weaken the mountain ice. The sun was wonderful, but it wasn't actually hot. With the Yak-Trax, it took me four hours up to the lake and back. I came upon a party of four, one in tennis shoes trying to pick their way up. That's not a fun way to hike in slippery snow, especially going downhill. There is only one tree across the trail in the switchbacks, 12-16", easy to step over. It looks like these high trails are going to open up early this year.
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