Lodge Lake

As we were driving by the ski area parking lots to the trailhead, a PCT through hiker was coming off the trail. When we started the hike to the lake, it was only 58 degrees at Snoqualmie Pass. The first 1/4 mile of the trail goes through forest before breaking out into the ski area where we hiked under chair lifts. This part of the trail is some what rocky as it is used as a creek bed during the snow melt. With a good breeze blowing, it felt more like an early fall trip. Once past Beaver Lake, the trail heads down hill to Lodge Lake. Some drainage work has been down in this section. There is a PCT Through Hikers registration book on a tree just south of Beaver Lake. We check it out. Three through hikers had come by, with the first one for 2012 on August 6th. He was from Virginia. Before getting to Lodge Lake, three fisherman passed us. Once at the lake we found a good log to sit on for lunch and watch small trout jumping out of the water to eat bugs. No flies or skeeters at the lake, only a few dragon flies and some water bugs.

There was once a lodge at Lodge Lake. The Mountaineers built the Snoqualmie Lodge in 1914 and it was used until 1944 when it burned down. During the summer you'd hike up from Denny Creek Campground 1 - 1/4 miles or go 1 - 2/3 miles in the winter from the train depot at the pass.

After taking a few photos and eatting lunch we headed back as the fisherman were trying to catch the big one. Along the way we met two bus loads of kids from the Preston YMCA day camp. As we passed by Beaver Lake, we got a nice view of Snoqualmie Mtn. Guye Peak, Red Mtn. and Kendall Peak. Another nice day in the mountains.