Lake Serene

This was one of those
magical times when all the conditions come together for a fantastic hike. I have driven past Index countless times on my way to more distant adventures. I was always impressed with the size and vertical rise of Mt. Index, and wondered what the lake nestled at it's base looked like. Washington Online Weather cued me to the good weather on Saturday. I can't say the same for the zero help received from the Skykomish Ranger Station that could ""neither confirm or deny"" the existence of the trail to Lake Serene. Thanks to a report about Lake Serene from ""Ranger Mike's web site"", some local insite from Mark at the espresso stand just East of Index, and a 1997 Green Trails map Number 142, I was prepared for my day. To get to the lower and only, more about that later, trailhead to Lake Serene, drive U.S. 2 and go right on Forest Service Road #6020. The turn off is located just before Index and just before the bridge that crosses the South Fork of the Skykomish river. Travel several hundred yards and take your first right, then turn left into the large, freshly graveled and unsigned trailhead parking lot to Lake Serene. I left the parking lot at 9:30AM. The day was cool, crisp, and partly cloudy. I still wasn't sure where I was going, but I walked up the forest service road, avoiding the first spur to the left, and in 1/4 mile came to some large rocks placed to stop cars, crossed a small stream, and continued up the trail. The trail now became a typical abandoned logging road. Another 1/4 mile up the trail is a 100 yard section of washed out trail. Follow the washout to the end and climb out the right side, then turn left to walk around the very end of the washout to pick up the trail again. At one mile road 6020 reaches a plateau and connects with the other unknown and soon to be eliminated access to Lake Serene. Stay right and in 100 yards the Lake Serene Trail forks to the left. There is a small sign guiding the way. This is the trail we have all read about, and the forest service, for what ever reason, wants to hide from you. In the early morning hours I felt like I snuck into an amusement park before it's official opening. The trail passes streams and old growth cedars and hemlocks with the growing sounds of Bridal Veil Falls in the distance. At the falls there is a well constructed bridge that gives a fantastic view hundreds of feet up the vertical rock face. There was an inch of snow across the 100 foot bridge and fresh tracks indicated it was being used as a rabbit highway. A short distance later a second smaller falls came down an impressive rock face to small pools inhabited by twisted trees and broken logs. Every spot on this trail is an attraction, every few hundred feet is something to look at. At this point the trail starts gaining serious altitude. The crushed rock and steep grade is not suitable for small children, the steps and switchbacks are necessary and welcomed as the trails climbs to Lake Serene. More and more snow covered the trail as I hiked. One inch turned to four inches turned to twelve inches. The light was just right, the temperature was just above freezing, and there were no tracks in front of me. The trail eventually levels off with outstanding views over the Skykomish valley to snow capped mountains. As the trail turned South I passed a rest bench and faced crossing several hundred yards of open terain. The snow depth had increased to three to four feet and the trail vanished under the snow. Using subtle clues and two fully extended poles, I forged my may across the field in waist deep snow. At the end of the clearing is a beautiful mini waterfall. At this point the trail is anybodys guess. I turned left and carefully made my way up several hundred feet until I came to a very large boulder field. Looking down into ten foot holes and being by myself, I decided enough was enough and headed back down. I had only gone a short distance when I met two local residents of Index, Don and his wife Glenda. Together we headed back up and it was evident Don and his wife were no strangers to mountaineering. I am always envious of people that have such a natural gait that they seem to walk on top of the snow. Don made short work of the boulder field, and we found ourselves on a ridge over the NE section of the lake with an awsome view of Mt. Index. For the next half hour we ate lunch at listened to the CRAAACK of avalanches. We were able to see a couple of avalanches but others must have been echos from locations we could not view. Snow depth at the Lake is hard to guage because of all the drifts. I would estimate four to five feet at a minimum with drifts easily adding several feet. Don and his wife are two of the neatest people I have ever met. I could have stayed all day at the top talking, but everyones toes were getting cold so it was time to go down. The trip down was quick, and as we approached the falls we came across several parties with their children. Don and Glenda gave me a ride back down the so called upper trailhead road. The upper section of the road is very rough and the lower section is gated and manned to allow access to local residents of a housing develpoment. The parties I met at the falls were turned back at the gate and told to go to the lower trailhead. I apologize for the excessively long report. There is so little information about this trail, and I don't understand why unless the forest service wants to clear out the lower section before an official opening. In the mean time this is a great trail with the upper reaches providing great views and challenges, especially now with all the snow at the top.