Saturday had
that feel to it, the feel of the last one or two good days for high alpine wandering in the Cascades. Cold, clear, with loads of fall colors and fresh snow on the peaks, it was quintessential autumn hiking weather. With limited time we decided to make a run at one of the few non-technical Snoqualmie Pass peaks left on my list - Alta Peak, out of Rachel lake. Turned out to be an excellent choice. We reached the TH late, about 11:00 am, to find about a dozen cars in the parking lot. We quickly started up the trail, after examining the missing permit box - does the Forest Service take those down or was it vandalism' Without a pass, we breathed in the spirit of civil disobedience and elected to go on anyway. The first three miles were in good shape, with lots of creeks coming down across the trail and several muddy spots, none too bad. The brush which can tower 6 feet over your head on this trail in August was in decline, reaching only to our shoulders, and someone had just come through and done a heck of a job clearing it off the trail (thanks!). Box Creek was lovely as always, with cascades and pools providing ample excuses to take a quick break. At three miles the trail gets nasty, turning uphill in a hurry. This section of trail has to be one of the rootiest I have ever seen. Furthermore, we got a REAL close look at the creek a bit further up, as it was literally underfoot for a good section of the trail. Upon reaching Rachel Lake at about 4.5 miles, we found it clear of significant snow and rippling in the friendly fall sunshine. Blueberries were numerous but overripe; campers and hikers were scarce. We continued up toward Rampart ridge, turning right toward Lila lake at the top of the ridge (the left trail goes to the Rampart lakes, very spectacular as well). Some snow on the ridge, patchy and maybe 4-5 inches deep at most, easily passable. At the next juction we stayed left, heading up the steep meadowed south face of Alta ridge, climbing among wine-colored blueberries bushes and earning grand views. This ridge has at least 3 false summits before actually reaching Alta peak, and the trail becomes more of a scramble route about halfway along it, with some moderate exposure and minor scrambling required in places. At long last we stood on the summit itself, beside a giant cairn, with simply breathtaking views. To the east we could look back down Box Canyon to HiBox mountain, impressive from this proximity, and out to Three Queens. To the south we could look back along Rampart Ridge to the Rampart lakes, flashing brilliantly in the sunshine, and off to Mt. Rainier looming like a giant on the horizon. Westward was the awesome valley of Gold Creek, buttressd by the ridge of Kendall mountain, and further out the other peaks of Snoqualmie - Red, Lundin, Snoqualmie Mountain, Denny Mountian, the Tooth, and the king of the Pass area, Chair Peak. The major summits of the I-90 corridor were also visible, from Silver Peak to Granite, Bandera, Pratt, Defiance and McClellan Butte. The best view was north, however, into the heart of the Alpine Lakes, toward Chikamin and Lemah, Daniel, Hinman, Thompson and Chimney Rock. The PCT cuts an obvious line across the midsection of all many of these peaks, and was snow-covered for much of the way. Directly below us to the east also was Lila lake and its complement of ponds, most of them frozen in the shadow of Alta. There was significant snow in the Lila Lake basin but very little along the exposed ridge of Alta peak. We took our summit shot, ate summit chocolate and gazed out to the many peaks, savoring the experience. Winter looks to be long and wet and virtually upon us, so it was grand to get out for a trip to the high country, possibly the last for the year. Maybe not, one can always hope for an ""Indian autumn"", and if it happens, I'll be out there. If not, see you next year when the alpine season begins. Marmot