We walked up the logging road for about two miles -- no loggers there today -- then had lunch in a spot cleared by logging. A misty day, and the view was pleasant even if we couldn't see far. Grabbed a geocache down by Swans Mill Pond. Didn't see any other hikers, even though January 1 is usually a popular day to be out in the woods. Saw a few eagles.

Dinked around all day in the Elwell Creek area, and explored a bit at the base of the wall. There's a boulder, big as a house, that dropped off the cliff who knows how many centuries ago, and came to a stop in the trees below. I thought it would be fun to find it.  I did find it - but it wasn't so fun...

It was tough. Near the base of the wall it got much steeper, with thick moss and leaves covering loose rocks. Every step had to be carefully tested, and it was slow going. Soon large boulders began to appear, and suddenly a 100ft. wall loomed ahead. Went east til I ran out of options, then backtracked west. Soon saw the giant boulder down below. (at least I hope it's the one, because I would hate to have a reason to return.) No way to get on top, so I made my way through the split and back down the hill to the road. My curiosity satisfied, I probably won't be back.

No balloons today, but a surprising amount of trash that was chucked off the cliff. Mostly empty jugs, buckets and beer cans. And a 70's Chevy hubcap - and a bit later, the tire and wheel. I reunited them so they can Rust In Peace together...

Well here ya go, WTA!  Another unsanctioned hike to an unlikely destination, with a wee bit of bushwhacking thrown in. Maybe I should get with the program and jump in line with another report on Lake 22 - ("OMG! There was water on the trail! And you have to step over a tree! But the lake was beautiful..." ) Or maybe Barclay? - ("OMG! You have to step over a tree! And there was water on the trail! But the lake was beautiful...")  Nah...

Instead, in keeping with my winter hiking theme of long boring road walks, you get a report for Drunken Charlie Lake! It's been on my radar since I saw it on one of my Google Map fly-overs, so I thought I would get to it before the mountains open up. No info on WTA, but I seem to recall a mention of it on NWHikers under a "Most Disappointing Hike" thread. I don't know about that, but it was certainly underwhelming...

Rather than bore you with the details of a two hour road walk, I'll skip to the lake. Take 5200 uphill at the intersection of 5200/5300. Pass a clearcut on the right, then a gravel pit on the left. Next, stay left on the main road at the "Y".  A quarter mile later, the road skirts the lake on the west side. You can't see it, but you'll notice an opening through the trees. Take a well defined bootpath  30-40 yds. to the lake.

Well ... meh. Nothing to see but a wall of trees on the far side. A lot of trash, though. Looking across the lake, there are several large boulders at waters edge. I took a faint bootpath around the shore (or just followed the trash), and found a nice sittin' spot on the rocks on the far side. A cool rope swing, too - although I don't know if I'd swim there. Not much of a water-flow through the lake, so the water is pretty murky.

So the lake is just OK, but with such a long, boring road walk; the reward is not worth the effort. Maybe if you biked it - the roads are nice. Saw two cyclists today. (one so far back that we were both surprised to see each other.) Won't be back unless I'm riding, but it was still a good adventure. And I've been waiting awhile to see that headline - "Drunken Charlie Lake".

A rare hike in the snow.