Winter has arrived in the North Cascades!
I arrived to the Blue Lake Trailhead at 08:30 on this Sunday in October to take the last available parking spot. It was snowing fairly steadily towards Washington Pass and the trailhead - temps were in the low-30s - perhaps a bit chillier up at the lake.
Despite the snow, the trail is in great condition. The lower sections of the trail were muddy/slushly. And, towards the upper 1/3, the snow is packed down onto the trail from the countless foot steps. As of 10:30 AM today, there was about 2-3" of snow around the lake area - and it was still snowing when I left, so accumulation may have increased. The trail is slippery in some spots - especially in those couple sections where there is steep terrain just below the lake. I didn't have microspikes (nor did most of the other hikers I encountered), but poles are certainly helpful.
The Larch Trees are probably a bit past peak, and they're covered in snow. Today's weather conditions (snow, fog, clouds) didn't allow for the deep blue waters of the namesake lake. Yet, it was still pretty to walk in a winter wonderland.
Lots of people on the trail, of course. Everyone was in good spirits with the snow and the larch trees.
Bird life was pretty low - a big Raven at the Trailhead, and on the trail a few Clark's Nutcrackers and Golden-crowned Kinglets, a Pacific Wren, a Northern Flicker, and some Mountain Chickadees.
A great wintery day to be on this beautiful North Cascades classic trail.
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