Lake Valhalla — Friday, Oct. 17, 2025

Yesterday was a very Pacific Northwest fall day, where one minute, sleet, then rain, followed by clear skies and sun, and then snow! I started at the Smithbrook Trailhead around 11 AM, where the parking lot had 2 spaces remaining.  The entire path was wet and muddy, but I never felt the ground be too slippery. If anything, it seemed like the mud sucked you into the trail! And as you got closer to the lake, patches of snow also increased. But the snow on the trail did not pose a problem on this hike. No spikes needed at all. For most of the hike, low, gray, clouds obscured the surrounding peaks and fall foliage. But every once in a while, the clouds parted to provide beautiful views of the snow-capped mountains and the distant peaks. By the time I got to lake Valhalla, all the other early hikers had left, and I had the whole beach to myself for lunch where a pair of Canada Jays and one Stellar’s Jay kept me company/were waiting for the accidental food drop as I ate! On my way out, I passed quite a few hikers making their way to the lake. Shout out to the folks with leashed dogs. Annoyed face to the couple with not one, but two unleashed dogs!!! Aside from the jays, the forests were alive with the sounds of Evening Grosbeaks, Pileated Woodpeckers, chicakdees, Red-breasted Nuthatches, and many Pine Siskins!