Rachel Lake — Friday, Aug. 7, 2009

Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass

It was a cool and cloudy Friday as we hiked up to Rachel Lake and beyond to Alta Mt. Shoulder high meadows still have many blooms and huckleberries are ripe near the lake. The trail along the Box Canyon valley is in good condition. The hard work begins as the trail gains elevation on the way up to the lake. Rocks, roots washouts and many secondary paths create the challenge. At the lake the breeze made the temperature almost cold. As we trudged higher yet the fog swirled around yet was intermittent enough to allow views of Lila Lakes below. It is truly lovely Alpine Lakes Wilderness up on the ridges above the lakes. The stone monument atop Alta appeared out of the fog letting us know we could stop climbing.