Lake Valhalla, Smithbrook — Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2011

Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - East

The six of us who went to Lake Valhalla yesterday encountered every kind of weather—sun, gloom, sleet, snow and rain—but we were prepared with warm, waterproof clothing including hats and gloves, and because the hunting season on the Crest Trail had already started (according to the two old guys in camo who sat next to us at the Sultan Bakery), we were also bright in red, hot pink, yellow, light blue and poison green. The trail from the parking lot to the Crest Trail and the first part of the Crest trail were muddy with puddles. About one-quarter mile past Union Gap we began to see fresh snow on the ground, and soon the trail was snow covered. All at the same time, the fall foliage and the new snow on the peaks were gorgeous, and there were flowers along the road to the trailhead. Surprisingly, there were still blueberries on the bushes, some tastier than others. We all had good boots and poles so we had no trouble walking on the snow, but when we began to see snow flurries blowing across the lake, we decided it was time to turn back. We did not come in from Stevens Pass on the Crest Trail, the long way. We drove 3 miles east of Stevens Pass, turned north on Smithbrook Road, and in another three miles came to a parking lot and the trailhead for Lake Valhalla, Lake Janus and the Crest Trail. We climbed 1 1/2 miles through forest to Union Gap (the sign was missing), the junction with the Crest trail, and turned left, south, 2 miles to Lake Valhalla.