Black Lake, Lake Creek — Thursday, Jul. 3, 2014

North Cascades > Pasayten

Directions to the TH are good in Craig Romano's "Day Hiking North Cascades". The trail begins in a forest untouched by the 2003 wildfire that blackened most of the area. In 0.4 mile you enter the Pasayten Wilderness and begin walking in a blackened landscape which provides very little shade on a hot day like today! The trail climbs gradually and in a long 4 miles reaches Black Lake. The fireweed adds beauty to the blackened trees and stumps. Aspen will be beautiful in the fall. Twin flowers, scarlet gilia, yarrow, tiger lilies, columbine and spreading dogbane were some of the other flowers blooming. About 1/3 mile from the lake there was water on the trail which the average hiker can traverse by walking a log, but I stopped here while Bob continued to the lake.