I have been contemplating dragging my ankles, knees and hips and lower back to Lake 22 for a while now. Put the back out about two months ago and PT has helped but anticipating the rocky and "rooty" Lake 22 trail kept it hovering on the list but "maybe next week!"
Yesterday was the day. I also am probably in the worst shape I've been in and add in the heat and it was a real challenge for this old guy. I started hiking just about 7:40am. There was obviously plenty of parking at that hour on a mid-week day. Meandered to the bridge and then climbed some of those forest switchbacks. (meandering to the bridge on the way back down seemed to take forever!). The slide area was interesting as there are two ways to climb past it. I went straight and while there was a large step, there was a good handle provided by a log. The other route was a muddy mangle. (another aside, on the way down, I bypassed those two routes, staying on the trail where I encountered the huge trunk and no way past it - back up the trail to my preferred up route).
The rocky, sunny switchbacks were not too hot on the way up and I finally made it to the lake and proceeded to navigate clockwise to the far end where I slowly ate lunch and tried recovering my energy.
After lunch it was a slow, very slow trek back out. Lots and lots and lots of hikers coming up. The rocks on the sunny switchbacks were tedious down. Those on the way up were seeking whatever shade existed along those switchbacks.
Back in the forest I saw a couple and the woman had this glorious bouquet of flowers. I asked what the occasion was - their wedding planned later in the day at the lake. I congratulated them. Further down the trail some guy was hiking up with a guitar. Yup, he was part of the band. It was a splendid day for a wedding at spectacular Lake 22.
I did finally make it to the car and the drive home to Seattle was smooth and uneventful.
Great, but for this guy, tiring day for the Lake 22 hike.
Advice, with the predicted heat, get an early start. Those switchbacks can be brutal.
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