Green Mountain — Friday, Jun. 29, 2001

North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway

Have not been here in for about a year and a half. But always a great destination. The road was okay but there are some jolting potholes and some definite irregularities but passenger cars can manage it. The trail is fine and snow free until the level area just before the lakes. Emerging from the forest and eyeballing the incredibly lush green meadows was invigorating. Columbine, lupine, paintbrush, phlox and others along the route. Snow down to the lake area. We took the direct route up and the snow gets a bit thin. So we approached the lookout (still closed) from the left. Totally new creosote smelling planking on the deck. We followed others' lead and followed the trail down but it still is at least half under snow. High clouds made it less than crystaline but still a wonderful day to be out in the mountains. Oh, yeah, the state patrol had I-5 well-covered on the drive out of Seattle this morning.