Lake Dorothy - Lake Bear - Lake Deer, Snoqualmie Lake — Monday, Jul. 8, 2002

Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West

(Note: This may actually be Trail #1072. I used the trailhead off Highway 2. #1002 may be the trail that begins on the Taylor River Road, near North Bend) Having been raised in another part of the country, it still strikes me funny that here it is, July. Its summer. I'm comfortably attired in shorts and a short sleeve shirt and taking a snapshot of a peaceful lake. But I'm wearing snowshoes and the lake is completely frozen over. Ahhh. . . .hiking in The Cascades! The hike past lakes Dorothy, Bear and Deer on the way to Snoqualmie Lake is a pretty good ankle conditioner. The trail is populated with rocks and roots with a pleasant topping of mud above Lake Dorothy. The trail is not too difficult in that there is less than 2000 feet in general elevation gain and that gain is spread over a long stretch, topping out at about 3800 feet. The scenery all along the way is wonderful with rocky peaks, raging rivers and creeks and lots of lakeshore to view. Lots of campers on pretty and still Lake Dorothy and the long walk along its eastern shore was almost like a stroll through a neighborhood with the residents coming out on their porches to say hello. The climb up to Bear Lake seems to have discouraged most hikers today and at the saddle between the lakes there was plenty of snow. Bear Lake is still almost completely frozen over and the snow covers the banks. It begins to thin out as you walk beside Bear Lake approaching Deer Lake which is now about half frozen The snow gets patchier here and by the time you reach the saddle overlooking Snoqualmie Lake 300 feet down, the snow is mostly gone. The shores around Snoqualmie Lake had only tiny patches os snow. The books indicate that the round trip to Snoqualmie Lake is 13 miles, but it felt more like 15 or 16. The views all along the way are splendid and when the day is as beautiful as today was, it is a perfect, tranquil hike. A few minor blowdowns, non-biting bugs at Lake Dorothy and lots of mud and water over the trail because the snow is melting fast.