Independence and North Lakes — Saturday, Jul. 2, 2005

North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway

What would be more appropriate than hiking to Independence Lake this 4th. of July weekend? Head out of Granite Falls on the Mt. Loop Highway about 25.3 miles. Turn Left onto Coal Lake Road #4060 just after the Big Four Ice Caves Picnic area. The 4.7 mile Coal Lake Road was steep and rather rocky but passable in a family car if you drive slow. The road side is lined with lots of blooming flowers, Fox Gloves, White Daisies and a few tiger lilies. If you look to the South about 1/2 way up you can see Big Four MT. and the remaining Ice Cave. A rest room with parking is at Coal Lake just a short distance before the trailhead, keep on driving if you don't need the pit stop. A nice 1 mile walk thru the cool woods to Independence Lake. The trail was wet with slippery roots and rocks so having good hiking boots and hiking poles very helpful. Lots of ferns along the trail with Bunchberries, Queens Cup, Delvils Club, False Lily of the valley and Foam Flowers blooming. The Lake water was so clear and Aqua in color, lined with green trees. What a sight to see before heading up the steep switchbacks up the ridge towards North Lake. The steep hillsides were alive with so many Wild Flowers in Full bloom. Red columbine,Star Flowers, Cow Parsnips, Yellow Daisy, MT. Heliotrope, Canadian Thistle, Purple Lupines and Bleeding Hearts just to name a few. The huge Alaksa cedar about 1/2 way up is a great photo stop, just to catch your breath and enjoy the view. They just brushed the trail in the woods and up the ridge to the top. But once you start going down the other side to the tarns and North Lake the Heathers and small trees will rip your legs raw if you wear shorts and get you wet if it rains. But don't worry the pink and white Heather and Marsh Mariglods will pick up your spirits unless you dally too long and the bugs give you a bite. Don't forget your bug juice here or you'll be sorry. We barely had time to take a few photos of MT. Pugh and the Magnificent Glacier Peak before running down the trail to North Lake. The Lake views just kept getting better and better on the way down. Stop quickly and take a few photos of the small tarns, creeks full of waterfalls and the Heathers. When we finally arrived at North Lake what a great view! No campsites here on the Lake shore but some are up at the tarns. OH! OUCH! Not with the BUGS!!! AH! The view of Glacier Peak at Sunrise and Sunset! I may have to try sometime to fend off the little beasts for that. We had the lake to ourselves all afternoon, only the fish jumping, bees buzzing, birds chirping and a Hawk circling for his lunch. We lingered on the shoreline eating and relaxing in the partly cloudy sunshine. Surprise! There were no bitting Bugs here at all, just buzzing bees on all the flowers. It was so peaceful! No Fireworks, blasting POP! POP! BANG!!!! Alas our sweet time was up and we had to go, :( to climb the steep trail up and out of Heaven on Earth and back to the Real World :( But not with out a full roll of film and many digital photos to last us till our next time we venture out into the woods. :) We passed only a few hikers on the trail today and one tent of campers at Independence Lake, fishing for their dinner. a 7 mile round trip with about 8 hours on the trail taking photos and relaxing time at the Lakes. with a 1,500 foot elevation Gain in and a 900 foot gain on the way out.