Annette Lake

I travel all over the world to hike, and yet -- strangely enough -- too often ignore hikes I've never taken that lie within fifty miles of my own house.

So.  Today's forecast was for warm and sunny weather -- to be followed by showers for the rest of the week.  It sounded like an excellent time to do a short hike, and so I did.  To Annette Lake.  Round trip about 8 miles (or 7½, depending on which guide you read).

The trailhead to Annette Lake is located just off I-90, about three miles this side of Snoqualmie Pass.   When I arrived, about 11 a.m., the fairly large parking lot (which also serves a Forest Service nature walk) was packed, with spill-over parking taking place on the side of the approach road.  I groaned.  But the weather was nice, and I was eager to hike.

The trail gradually climbs through thick forest for about twenty minutes, until it crosses the former right-of-way of the late, lamented Milwaukee Road.  The railway tracks have been removed, and the right-of-way, now called the "Iron Horse Trail," is used as a hiking and bicycle path that runs all the way to Idaho.  The Annette Lake trail crosses the Iron Horse Trail shortly before the latter goes through the 2.3 mile Snoqualmie Tunnel.

The trail to Annette Lake continues, ever more steeply, through forest, with limited views of the surrounding mountains.  The trail is in good condition, although not groomed to perfection like the Mount Si trail I hiked last month.  The trail surface degenerates at times to rough rocks or exposed tree roots that have to be negotiated like stair steps.  But in general, it's a steep but moderate trail.  Coming down, I encountered a kid, about five, rounding a bend on his own, leaving his lagging parents out of sight, some hundred yards behind.  If he can do it, so can you!

 The trail essentially switchbacks its way up the side of the Humpback Creek canyon, the creek being lost from view in the depths of the forest, except near the outset when crossed by a footbridge.  For about the last mile, the trail stops gaining elevation as it traverses a ridge, and then drops slightly into the cirque in which you find Annette Lake. 

It's a pretty lake, with places to sit along its shore and meditate as you munch on your sandwich and apple.  The mountains forming the cirque were still partially covered by snow, and the trail crossed several patches of well-packed snow just before reaching the lake.  There's an impressivel high waterfall on the opposite side of the lake.  A shoreline trail goes part way to the falls, but the steepness of the cliff on that side of the lake precludes you from reaching the falls themselves, at least by trail. 

Despite the appearance of the parking lot, the crowds on the trail weren't bad at all -- certainly nothing like the Mount Si trail.  Lots of couples in their twenties and in their sixties and up.  Lots of groups of women in those age groups hiking together.  Back in my early days, hiking was considered a manly sport, and favored women were allowed to accompany the menfolk.  Times have changed.  Most of the women seemed supremely self-confident, and many of the younger men accompanying them looked as though they wished they were doing something else -- killing zombies on their computers, perhaps?

I passed a Scout troop, in full uniformed regalia, taking a trail-side rest stop, on my way up.  After lunch, as I started back down, I ran into them again as they finally approached the lake.  The scoutmaster, bringing up the rear, rolled his eyes at me and muttered, "Thank god it was only four miles."  It's reassuring, I guess, that kids still are kids.

A short enough hike to get me back to Seattle by mid-afternoon.  Very enjoyable, but my next one will be longer!