Early Tuesday morning, Larry, Priscilla and I packed up the car and drove off to start our adventure in the North Cascades. As we drove up into the mountains, I spotted a touring cyclist with a bob trailer on the back of his bicycle and felt instantly envious! Oh, how I wished I could have ridden up with Camille! We arrived at Rainy Pass and after some debate about which direction to take on our 7-mile Maple Loop/Lake Ann hike, we decided to take the counter-clockwise direction and set off very happily...
The trail was well-maintained and though narrow and brushy in spots, we hiked steadily upward. The air was crisp and fresh, the wooded scenery relaxing and we went on for about a mile. We wondered absently if we might meet any other people on the trail, when suddenly, we heard just ahead of us whooping and hollering. We were surprised to see a party of about six people run towards us on the trail. As they hurried by, they explained that they had met a mother bear with her cub just around the corner of the trail and despite efforts to scare her off, she had held her ground determinedly at which point they decided to beat a hasty retreat. We decided that discretion was indeed the better part of valor and followed their quick march back.
We were disappointed not to be able to hike the trail we'd come especially for, but decided to hike over on the paved path to Rainy Lake instead. It was gorgeous and we sat for a while in the sun before doing some exploration of the trails along the lakeside. On our way back to the car, we passed the other end of the Maple Loop trail and I suggested we check it out. As we'd already done 3 miles, we doubted that we would have time to do the whole loop, bears aside, but thought we'd go and see what we could see and then double back.
The trail on this side of the loop was much rougher and not very maintained. Steep and gnarly was the path. Endless switchbacks were the order of the way.
At first, the hike was heavily forested with a few interesting flowers and fungi.
As we climbed higher, we began to get glimpses of the Cascades through the trees and we struggled upward in search of better views.
we must almost be at the top!
not much farther!
more fungus...moss....lichen...all very interesting!
We reach our first false summit and a friendly bluejay tempts us onward.
surely we're at the top now!
outstanding views!
we surprise a doe on the path and though wary, she munches her dinner as we tiptoe by
gaining ground on the ridge, we peek over the side and get our first glimpse of Lake Ann. We realize the loop takes us all the way around the lake...should we turn back or take our chances with the dark?
we plunge ahead through the treeline
it feels like the Sound of Music, so we sing as we traverse the meadow tops..
would you look at that? wow!
"queen of the mountain" :)
Lake Ann, far below
could it be any more gorgeous? don't think so!
we round the mountain
past Lake Ann...lots of wildflowers here!
view of Lake Ann now from the other side
it gets dark as we hit the last mile, but luckily we've seen it twice already! ...no bears now! several marmots and a dormouse are sighted, so we've definitely been lucky on the wildlife viewing. we have hiked 10 miles and had a marvelous trip. we fall into the car and drive to the Buffalo Run Restaurant for some sustenance before the long trip home. what a day! :)
