Gem Lake
Summer has come to an
end and those beautiful warm days that we love so much are quickly
passing. While understanding this, I keep searching the weather
forecasts for just one week of an ‘Indian Summer’ that will bring those
‘Dog Days’ of summer back again. Fall is starting to explode all around
us and with one good week of clear weather, I envision beautiful
landscapes that would put my camera into overtime and now, appears to
be that time.
So I pack up the gear and once again I step into Mother Natures
Wonderland for one last hurrah. My next quest will lead me back into
the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area for a multi day trek through Snow and
Gem Lakes.
As I stepped onto the trail under a beautiful sunlit day with bright
blue skies overhead, I proceeded Northwest along the Snow Lake trail.
This trail which is well maintained and groomed, is also very popular
and crowded on weekends. I continued along relatively easy terrain for
the first one and a half miles through secondary growth forest with
some good specimens of old growth still left. Soon the trail opens up
into some meadows which were covered with the vibrant fall colors of
red, orange and yellows. This contrasted with a very bright blue sky,
brought these fall colors out even more vibrant.
Soon I reached a fork in the trail which leads westward to Source Lake,
about a half mile side tour. Feeling a little adventurous, I proceeded
west onto the fork and hiked up to Source Lake. After reaching the
trails end, I was disappointment. Source Lake was more like a pond at
the bottom of a large granite avalanche slide. Only the late spring
season could this lake hold together any potential luster of an alpine
lake.
So I doubled back and picked up the main trail and headed up to Snow
Lake. At the trail intersection the elevation is 3700 feet and the next
leg of the climb will take me up 1100 feet in a half mile. A steep
ascend to say the least. At the Source Lake trail intersection, trail
conditions change significantly. From this point, the trail becomes
more strenuous. But there is still only one way up and that is with the
escalating movement of my feet, one in front of the other.
After I reached the peak and started to descend to Snow Lake, I was
soon rewarded with my first views of this large Alpine Lake, with its
deep blue waters reflecting a very bright blue sky. Also mirrored from
the lakes surface are the towering images of Kaleetan, Chair and Bryant
Peaks. Truly a wilderness sight and a reward well worth its climb.
These peaks are a mountaineering wonderland for those with the
technical skills and experience to make such daring climbs. And
indeed, the peaks are visited by those who dare to do just that.
As I continued along the Snow Lake trail with each step descending me
closer to the lakes shoreline, I pass some very nice campsites along
the way, but not as many as I would have expected for a lake this
large. There is a marked side trail near the south inlet creek which
will gain you access to the lakeshore, and word has it, that this trail
continues along the shoreline, where I imagine there must be many more
campsites. Next time I am on this trail, I will tour the shoreline
trail and see what it has to offer. But, Gem Lake is my destination and
forward I move on.
While traversing the trail and putting my camera to work, I finally
reach the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River Trail at forty one hundred feet.
For those who are venturous enough, this trail will lead you into miles
and miles of back country hiking along the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River
and if the season is right, some of the best fishing around. But it is
not part of my plan, so I continue onward along the north flank of the
Snow Lake trail.
Soon I crossed on a log bridge over Rock Creek, the lakes outlet to the
Snoqualmie River. About one hundred feet from the creek outlet is what
may be the best campsite above the lake. It is nestled upon a flat
ledge large enough for a couple tents, plus gear and with a water
source close by makes the site ideal. It’s best attribute of course
would be the wonderful view of Snow Lake. It’s no Holiday Inn Express,
but it certainly would rank four stars.
From this point on, access to the lake shoreline gets much tougher as
the trail starts to ascend and keeps ascending for two miles till you
reach Gem Lake. On the north end of Snow Lake there is a peninsula
which offers up more good campsites. But reaching it can be a chore.
The lakeside trail that can be reached from the south end of the lake
may lead to the peninsula, which would be the easiest route. At the
northern end of the lake, after climbing for about a mile, there is a
side trail unmarked but maintained which leads downward to the northern
shores of Snow Lake and her coveted peninsula. There better be some
good campsites there, because climbing out would be a chore. But to
ease your mind, I was informed that it is a prized spot.
As I mentioned before, the trail conditions between the Middle Fork
Snoqualmie River Trail and Gem Lake made the rest of my trek a
difficult climb. It is not the elevation gain of nine hundred feet in
two miles, that would seem easy enough. But, it was the trail
conditions it self. The last two miles of the trail becomes very rocky,
muddy and steep. At times it was very strenuous and it just seemed to
make the two mile length, longer with each step. But that’s the nature
of the beast and the only way to conquer the beast is with one laboring
step in front of the other. And with each step, I keep telling
myself, “Gem Lake better be worth all of this effort.”, among other
things. So I climb upward thinking, “When am I going to reach some
level ground?” and then all of a sudden, Gem Lake is in full view and
now I am standing on level ground.
It was easy to see why this lake was named Gem Lake. For sure this lake
is a gem with her crystal clear waters visible to with in thirty feet
of her depths. With Wright Mountain towering above her, viewing itself
from the lakes reflective surface. You add to all of this, the vibrant
colors of Autumn painted along the surrounding mountainsides and you
have a awe inspiring vista that makes you want to stay. You have Gem
Lake.
Once arriving at Gem Lake the trail splits. To the right the main trail
circles the lake on its east and north shore, finally ascending through
a saddle and eventually ending at the Wildcat Lakes about two miles
northwest. On the left side of the fork, the unmaintained trail circles
the lake along the lakes opposite shore. There are some nice campsites
along the south and southwest side of the lake. On the west side of Gem
Lake, there is a small peninsula which appeared to be a good place to
hang ones hat. So I stepped along the trail crossing the creek outlet
and carefully traversing the rock slide avalanche area. Afterwards I
ascended and crossed the narrow six inch pathways hugging two thirty
foot cliffs above the waters surface. Next, another granite avalanche
slide to clear and I arrived at the peninsula, only to find out that it
was not suitable for a campsite. To bad, that would have been a great
location. So I sat and had a snack, picked up my pack and traversed
back along the same route.
I spent the next hour exploring the lake area for the most ideal
campsite and finally settled in on a bluff on the south side of
the lake with Wright Mountain towering above me and her granite,
evergreen and autumn colors painted all along her mountainside. In
front of me, crystal clear Gem Lake. With night soon approaching and my
stomach signaling ‘supper time’, I set up camp and settled down to a
hot meal of lasagna and a picture perfect view; as I watched the sun
settle behind the mountain cliffs. It really does not get much better
then that.
After supper I settled back and watched the sunset over the mountain
ridges through a blue clear sky. It was nice. Not a blemish in the sky,
no wind and the mountain temperatures up. Tonight I will sleep with out
the aid of a rain flap covering my tent. As the nights blanket covered
the daylight and the first stars became bright, I laid inside my wooly
warm sleeping bag staring up into the vast heavens of our universe,
wondering if others are out there staring back at me. It would be an
awful waste of space if it is just us, and only us. I continued
watching the night time entertainment back dropped against a crystal
clear sky and a forest that was so very, very silent.
About an hour after the darkness had painted the sky, a full moon climb
over the mountains in the east rising higher into the heavens, as it
rained its light upon the earths surface. It was bright, very bright
and full. Its light reflected from our own star, cascaded an even
blanket over the earths surface as far as I could see. Clearly all of
the lake and mountain sides were visible, almost as if it were
daylight. No artificial light will be needed in this moonlight, not
tonight. Laying in awe of the splendor before my eyes, I surrendered to
the grips of sleep.
Morning arose soon enough as it always does and as I crawled out of my
cocoon. I was surprised to see overcast skies and the cat like feet of
fog creeping in from the mountainsides. Soon the fog covered the whole
lake and blanketed my entire view, except for the fogs silent cascading
over terra firma. This picturesque site continued through out the
morning and reminded me of the not exact science of weather
forecasting. I had decided to stay an extra day in hopes that the fog
would clear up and I would be given another opportunity to explore the
lakes surroundings and exercise my cameras shutter. I studied the lake
yesterday at sunset for evidence of any fish activity. I saw none. Not
even when the bugs were swarming over the lakes surface at sunset. But,
I might give it a try later.
Mid afternoon rolled around and the sun finally evaporated the moist
gray blanket of fog that had covered my surroundings. The warming
radiant sun heated the environment up quickly and it felt good. I
picked up my camera and stepped onto the trail to explore the north and
east shores of a gem of a lake. It was hard to hike the trail with all
the vibrant fall colors showing off there own glory. I find myself
walking twenty or thirty feet, stopping and taking in the vistas and
then walking another twenty or thirty feet. Every now and again,
I would bring the camera up to my eyes and shoot this angle or that
angle. It made no difference, it was beautiful every direction I
turned. I also found a couple other campsites
nestled up along the mountainside which also offer up some nice vistas.
While sitting on a boulder enjoying the sites, I noticed a blue colored
object nestled under a group of small trees. I thought, “That’s odd.”,
and stepped forward to check it out. Low and behold, it was a cache of
food. A quart of peanut butter, cans of tuna fish, soup and clam
chowder. I thought, “That’s a lot of extra weight to be carrying in.”
But, more likely it was carried in by pack animals. There has been some
trail maintenance work in progress above Gem Lake in the region of the
Wildcats. I figured it was stashed there by the crew workers. So I left
the cache of food alone and headed off to the north shores of the lake.
After completing my exploration, I returned to my little wilderness
homestead. I had at that time concluded that I had the best campsite
along the lake, in terms of size and vistas. You know the old saying,
‘location, location, location’. Near to my camp there is a fallen log
which offers up some splendid views of the canyon valley gorge below
me. Sitting there on the log while enjoying the sun warming my back, I
watched as the thick ladened fog gave up its mask over the canyon
below.
Whenever I head out into this wonderland, I look forward to the rewards
of solitude that the wilderness can provide. The easing of the mental
inputs that our minds must process each day. Out here the only mental
process’s are of the trail and the environment that the trail weaves
you through. Once you surrender yourself to it, the environment becomes
inspiring and inspiration seems to come easy. But on this day, I felt
as if I was approaching a writers block. That I would not be able to
bring alive the adventure that this wilderness has given me. That maybe
I would not be able to script pages with the language that is required
to capture your attention and fill your minds eye with the images of
the wonderment that is before me. While I was warming myself on this
fallen log, I turned my head and gazed out onto the colors of the Fall
season that I had been admiring for many hours now. Then it hit me in a
gentle way. Inspiration for a new poem. I immediately jotted it down.
Just goes to prove, inspiration is all around us.
PLANT
CYCLE
During
the Spring I come to life, While my branches bud forth.
Summer
arrives and I have reached the seasons maturity,
For
all to look upon and admire.
But
during the Fall, The life blood of my limbs is being choked.
And
all who come to see, view in awe.
During
the Winter, I succumb to seasons death.
It is late afternoon and my brief period of blue skies and warm
sunshine have passed. In its place, fog has once again cascaded its
self over the mountain tops and pulled its blanket over the lakes
surface. During the last hour of my brief warming period I had the
opportunity to witness a pair of hikers climbing the summit of Wright
Mountain, 5430 feet. Quite a jaunt I must say. With the sure footing of
a mountain goat, they ascended its peak and stood atop its small dome.
It would have been a great place for a picnic. The views overlooking
Gem Lake, the canyon gorge and the other neighboring mountain peaks
would have been spectacular. But time was running short with these
mountaineers as the fog was starting its descent into the lake basin.
They made it passed my campsite just in time.
There is a song and its lyrics read, “It’s a beautiful morning.”, but
not here. It is forty degrees and the fog is laid in as thick as pea
soup. The lake basin and her surrounding mountains with there towering
cliffs are fully frothed. Visibility is about twenty feet and I don’t
know how long it will take our medium star to evaporate this soup like
fog. But if it is a repeat of yesterday, I don’t believe I will wait
that long to find out.
I thought last night of venturing up into the Wildcats which boast of
two more awe inspiring lakes. There is trail evolution work going on,
where crews are blasting, chipping and cutting there a way into the
Wildcats. Word has it that the trail is in terrible shape. Muddy,
rocky, unstable and possibly dangerous in some parts. There are also
some delays as the trail blazers blast and clear away debris. So I
think I will just pass up that leg of the trek and capture it at some
other time. So with that decision made, I prepared my last breakfast of
dried cereal with dehydrated fruit and broke camp for my descent off
the mountain.
Wow! You should see this now. Three hours later and it is a different
morning. The mornings froth has burned off rather quickly and left in
its place, the masterpiece of Gem Lake. Above the lake, the clear blue
skies have spread open the fog like quilt that had covered its blue
clarity, leaving the promise of one more summer like day. Now I would
have to say, “It’s a beautiful morning.”, and almost a shame to leave,
even though the fog is still thick and heavy in the lower elevations.
And with this final vision leaving its imprint in my mind, I packed up
my gear, tossed it onto my back and stepped onto the trail and headed
onward into the canyon gorge. The temperatures were cool this morning
as I traversed the trail. This will certainly be helpful while carrying
this load on my back. Visibility is about thirty feet, so spotting the
trail will not be difficult. But, navigating the rocky and muddy trail
conditions was as difficult as ascending the trail. The biggest
blessing was the cool temperatures and the moisture in the air that the
fog had laid about. It helped keep my core temperature down and my
descent speed up.
When I finally came out of the canyon gorge and reached the Snow Lake
basin, fog had its firm grip on the lake and all of mountain
surroundings. It was much more dense then previously and visibility had
been cut to about twenty feet. It looked as if it would remain well
into the afternoon. There I go again, weather forecasting. So I
continued my descent along the Snow Lake basin trail, crossed Rock
Creek and started my climb up over the mountain saddle east of Chair
Peak. From there the trail would lead to Alpental Meadows just east of
Denny Mountain.
When I reached the top of the saddle south of Snow Lake, I took a break
and watched our sun burn off the fogs thick blanket that had hovered
Snow Lake keeping captive her natural beauty. Streaming vertical
fingers were being pulled from the fogs cover and evaporated as it
climbed higher in altitude. I was under a bright sunlit blue sky
watching the moisture leiden dark gray fog change its graying contrast
to a snow white color as the sun pulled its fingers upward for
evaporation. Folks heading up this trail are going to enjoy a nice
afternoon.
I finally completed my descent into the Alpental Meadows and made
preparations to reenter the so called ‘Real World’. It is hard pulling
yourself out of a wilderness environment, especially one that was so
full of color and serene beauty. It always seems so temporary. When I
am there, it is of course so very real. But when I leave, I bring with
me not only the memories, but the cinematic images that your minds eye
captures for you. Those same images that tell me that this wilderness
is important. That it is part of the whole evolutionary cycle of
survival. We need it and she needs caretakers. Otherwise, stewards of
Mother Natures Wonderland. So if your are looking for a gem of a trek
into the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area, then let Gem Lake be your focus
and Snow Lake your Trail.
To
start your adventure just link
yourself via the links listed below.
Gem Lake via the Snow Lake Trail - Directions
Gem Lake via Snow Lake Trail - Maps
Gem Lake and Snow Lake - Pictures