Glacier Peak
Area - took of to do some last minute research on snowshoe routes for a new book. Drove up to the Stevens Pass area Tuesday afternoon to survey a slew of trailheads, then spent the night at the pass for an early-morning start up the SKyline Ridge route. The skies were clear at dawn, but as the sun rose, did the fog. A crimson morning sky slowly faded to gray as the clouds settled on the peaks, and snow started to flutter in the air. The route up to Skyline Lake begins on the north side of the highway. Hike up the wide road past the DOT building a a few cabins. A snowcat track follows the road as it loops east up the slope, but snowshoers should abandoned the road as soon as they reach the first clearing. Turn and hike straight up the slope, climbing steeply through open meadows with wonderful views south (when the clouds part). The road loops back across the open slope about a mile up, but stay to the left of it and it will soon bank back to the right away from your route. The slope tapers off to a gentle climb and the forest thickens around you as you approach an old weather station/lookout tower. From here, the road slants off into the trees on the right. Follow it for a few hundred yards to get up a short, steep slope, then angle off to the left again and cross tree-studded meadows to a wide slope on the north side of Skylien Ridge. THe lake is nestled below the ridge line, with nice views of the ridge and south to the Alpine Lakes Wilderness peaks. The distant views blcoked by the low clouds and swirling fog, but a squadron of Camprobber Jays (aka Whiskey Jacks) buzzed me relentlessly until I surrendered. As a history buff, I know all to well that 'to the victors go the spoils' so I graciously accepted my defeat and passed out my granola to the victorious air force. Further adventures can be had by hiking east over the crest of the ridge then turning left and following the ridge line north toward Lake Valhalla. This should only be done, though, when avalanche dangers are LOW.