Caveats on all the standard statements above, but this is still the gorgeous hike it has always been. Road is Hwy 20, which was closed EAST of Washington pass by slides at the hairpin turn below the Liberty Bell. Check WDOT for updates. Bugs were heinous while standing still in the parking lot, but disappeared once I got past Lake Ann (and appeared only if I stopped). (Lake Ann is a pleasant lake if you are looking for additional steps and have no time constraints, but not the striking beauty of Blue Lake. Trail to Ann was muddy. The water color is more beautiful when viewed from above on the trail.)
Snow exists on the trail, but usually patches about 10 yards only. I was thanked by hikers behind me for kicking steps into one patch, but trail running shoes would suffice. A number of tree falls block the trail, one obliterated the trail about a mile above the Rainy Lake parking lot on my descent.
Note that I arrived on THURSDAY morning about 7:30; 2 cars were parked in the lot and 2 other cars (plus me) unloading. By 12:15 parking was on the road. Blue Lake was also parking on the highway at 12:30. Weekends will be packed. This also argues for the counter-clockwise rotation to reduce head-on meetings on your descent. Start early if you can!
Comments
Ballard Ambler on Heather - Maple Pass Loop
This hike has become so popular in the past few years, I worry that the crush of people will trample the wildflowers and other vegetation -- if it hasn't happened already. Just for contrast: I first hiked it with a friend in August 1986. He was in his 70's at the time. He didn't want to loop because he worried the Rainy Lake side would be too hard on his knees. We didn't see anyone that midweek day. I returned in early August 1987, hoping to get wildflower photos; I did the loop counterclockwise. I saw only two others -- weekday, again. Had a leisurely lunch at Maple Pass and did photograph wildflowers in bloom. Didn't see this hike again till October 2014, when I "larch marched." I hiked clockwise that time. More people; maybe 25 to 50 all day, scattered along the paths. My photos from the pass don't show anyone! I was sad to see the hordes pictured in Terradactyl's TR from August 2020. Somewhere in those 6 years, social media must have featured this trail. I hope the precious vegetation hasn't been trampled out of existence. Some relatively rare plants grow up there, I think.
Posted by:
Ballard Ambler on Jul 09, 2021 04:17 PM