Winter has arrived at Lake 22! Opted to do this as an afternoon hike. If you plan to start earlier, be prepared for icy snow on the trail. We reached the trailhead with plenty of parking remaining on a rainy Sunday afternoon.
[Trail] Rainy weather means streams are rushing! Definitely a hike to test out how waterproof (or not) your boots are. Many sections felt like hiking up a stream, so be mindful of slippery rocks.
The slide at ~1.7 miles is straightforward to navigate, with some ropes placed to assist with the steeper grade. Snow started in earnest after 2000 ft and remained fairly slushy. We finally put on microspikes about a mile from the lake, with the rain transitioning to snowfall.
[Lake] Although it was cloudy, the lake was serene and beautiful with Mt Pilchuck looming above the clouds. The lake itself is just starting to freeze over. We followed the boardwalk and some boot tracks ~0.3 miles clockwise before turning back; be prepared to break trail if you intend to go farther. All and all, a beautiful hike to do in the winter (and a great shoulder season hike)!
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