The hike up to Monogram Lake is both tough and rewarding! Up, up, up, the trail goes. It was rainy all morning. We didn't see too many people on the the trail.
We had planned to go to Lookout Mountain first, but opted for the lake, due to the rain, which we figured would not be good for views. The lake alone was enough for one day. The forest trail is gorgeous--classic North Cascades.
Once we got above the treeline, things really opened up. Expansive, green hillsides. The wildflowers are still in bloom--a great assortment. Some of the patches of lupine and paintbrush were particularly abundant. I could've spent all day eating the blueberries.
We didn't see the lake until we were almost right on top of it, due to clouds and fog. But once things cleared up, it turned out to be really special, with cliffs all around it. I could spend many hours there.
I really liked this hike because it is relatively close (the trailhead is a few miles past Marblemount on the Cascade River Road); the climb is very tough and not to be underestimated, like I kind of did (ugh); the solitude; and the trail above treeline is open and wild.
Comments