A friend and I hiked up to Soda Peaks Lake and Soda Peak on Friday. The trail is in great shape, just a couple of deadfalls. You'll see some huge old-growth trees along the trail, especially just after crossing Trapper Creek. You'll be walking through the forest and suddenly you notice all these huge trees around you. These aren't the biggest cedars and Douglas firs I've seen but they are uncommonly large. You will be impressed and maybe amazed at the size of some of these trees.
Soda Peaks Lake is freezing over with about a 30 foot ring of open water around the edge of the lake. There are really no unobstructed views of the cascade peaks until you reach a ridge high above the lake.
To continue to the ridge and Soda Peak, cross the outlet stream and climb up through the forest through a few switchbacks to a fairly open ridge with views of Mt. Rainier, Mt. Adams, and peeks of Soda Peaks Lake. To get to the peak bushwhack off trail a few hundred feet, following the ridgeline. The peak is treed over but you traverse a lovely meadow just a couple hundred feet from the peak with great views of Mt. Adams. No snow anywhere on the trail. The trip was about 12 miles and 4,100 feet of elevation gain. You can get more information, see more pictures, get a map, and the GPS route at the link to Eyehike listed below.
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