Heather Lake — Tuesday, Sep. 5, 2023

This was George's 70th anniversary hike to Heather Lake. He had first hiked to the lake with his dad Bill way back in 1953 at age 4. Back then the hike was a little shorter, 1.5 miles to the lake instead of 2 miles today. The trailhead was in a different location in '53. Ernie and Jan joined me on today's hike. When we turned off the Mountain Loop Highway on to FS Road 42 (aka Mt. Pilchuck Road) and we saw that the road had been improved as the potholes were missing. Only a few vehicles at the parking lot we arrived. The gate is still closed by the parking lot to continue driving up to the Mt. Pilchuck trailhead. This road has been closed all summer so the road could be repaired at a cost of about $500K.

After gearing up, we started up the trail to the lake in the second growth conifer forest. There a many huge old growth Red Cedar stumps to see along the way. Part way up the trail is on an old logging road built in 1948 when the area was logged off. The trail turns left following the logging road a short distance, then turns left again as it begins switch backing up the hill side. This is where the original trailhead was located. We were now on the trail built back in 1935. You can see how the 88-year-old trail is worn out with all the rocks and roots you have to hike. No smooth surface on this trail. Plus a few tricky spots to get through. While hiking through the old growth forest we came to a long cedar planked bridge. Some of the planks are missing, so this bridge needs some repair. Further up the hill we came to the big conifer tree that had fallen over the trail. Someone had cut a notch in the tree to get over it or you can go around the huge root wad while staying out of the mud.

A little more up and then down brought us the junction for the 0.7-mile loop trail around the lake. We went clockwise and checked out the side trails along the way that go down to the lake shore. Heather Lake is 17.5 acres and 12 feet deep. It was originally named Thetcher Lake when discovered in 1917 and renamed Heather Lake in 1935. At the south end of the lake is a nice board walk over the wetlands with nice views of the cirque and lake. We found some flat rocks for our lunch time benches with a view of the lake. It was very quiet with only the sound of a nearby waterfall. After eating were continued our hike around the lake. We then came to a huge flat-topped boulder where a few families with children were having lunch. It was the kids hike before school started the next day. We went by some camp sites along the lake and two more boardwalks. After crossing the bridge over Heather Creek, we finished the loop part of our hike. Then it was back down the rocky-rooty trail to the parking lot to finish George's 70th anniversary hike to Heather Lake.

We met several other hikers on our trip. Boots and trekking poles are good for this trail. Some people just wore shoes or sandals. We did not see any wildlife or bugs. If you were going to take someone on their very first hike, I would pick another trail than this one. This hike is better to do in the winter as a snowshoe trip when the trail is covered in snow with several feet of the white stuff over the roots and rocks. George has done this several times over the years. This hike in 1953 started George on a lifetime of outdoor adventures.