Twin Lakes (Wenatchee) — Saturday, Aug. 16, 1997

Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - East

Awoke before the sun peaked over the mountains and even though there were a half dozen other campsites at Silver Lake everyone else was still asleep so I had the place to myself. Sunrise provided some great photo ops and provides its own explanation for the naming of Silvertip Peak. The shallowness of Silver Lake creates a perfect mirror in the morning stillness. Had breakfast, broke camp and headed for Twin Lakes. Just out of Silver Lake take a right at Poodle Dog Pass on trail 708A. I am seriously considering the purchase of some reading glasses. When I looked at my GT map it sure looked like this trail would be a lesser incline than that going to Silver Lake. Maybe I was just tired, the map only shows a 1000' gain over 3 miles, it seemed more like 1000' per mile. The book says 1500' up and down over 2.5 miles. You will have to take this (trail') and judge for yourself. It is definitely a good workout and thats part of what I'm here for. This is my last training hike before tackling Rainier next week. At 5400' you reach the overlook above the lakes - beautiful. Twin Lakes by contrast to Silver Lake are deep which gives them a deep blue-green color that is magnificently alluring. Even faced with the obviously steep descent of 700' to the lakeshore you are compelled to do just that. What' No I'm not stupid, I left my pack at the top and descended with my camera and a makeshift satchel for the barest of essentials. Other than a father and son I met on the trail I saw only 6 people camped at the lakes. I will find a time to return and camp here. Its a beautiful site and just hard enough to get to to keep it that way for some time to come, I hope. Couldn't stay as long as I would have liked as I knew I had a good 9 miles to hoof it back to Barlow Pass. All in all I got in a good 14 miles on Sunday and a total of 20+ for the weekend. Am I ready for Rainier' I'll let you know. Tune in next week- same time - same channel, when we'll hear Jim say - ""Ouch! Do all Ouch! rental boots Ouch! feel like this'