Blue Lake — Saturday, Oct. 9, 1999

North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20

Fellow larchaholics please note the larch are ""primo-supremo"" on Hwy 20 this weekend. Those of you able to get out the next two weekends, I envy and salute you. The trail is in fine shape. At the meadow opening where the climbers route takes off through the first larch groves is where the snow begins to cover the trail. Look for the thin layer of ice with water worming its way underneath near here. Other than the few shiny ice patches the old compacted snow poses no hazard. High clouds burnt the sky white. The golden light surrounding the hiker as the sun shines through the needles was nowhere to be seen, but the subdued glow of the larch against the snow dusted mountains was still a beautiful sight, worth lugging two camera bodies with lens and tripod. Watch out for photographers!