East Bank Ross Lake — Tuesday, Apr. 25, 2000

North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20

Wanted to try something snowfree that I could put a few miles into so I decided the East Bank trail was a likely candidate. Got a late start, 12:30, So I didn’t make it too Lightning Creek as I planned. I stayed at Devils Junction instead, arriving 6:30 or so. Never seen a single soul and the weather was sunny and warm. The next morning was just as beautiful. I left camp at about 8:00 and started walking towards Lightning Creek. Lots of scenery once you come out of the woods along this stretch. Two spectacular bridges crossing Devils and Lightning creeks. Thought the Park service really had a sense of humor when I read the sign “no jumping from bridge” into a puddle of water from maybe 50-75 ft. But than I thought that once they add the water to the lake it might be sort of fun! Got to lightning Creek at 10:30 and walked a ways past towards Deer Lick camp. By than the weather report was coming true and giant black clouds were blowing in. I had a hard time deciding on whether I still wanted to spend a second night. I always do. So I decided to head back. About rainbow camp is when I noticed I had a Tic problem. Plucked off four and several more still looking for a place. Paid a lot more attention to this minor detail the rest of the way. Arrived back at the highway at 6:30. Totally soaked from walking the last hour and half in heavy rain and wind. Lots of blowdowns, all easy to step over but a couple. These were even not too hard to get around. About the only discouraging thing is all the air traffic that is always around Ross Lake. The last three times I was there this year there has been this helicopter. Very irritating.