Since this hike at the beginning of October, Treen has passed away. I thought about not writing about Treen's last adventures, but the outpouring of support after she died convinced me to share her love of the outdoors.
You know how there are those trips you have to do because they are the quintessential experience? Well, this was one of those. This was the required Larch Trip in the North Cascades. Sure, we've done larch trips in the past, but those weren't the trip everybody talks about. This one was Blue Lake and it's one of the best.
One of the reasons we hadn't visited before was because it's a long drive from home. Multiple hours on the road for just a short hike, no matter how wonderful, is a hard sell. However, we were already nearby after spending the weekend fishing so it was a much, much shorter drive. We rolled into the trailhead to grab the last parking spot and gear up for the walk.
The trail winds through the woods for a ways with little to see. They're nice trees and all, but they're not larches and there are no views of the jagged peaks of the North Cascades so it was just a matter of putting in the miles.
When we broke out of the trees we could see the beginning of the larch area and mountains all around. Pretty soon we were surrounded by the golden conifers. While blue skies and more snow on the ground would have made it perfect, the trees shined with an inner light that had us stopping frequently to take pictures.
By the time we got to the lake there was a thin dusting of snow on the ground that contrasted nicely with the trees and rocks of the surrounding mountains. Like everyone else, we made our way to the main viewpoint to ooh and ah at the lake. It was perfectly still so when we got our chance for a people-free photo it looked like a mirror.
Clara, Treen, and I left Lilly and Henry there and followed the "Tarn Loop" trail. It was short and muddy, but left the crowds behind. Some of the most vibrant trees were tucked away on this short loop and they felt extra special knowing not everyone was seeing them.
But remember that long drive that had prevented us from visiting before? Now it was looming ahead of us along with school and work in less than 24 hours. We hiked back, watching the larches slowly fade away until we were once again hiking just through a regular forest to get to the car.
So next time you hear about that one hike that everyone does don't dismiss it. Check it out and see why everyone raves about it. After all, the special hikes are special for a reason.
