Kim, Amanda, Art and I went up to Snoqualmie pass this Saturday to snowshoe around. I started to get worried on the drive up that there would be no snow, but fortunately there was just above the pass elevation level.
We parked in the Alpental lot and began up the Snow Lake trail. Snow Lake is the largest of the alpine lakes in Alpine Lakes Winderness area of Snoqualmie Pass. The lake itself is more than one mile long and is located at an elevation of 4000 feet. Snow Lake is surrounded by Wright Mountain (5500 feet), Kaleetan Peak (6259 feet), and Chair Peak (6238 feet).
The snow wasn’t very good to start and snowshoes were more of a hinderance than a help since there were so many stream crossings. Up near the top though the snow was deeper and the sun was softening the snow so that I sank a lot without snowshoes. Art and Amanda brought their dog Gretchan along, and the little sharpei actually seemed to like the snow. I think we were all worried she would have to be carried or towed the whole way in a sled.
It took us a few hours to reach the lake, where we ate lunch. Some jays were really bold and were landing on people’s fingers to get food. Gretchan didn’t want to get back up after lunch and being wrapped up in a blanket.
On the way down Kim and I made use of the sled that Art had brought for Gretchan. It was a lot of fun and we looked like penguins shooting down a really small luge.