Читать книгу Day & Section Hikes Pacific Crest Trail: Washington - Adrienne Schaefer - Страница 21

3 Lemei Lake

SCENERY:

TRAIL CONDITION:

CHILDREN:

DIFFICULTY:

SOLITUDE:

DISTANCE: 12.5 miles

HIKING TIME: 6–7 hours or overnight

GREEN TRAILS MAP: Indian Heaven 365S

OUTSTANDING FEATURES: Grassy meadows to lounge around in, endless fields of huckleberries, multiple lakes to laze away the afternoon, and a variety of hiking options

PANORAMIC VIEWS, WIDE-OPEN FIELDS, and a chance to stand on top of something are usually among my requirements for a good hike. So, when I stumbled across the Indian Heaven Wilderness, I have to admit I was skeptical; how interesting could a series of lakes through the woods really be? But this impressive scenery will keep the most extreme of alpine enthusiasts mesmerized. This hike is best done late summer or early fall, when the berries are ripe, the fields are bursting with color, and the mosquitoes are minimal.

One of the many quiet meadows along the Lemei Lake Loop

From the pullout, head south (across the road) to the trailhead, which is well established and easy to find. The trail is flat at the start and almost immediately enters the Indian Heaven Wilderness, an area rich in natural resources. Abundant berries, wild game, and fish have brought a number of American Indian tribes to this area for nearly 10,000 years. Many Indians continue to uphold their traditions in the Sawtooth Huckleberry Fields, which are some of the most productive huckleberry fields in the Northwest. Situated just east of Forest Road 24, parts of the fields are designated for exclusive use by the Yakama Nation through a handshake agreement with the U.S. Forest Service in 1932. As you’ll probably notice on the hike to Placid Lake, many of the berries here are harvested as well. Not to worry, the entire hike is laden with a variety of huckleberry bushes, providing ample opportunities to sample one of nature’s greatest treats.

After a pleasant 0.5-mile stroll through a large stand of timber, you reach the shallow waters of Placid Lake. The gentle descent is a good warm-up for the 1,000-foot climb from the lake up to the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). Continue along the trail as it skirts just up from the southern shore of the lake, and in a short distance you reach a marked junction. Veer left, as the marker indicates, along Trail 29. The path quickly climbs above the lake, and in less than 0.5 mile, you reach the junction for Chenamus Lake (Trail 29A). Continue heading east on Trail 29.

From the junction, the trail makes a steady climb through a beautiful forest, alive with an assortment of mushrooms, moss-covered trees, and small flowers. At 1.5 miles, the trail reaches a bench that rises above Placid Lake’s inlet. By midsummer, the inlet looks more like a small meadow than a flowing creek. In another 0.3 mile, the trail passes a group of moss-covered boulders that mark the outlet of a tiny, unnamed pond, one of many in this area. Then it wraps around the pond and drops into a shrubby meadow. A few hundred more feet and you reach a lush grass meadow, a great spot to take a break late in summer or fall, when the ground is dry and the bugs are gone.

A striking view of Mount St. Helens

Beyond the meadow, the trail continues east-northeast. Just as the thought “Are we there yet?” begins to cross your mind, the trail crosses the top of a boulder field, where you’re rewarded with a stunning view of the ashy flanks of Mount St. Helens. Take a moment to enjoy the image, as it’s the only time you’ll see the mystical volcano from the trail. From here, it’s only a short distance before the trail tops out on a ridge, crossing an open meadow that offers views of Bird Mountain’s forested slopes.