Day 5
Saturday September 19, 2020
Two days ago, the weather guessers were calling for rain to begin after midnight and continue through the day. Sucks for hiking, but it would help clear some of the particulate out of the air from the smoke.
Fully expecting to hear the sound of rain when I woke, you can imagine how I felt hearing…nothing. The forecast had changed again. The chance of rain started going up significantly around noon.
There were a few options for half day trails. Avalanche Lake seemed the perfect fit. The trailhead is a five minute drive from the motel. The trail to the lake is two and a half miles each way, a bit over three if you continue to the other side.
It wasn’t quite first light yet when I parked the car and started up the trail. I’ve done this one before. It may be two miles, but it’s almost all a steady incline. It’s mostly just a hilly, earthen trail though.
Considering the early light and the incentive not to get caught in the rain, I made minimal stops along the way, and tried to set an aggressive pace. Still, I was surprised to find I had made it to the lake in an hour.
On a clear days, the clarity and stillness of the water can make for some really nice pictures. In the early, smoky light, not so much.
But, I continued to the back of the lake anyway. While I was standing by the far end of the lake, I heard a rustle in the bushes behind me. It turned out to be a hiker who had passed me on the way up. There’s no official trail back to the waterfalls and she had been exploring to no avail. Like me, she had started early to beat the rain.
So, how popular is this trail?
Avalanche Creek runs along much of the trail. Down towards the bottom, it’s cut some interesting shapes into the rock.
The lake trail ends at a junction with the elevated Trail of the Cedars. This takes your back around to the parking lot.
The smoky haze hanging over McDonald Lake...
By early afternoon, it seemed clear the rain wasn’t coming as expected. The newest forecast was now saying evening. I really didn’t want to commit to a longer trail, and didn’t want to drive too far. The perfect solution was McDonald Falls. From the west side, it’s a relaxing walk through the forest to the falls.
From a little further up the trail, I just loved the colors in the rock.
There’s a pullout along the Going to the Sun Road with an overlook and a social trail(not one created or maintained by the Park Service) down to the water. That’s where I met a guy who didn’t learn a lesson most of us did as kids. He was trying to get the perfect shot, got too close to the edge and slipped on the wet surface. When I met him, his wife and a few others had just helped him climb out of the water. So remember, wet surfaces can be slick. Keep your feet on the dry spots.
Coming Up,
Another Lesson Learned
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