Gloomy or sunny ? Think I like gloomy best.
After stopping at Skykomish Ranger Station to pick up my NW Forest Pass, and finding out Glacier Peak Wilderness had an active burn right where I planned to go - Carne high route to Spider Gap to Buck Creek Pass, I wound up in Alpine Lakes Wilderness. Not bad. Got no complaints. So I headed to Necklace Valley TH to check it out.
The day started completely overcast, steel grey, and progressed from intermittent drizzle to full blown rain. Fantastic ! Fog drifted around higher up, and everything was wet and light was flat. I absolutely loved it. So I decided to stop short of Tank Lakes and camp in a beautiful meadow to enjoy the forest in its gloomy state. I usually head straight for higher ground asap, but I was enchanted by how beautiful it was below. So green and wet. The rest of that day it rained off and on as I enjoyed my immediate vicinity, and the sound of rain hitting the fly of the tent lulled me off to sleep.
Next morning saw cloud cover begin to break, until only the highest ridges remained in shifting clouds. So after poking around lower lakes for a bit, I got high and checked out Tank Lakes area in the afternoon. Also lovely. But I remained camped in my meadow to enjoy one more evening there under now clear skys.
Next morning I moved up to a primo spot at Tank Lakes for the next 2 nights. Wandering first the benches below to the south, and next day traversing over to Chain and La Bohn lakes. I found La Bohn pretty
meh, but Chain Lakes were nice I thought. I came across some adit's along the traverse, they were serious about whatever riches they thought they'd find. Must not of panned out though. And saw military jets bank and invert overhead, and below me ! a couple times. So close I could have seen a pilot had they been facing my way.
All that was left after that was the hike back out in rather harsh, fully sunny conditions. Not near the character or mood of the hike up. Then off to the Whistle Stop (?) in Skykomish for some GREAT food. Fish n' JoJo's. And some fried chicken. Drooooool...
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