The weather report isn’t so promising for water fun this weekend.  Here is a quick list of suggested hikes

1:  Kid Friendly Hikes in order of difficulty
Hidden Lake:  classic first kids hike trail head off Cedar Brae, before you get to Glacier View Campground 1 mile
Twin Lakes: backside via road to Trinity and FS 6300 2 miles
Twin Lakes: frontside via White River Road, trailhead at Napeequa Crossing  6 miles

2:  Lake Valhalla, Lake Janus or Lake Minotaur, all accessed via FS6700 up the Little Wenatchee or via Smithbrook off RT 2

3:  Merrit Lake, accessed off RT 2

The following four hikes are all challenging, but well worth it (10 miles round trip)
Alpine Lookout, accessed via FS 6910? , just E of the Rest Stop on RT 2.
Rock Mtn from Snowy Creek (off FS6700)
Schaefer Lake Shane release from Trinity Road (requires fording Chiwawa) see: http://www.wta.org/go-hiking/trip-reports/trip_report.2009-08-29.0631411313
Little Giant Pass from Trinity Road (requires fording Chiwawa)

For detailed conditions etc see http://www.wta.org/go-hiking/trip-reports  enter hike name in the search box for recent trail conditions.

I am hearing nothing but frustration from hikers looking for Huckleberries.  If you are willing to share what you have learned leave a comment.  We hiked last weekend up to Meander Meadow (#1525) for an overnight and then back down Cady Ridge (#1532).  Wildflowers were beautiful, bugs were plentiful, we did find a few Huckleberries surprisingly up high,near the top of Kodak Peak 6121′ (view to the right of Glacier Peak, taken from Kodak Peak) the berries were moderately plentiful near the summit, assuming the bear we saw hasn’t eaten them all.

Cindy and a friend climbed Rock Mountain (#1587) earlier in August and had a great time.

Neighbors hiked with their kids into Lake Janus via the Smithbrook trail head, report from another recent visitor.

Schaefer Lake (#1519) is on my to do list,  sounds like there has been lots of work done on the trail.

If you are just looking for ideas, all these linked trail conditions (valid in August 2008) come from the Washington Trails Association Website www.wta.org.  If you are looking for ideas in our area, just look for trails with 15xx as a starting point.  If you take a hike, spend 5 minutes and enter a trail report,  if you find the site useful become a member.  I am biased (on the WTA board), they are a great organization coordinating thousand of volunteer hours maintaining trails throughout the state, and providing one of the most useful trail databases too.

Smith Brook Road is open.

Hiked #1590  Smith Brook to Valhalla last weekend.

  There are sections at the top with snow, easily passable with climbing poles.   Lake is ice free, bugs weren’t too bad.   Shadow and Maggie on the snow above Valhalla

Cindy and Friends hiked Minotaur Lake #1517 on July 17th.  The south facing steep part of the trail was clear of snow until the very last section where the trail flattens out and there is still snow.  Lake is clear of Ice.  Beautiful as always.  This trail is short, very steep and muddy.  Hiking poles help.

Found a trail report on Mt. David #1521 on the Washington Trails Assoc. website www.wta.org.  I have had  Mt. David on my ‘to do’ list for sometime.  This trail report makes it look quite do able:  Mount David Trail Report.

Dirty Face Trail #1500
A few weeks back we reported that Dirty Face Trail #1500 was open for business.  With temps rising an early start is recommended.  There is small stream available for re-watering (take a pump or water treatment) when the trail makes a strong cut back to the West on old logging road.  There is small sign pointing the trail direction, the stream is in the gully 50′ behind the sign.

Barney: Let’s Go on Vacation release Heather Lake Trail #1526
The Heather Lake trail is in good shape, in part thanks to the efforts of a ‘trail vacation’ crew from the WTA that spent the week working the trail.   There is a small amount of snow on the upper section of the trail just before you reach the lake.  The bugs were mild by early season standards.

Nason Ridge Trail #1583
Ron Large provided our Pic O Day from the Nason Ridge Trail.  He reported small amounts of snow in the trees,  and plenty of mosquitoes hatching near melting snow.  A very complete trail report (including driving directions) is available here on the Washington Trail Assoc website: WTA Nason Ridge Trail Report

Merritt Lake #1588
As of two weeks ago there was plenty of snow above 5000′ feet, once the trail intersects the Nason Ridge trail.  This should be clearing but I would be surprised if it was snow free to the lake.

If you venture out this weekend please send us an update at admin@lakewenatcheeinfo.com  fill out a trail report on the WTA site to help other hikers, it only take a couple of minutes.  Submit a trip report

The combination of record snow fall and a cool spring (June-uary having become a new month name) has made finding places to hike without snow shoes is a bit of a challenge this year.

Dirty Face Trail #1500 : is open for business and almost snow free.  The wild flowers are spectacular.

Coldchuck Trail #1599.1 is also snow free to the lake.

Merritt Lake Trail #1588: is clear on the S facing switchbacks and snowed in on the flatter section through the trees to the lake.

Two resources to help with hike planning:

Wenatchee Outdoors Hiking Reports

Washington Trail Assoc, Fresh Trail Reports

Search the Glacier Peak area.   If you hike any of our local trails, please enter a trail report on the WTA site.

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