Weekend Hikes - Rachel lake
Date: July 29, 2007
Close By: Snoqualmie Pass, WA
Directions: From Seattle, drive East on I-90 and take exit 62. Turn left, following the signs for Lake Kachess Campground. After five miles on FS Road 49, turn on left on FS Road 4930, and follow about four miles to the trailhead parking lot. Around a quarter mile into the FS 4930 road, there is a fork. Take a right on that fork.
Things to remember: The hike started off in a rather steep way and after the initial ascent, the next 2-3 miles are mostly on level grounds. It was almost like a stroll in the park, kind of hike. But the trail passes through so much bushes which will have you keep your hands looking heaven wards. At the 3 mile point is when the trail gets to business. I had read before that the last mile of this hike is famously called the Mile From Hell. The reason was quite simple - during the first 3 miles of the hike, the elevation gained is a meager 700 feet and it is in the last 1 mile that the remaining 1300 feet of elevation is gained. The last mile was easily the toughest that I have ever encountered in my short hiking experience. Not only was it steep, but the trail too was ill-maintained with ourselves getting lost atleast a couple of times. The last mile is almost like climbing stairs, only that the stairs were made of the roots of the huge trees. Throughout the last mile, the longest stretch where we encountered flat terrain was probably 10 feet. At times, we were looking at nearly 40 degree slope. But the good news is that the lake is absolutely worth the tough hike. It is so pristine, calm and bcos of the tough hike, borrowing an often used phrase, it was not crowded at the top. It starting getting cold a bit (temperatures would have been in the high 40s) and as the clouds started engulfing the lake, it was as beautiful a sight one can get.
Distance (RT): 8 miles
Time (RT): 5 hours, including 30 mins at the lake
Elevation: 2000 feet
Difficulty Level: 3.25
Here are some pictures from the hike:
Close By: Snoqualmie Pass, WA
Directions: From Seattle, drive East on I-90 and take exit 62. Turn left, following the signs for Lake Kachess Campground. After five miles on FS Road 49, turn on left on FS Road 4930, and follow about four miles to the trailhead parking lot. Around a quarter mile into the FS 4930 road, there is a fork. Take a right on that fork.
Things to remember: The hike started off in a rather steep way and after the initial ascent, the next 2-3 miles are mostly on level grounds. It was almost like a stroll in the park, kind of hike. But the trail passes through so much bushes which will have you keep your hands looking heaven wards. At the 3 mile point is when the trail gets to business. I had read before that the last mile of this hike is famously called the Mile From Hell. The reason was quite simple - during the first 3 miles of the hike, the elevation gained is a meager 700 feet and it is in the last 1 mile that the remaining 1300 feet of elevation is gained. The last mile was easily the toughest that I have ever encountered in my short hiking experience. Not only was it steep, but the trail too was ill-maintained with ourselves getting lost atleast a couple of times. The last mile is almost like climbing stairs, only that the stairs were made of the roots of the huge trees. Throughout the last mile, the longest stretch where we encountered flat terrain was probably 10 feet. At times, we were looking at nearly 40 degree slope. But the good news is that the lake is absolutely worth the tough hike. It is so pristine, calm and bcos of the tough hike, borrowing an often used phrase, it was not crowded at the top. It starting getting cold a bit (temperatures would have been in the high 40s) and as the clouds started engulfing the lake, it was as beautiful a sight one can get.
Distance (RT): 8 miles
Time (RT): 5 hours, including 30 mins at the lake
Elevation: 2000 feet
Difficulty Level: 3.25
Here are some pictures from the hike:
Labels: Desi Life, Weekend Hikes
posted by Filbert at 10:25 PM
2 Comments:
Awesome.. saw ur other hiking posts too.. Never knew Seattle had this much in store !!! I wud love to work there...
This area is full of such amazing hikes, Arun. Coming from Cleveland, the Pacific Northwest will enthrall you for sure :)
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