Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington

On August 18, 1996 I drove to the Alpine Lakes Wilderness in the Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest south of the North Cascades area. I went to the Stuart Lake trailhead and hiked first to Stuart Lake (5.5 miles). Very pretty lake with Mt. Stuart and other peaks.

Talked to a party that had climbed Stuart on Saturday. Saw a very tame deer busy standing in the lake eating fresh green grass shoots.

Mt. Stuart, Stuart Lake Trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Mt. Stuart, Stuart Lake Trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Mt. Stuart, Stuart Lake Trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Mt. Stuart, Stuart Lake Trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington

Northeast of Mt. Stuart, Stuart Lake Trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Northeast of Mt. Stuart, Stuart Lake Trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Northeast of Mt. Stuart, Stuart Lake Trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Northeast of Mt. Stuart, Stuart Lake Trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington

Mt. Stuart, Stuart Lake Trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Mt. Stuart, Stuart Lake Trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Stuart Lake, Stuart Lake Trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Stuart Lake, Stuart Lake Trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington

Stuart Lake, Stuart Lake Trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Stuart Lake, Stuart Lake Trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Mt. Stuart & glacier over Stuart Lake, Stuart Lake Trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Mt. Stuart & glacier over Stuart Lake, Stuart Lake Trail,
Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington

Stuart Lake, Stuart Lake Trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Stuart Lake, Stuart Lake Trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Stuart Lake, Stuart Lake Trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Stuart Lake, Stuart Lake Trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington

Stuart Lake, Stuart Lake Trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Stuart Lake, Stuart Lake Trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Stuart Lake, Stuart Lake Trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Stuart Lake, Stuart Lake Trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington

Deer feeding in Stuart Lake, Stuart Lake Trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Deer feeding in Stuart Lake, Stuart Lake Trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Deer in Stuart Lake, Stuart Lake Trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Deer in Stuart Lake, Stuart Lake Trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington

Decided to go to Colchuck Lake. Required retracing 2.5 miles, then 2.5 miles to the lake which is 500 feet higher than Stuart. The trail is very rough in spots making it a huffer puffer.

Colchuck was not too exciting. It has a large bathtub ring because it has been dammed for an irrigation district.

Retraced the 2.5 miles back to the main trail and 3 miles to the car. Total 16 miles. Weather was breezy, scattered clouds and cool but very nice

Colchuck Lake off Stuart Lake Trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Colchuck Lake off Stuart Lake Trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington

On August 20, 1996, after taking a day off, I headed back into the Alpine Lakes Wilderness in the Wenatchee National Forest and hiked first to Eight-mile Lake, then back tracked a half mile and hiked to Caroline Lake.

Total elevation change 2400 feet, 12 miles. This was an interesting hike because the area had been hit by a major forest fire in 1994.

Lots of dead trees but lots of wild flowers growing on the now open slopes. Very pretty. Also great views of the Stuart Range.

The trail was pretty well graded so the long climb wasn't too bad. Only problem was the weather - sort of blustery but the sun came out from time to time.

On the way down, I was standing in sunshine while it rained pretty steadily on me. The showers came and went so it wasn't a real problem.

Eightmile Lake, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Eightmile Lake, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Eightmile Lake, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Eightmile Lake, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington

Eightmile Lake, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Eightmile Lake, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington

Eightmile Lake from trail to Carolyn Lake, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Eightmile Lake from trail to Carolyn Lake, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Eightmile Lake from trail to Carolyn Lake, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Eightmile Lake from trail to Carolyn Lake, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington

Stuart Range, fire scarred trees from trail to Carolyn Lake, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Stuart Range, fire scarred trees from trail to Carolyn Lake,
Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Stuart Range, fire scarred trees from trail to Carolyn Lake, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Stuart Range, fire scarred trees from trail to Carolyn Lake,
Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington

Carolyn Lake, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Carolyn Lake, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Carolyn Lake from Carolyn Lake trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Carolyn Lake from Carolyn Lake trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Stuart Range from Carolyn Lake trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Stuart Range from Carolyn Lake trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Stuart Range from Carolyn Lake trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Stuart Range from Carolyn Lake trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington

Stuart Range from Carolyn Lake trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Stuart Range from Carolyn Lake trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Stuart Range from Carolyn Lake trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Stuart Range from Carolyn Lake trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington

Flower on Carolyn Lake trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Flower on Carolyn Lake trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Flower on Carolyn Lake trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Flower on Carolyn Lake trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington

Flower on Carolyn Lake trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Flower on Carolyn Lake trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Flower on Carolyn Lake Trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Flower on Carolyn Lake Trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington

Flower on Carolyn Lake trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Flower on Carolyn Lake trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Flower on Carolyn Lake trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Flower on Carolyn Lake trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington>

Flower on Carolyn Lake trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Flower on Carolyn Lake trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Flower on Carolyn Lake Trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Flower on Carolyn Lake Trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington