Hike of the Week: Annette Lake
Annette Lake
Notre Dame of Humpback Creek
Hike of the Week
by Craig Romano
Photo by Craig Romano
produced by Michael Fagin
November 19, 2004
Quick Facts
Location: Snoqualmie Pass
Land Agency: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
Roundtrip: 7.0 miles
Cumulative Elevation gain: 1,700 feet
Access: From Seattle head east on I-90. Take exit 47 to Denny Creek Road. Proceed to Forest Road No. 55 to trailhead.
Notes: NW Forest Pass Required
Green Trails Map: Snoqualmie Pass, WA No. 207 or as part of the Pass Country Map Pack
Few hikers would argue that the south side of the I-90 corridor from North Bend to Cle Elum isn’t an ecological eyesore. Marred by snaking logging roads, gaping clear cuts, buzzing power lines, and denuded ski slopes, it’s a bleak landscape indeed. No surprise than that most hikers who head this way, aim their boots north instead, into the ecologically-intact Alpine Lakes Wilderness. But surprisingly, amidst this compromised environment to the south of the freeway are a few “pocket wildernesses”-valleys and reaches that were spared the bulldozer and chainsaw.
Little Annette Lake is one such place. Sitting in a cirque below mile-high Silver and Abiel Peaks, Annette is surrounded by old-growth forests and alpine meadows. And while neighboring Humpback Mountain has been scalped of its timber-the Humpback Creek Valley, which is traversed by the Annette Lake Trail has retained its arboreal cover.
At an elevation of 3,600 feet, Annette can usually be hiked well into November. But if you find yourself starting off in knee deep snow-consider the nearby one mile Asahel Curtis Nature Trail as your backup. The forest here is quite old-a testament to what once blanketed the surrounding slopes.
And while the trail to Annette doesn’t exactly traverse an ancient stand of fir, there are some big old snags along the way. Farther along however the forest takes on more old-growth characteristics as you enter the lake basin. Once at Annette, hop across the outlet creek and find yourself a nice little contemplation spot. Think about how the surrounding mountains were abused and tattered. But inject some hope and redemption into those thoughts-for the US Forest Service has begun to rehabilitate this area. The agency is considering obliterating old roads and converting others into trails. Lot’s of trails! Maybe someday soon hikers will no longer be shunning this side of the I-90 corridor. But for right now just revel in the natural beauty of Annette-and appreciate the fine trail that brought you here.
Notre Dame of Humpback Creek
Hike of the Week
by Craig Romano
Photo by Craig Romano
produced by Michael Fagin
November 19, 2004
Quick Facts
Location: Snoqualmie Pass
Land Agency: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
Roundtrip: 7.0 miles
Cumulative Elevation gain: 1,700 feet
Access: From Seattle head east on I-90. Take exit 47 to Denny Creek Road. Proceed to Forest Road No. 55 to trailhead.
Notes: NW Forest Pass Required
Green Trails Map: Snoqualmie Pass, WA No. 207 or as part of the Pass Country Map Pack
Few hikers would argue that the south side of the I-90 corridor from North Bend to Cle Elum isn’t an ecological eyesore. Marred by snaking logging roads, gaping clear cuts, buzzing power lines, and denuded ski slopes, it’s a bleak landscape indeed. No surprise than that most hikers who head this way, aim their boots north instead, into the ecologically-intact Alpine Lakes Wilderness. But surprisingly, amidst this compromised environment to the south of the freeway are a few “pocket wildernesses”-valleys and reaches that were spared the bulldozer and chainsaw.
Little Annette Lake is one such place. Sitting in a cirque below mile-high Silver and Abiel Peaks, Annette is surrounded by old-growth forests and alpine meadows. And while neighboring Humpback Mountain has been scalped of its timber-the Humpback Creek Valley, which is traversed by the Annette Lake Trail has retained its arboreal cover.
At an elevation of 3,600 feet, Annette can usually be hiked well into November. But if you find yourself starting off in knee deep snow-consider the nearby one mile Asahel Curtis Nature Trail as your backup. The forest here is quite old-a testament to what once blanketed the surrounding slopes.
And while the trail to Annette doesn’t exactly traverse an ancient stand of fir, there are some big old snags along the way. Farther along however the forest takes on more old-growth characteristics as you enter the lake basin. Once at Annette, hop across the outlet creek and find yourself a nice little contemplation spot. Think about how the surrounding mountains were abused and tattered. But inject some hope and redemption into those thoughts-for the US Forest Service has begun to rehabilitate this area. The agency is considering obliterating old roads and converting others into trails. Lot’s of trails! Maybe someday soon hikers will no longer be shunning this side of the I-90 corridor. But for right now just revel in the natural beauty of Annette-and appreciate the fine trail that brought you here.
