Hikeoftheweek.com

Hike of the Week for Friday, September 16, 2011

Blanca Lake

Turquoise, cobalt or aquamarine are more appropriate descriptions

Article and photo by Craig Romano

Enjoy Blanca Lake's far from white waters.

Quick Facts

Location: Wild Sky and Henry Jackson Wildernesses, North Fork Skykomish River Valley

Land Agency: National Forest Service

Roundtrip: 7.5 miles

Elevation Gain: 3,300 feet.

Green Trails Map: Monte Cristo, WA- No. 143

Contact: Skykomish Ranger District: Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest; www.fs.fed.us/r6/mbs

Notes: Northwest Forest Pass required.

Access: From Everett head east on US 2 for 49 miles to Skykomish. Continue east for one more mile turning left onto the Beckler River Road (FR 65).Continue north for 15 miles crossing the North Fork Skykomish River and coming to a junction. Turn right onto FR 63 and proceed for 1.8 miles turning left into trailhead parking.

Set in a large open cirque in the rugged snowcapped Monte Cristo Peaks, and fed by the Columbia Glacier and icy snowfields, Blanca Lake’s location is one of the most dramatic in the Central Cascades. But what makes this lake really striking, is its cobalt blue water; and its sheen and tone constantly changing depending upon the amount and angle of sunlight making contact with it. While the lake is named Blanca, the only thing white about this body of water is the surrounding snowfields.

The hike to Blanca isn’t long, but it’s not easy. The first three miles of this trail ruthlessly climbs 2,700 feet. Then after a short reprieve through heather meadows, it descends 600 feet on rough tread. Hopefully the luxuriant old-growth Douglas-fir and hemlock forest you traverse will keep your mind off of the climb. The ancient forest you’ll be grunting through is all part of Washington’s newest wilderness area, Wild Sky.

After 3.0 miles of incessant switchbacking and climbing, leave Wild Sky and enter the Henry Jackson Wilderness upon reaching a 4,600-foot gap. Here amidst heather fields and subalpine forest find tiny Virgin Lake. You can call it quits here content with this serene setting—but the spectacular scenery lies ahead one half mile.

After a rough and tumble descent, enter the cirque housing Blanca lake. While the snowfields and glaciers above can accurately be described as blanca, turquoise or aquamarine would be a more fitting description for this gorgeous backcountry lake. Feel free to explore this rugged environment by following a rough path along the lake’s western shoreline, or prop yourself up on a log and just enjoy the view. Enjoy the cool breezes too coming down from the Columbia Glacier, one of the larger ice fields in this part of the Cascades.

For information on lodging and other attractions near Blanca Lake, visit www.snohomish.org. For information on this trail and others nearby, check out my Day Hiking Central Cascades Book.