Wagon Wheel Lake

 

It's been a few years since I have done a really hard hike in the Olympics and I did not think I was in good enough shape to make it to the lake.  I figured I would go about 2/3 of the way up and turn around.   But I actually made it all the way to the lake.  Now two days later I am still tired and sore.

The 24 road is in terrible condition.  I don't think they maintain that road at all in the winter now.  I don't go to Staircase in the summer because of the crowds and I don't go in the winter because of the state of the road. I still need a car that is good on dirt roads. 

Next week I hope to make it beyond the lake to see the fall colors on the slopes of Copper Mountain.

Bella got bloat last week and was unable to hike so it was a perfect chance to go hiking in the National Park where dogs are not allowed.

At first my progress was very slow.  According to my map I had only gained 300 feet when I felt like I had gained closer to 1,000 feet.  I felt discouraged.  But I figured out that my map was set to metric and I really had climbed about 1,000 feet.  Before I knew it I was near the top and next I reached the level spot that indicates the lake is near. 

I was very happy when I realized that I was going to make it after all.  I had set a mandatory lunch time of 2pm, that would give me enough time for an hour lunch break and to hike back out before dark.  I made it to the lake at 1:45. 

There were other people on the trail, it seems there are no longer any actual trails I can go on and have all to myself.   I talked to the first person, she was a German woman who was in a hurry to get up to the Lake and back to Olympia so she could pick up her kid after school.

I hid from the second group.  Two men who I could hear coming well ahead of time.  I did not want to have any interactions with them that could mess up my head space.  Men are sometimes patronizing towards a woman hiking alone. I did not feel like being asked if I was packing, or being told information about the trail that I probably already know.  I was really glad I did not talk to them, I'm going to start hiding from people more often.