Kendall Peak - Photosynths

To remind everyone of sunnier days, I saved a photosynth that I put together this summer from the vista of Kendall Peak. I took the photos for this synth as we walked north along the ridge to try an capture what it's like to traverse the peak. To the east, the mountain drops into Commonwealth Basin and rises to Snoqualmie Mountain and Guye Peak. To the west is Rampart Ridge and Alta Mountain. Snoqualmie Pass ski area, and Mt. Rainer are visible to the south, and Red Mountain and the horn of the Mt. Thompson cut the sky to the north.



The second synth is of the unofficially named Kendall Peak Falls. We happened upon these falls in late October when we were taking an alternate route back from Commonwealth Basin along the Pacific Crest Trail. We missed these falls the first time we hiked the trail during the summer because they were obscured behind heavy underbrush. With autumn in full swing, there were fewer leaves, and more rainfall which made it easy to spy these falls on the cliffs above. Unable to resist the allure of clambering to a waterfall, we scrambled through the devils club and up the rocky stream bed for a closer look. - Jer

Barclay Lake

Our Hiking Time: 2h
Total Ascent: 225ft
Total Distance: 4.4 miles
Location: N 47° 47.0400, W 121° 25.5000
Difficulty: Easy



Although we’re still not completely done with everything we want to do in the I-90 corridor, our focus is slowly shifting northward. Our hike this week was another tentative foray down Highway 2 in search of a new swath of forest to explore. We found exactly what we were looking for in a short hike out to Barclay Lake and an official introduction to the Wild Sky Wilderness.

The 106,577-acre Wild Sky Wilderness is less than two years old, and parts of it are still winding through the bureaucratic process of being turned over to the Forest Service. Some portions of the Wild Sky are still old growth and truly wild, while others have been logged as recently as the late-60s. In doing a little research, we found that Barclay Lake was not our first time in the Wild Sky Wilderness, which evidently also encompasses Lake Isabel as well.

The Barclay Creek Trail #1055 sits at the end of Forest Road 6024, and is a largely flat, simple trail that follows Barclay Creek for a little over 2 miles to its source, Barclay Lake. Wide and well groomed, the trail wanders past root-wrapped rocks, venerable hemlocks, and moss carpeted undergrowth. Cedar boardwalks occasionally keep boots out of marshy stretches in the trail, and a sturdy log bridge spans Barclay Creek as you approach the lake. Gunn Peak flanks the trail to the north, eventually giving rise to Merchant Peak as you near Barclay Lake. Occasionally Baring Mountain can be seen through the trees, waiting to reveal its craggy features once you reach the lakeside.

Barclay Lake lies in a quiet bowl between Merchant Peak and Baring Mountain, somehow giving one the feeling of being deep in the wilderness. Between the well-maintained trail and abundance of campsites – not to mention two pit toilets – it’s clear that Barclay Lake gets a lot of visitors in the warmer months. Standing on the lakeshore it is not hard to understand why. Not only is it peaceful, but the dramatic spire of Baring dominates the scene. Moreover, a short trail capable of transporting the whole family into the wilderness with the minimum of effort adds to the allure. For those looking to climb Baring or continue on to bigger adventures, Barclay Lake makes for a great base camp. For our part, this little trail exposed us to the Wild Sky Wilderness and the potential for dozens of hikes in the immediate vicinity, many of which are sure to be challenging and a bit off the beaten path.

To get there, take Highway 2 to Baring. Near milepost 41 and across from a store, turn left onto 635th up and over the railroad tracks. Asphalt will quickly turn to gravel before shortly coming to a junction. Turn left up Forest Road 6024 and proceed for 4.2 miles to the trailhead at roads end. Northwest Forest Pass required. -Nathan




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Rainy Lake

Our Hiking Time: 6h 30m
Total Ascent: 2700ft
Total Distance: 9 miles
Location: N 47° 30.6900, W 121° 32.0220
Difficulty: Hard



The holidays firmly behind us, we were anxious to get back out into the woods and on the trail. We wanted something with a bit of grit to it, something that might require a little bushwhacking to complete. Rainy Lake seemed the right fit – an abandoned trail deep in the Middle Fork Snoqualmie Valley sounded perfect.

Evidently, Rainy Lake was literally named for the abnormal amount of rain that falls in the general area. While we were unable to dig up precisely who christened the lake, it was probably someone that was nearing the end of their ability to creatively name bodies of water. The same difficulties in accessing Rainy Lake that made it appealing also means information is scarce. While the Forest Service has abandoned the trail, it is clear that it is at least partially maintained – brush is recently cleared in many places, and a good portion of the trail is tagged with ribbon. There is some talk that keeping this trail maintained is a lone crusade by someone that wants the trail to remain open; if this is the case, the amount of work that is being done by a single individual is impressive.

Depending on the time of year, finding the trail can be tricky. The trail begins at the Middle Fork Trailhead, crosses the Gateway Bridge and then heads to the right following the river downstream toward Stegosaurus Butte. You’ll continue hugging the riverside for about a half a mile, passing over remnants of the steps and bridges that once graced the trail, until you encounter Rainy Creek. Keep an eye out for some orange tags leading towards a trail on the other side. This is your turnoff, and it can be easy to miss. Note that the trail continues onward to a log that has been converted into a makeshift bridge – if you’ve reached this point you’ve gone too far.

Depending on the time of year, crossing Rainy Creek may be difficult, but once across, the trail is lovely. Follow the narrow bootpath through lush forest and mossy undergrowth. Rainy Creek is your constant companion as you follow it ever upward toward the lake. The path alternates between brutal inclines and occasional plateaus, over occasional blowdowns and straight up talus fields. Still, for about three-quarters of the journey, friendly tags help guide the way when the trail disappears. The occasional views of Mt. Garfield are excellent and the faint trail lends a pleasant feeling of seclusion. Eventually, however, the tags stop appearing. For us, this happened above the snow level, leaving us to follow the creek and the path of least resistance straight up the mountainside. Likely, given the route of the trail until that point, when the snow has melted, there is something of a path that can be followed to the lake.

Rainy Lake lies beneath the exposed rock face of Preacher Mountain. For the adventurous, there is a scramble route that can be followed around the east side of the lake to the top of the mountain, but it’s reportedly very overgrown and something of a struggle to navigate. Overall, the route is hard and not for everyone, but the reward may be worth it. Certainly, Rainy Lake would be a great base camp for those that want to summit Preacher or the Pulpit, but it is also a lovely and peaceful destination in itself. If you’re looking for some solitude, Rainy Lake might be a great choice.

To get there, take Exit 34 off I-90 and take a left on 468th Ave. Follow the road past the truck stop for about a half-mile until you reach SE Middle Fork Road, also known as Forest Road 56. Continue to follow the twists in the road until the pavement runs out. From here it’s almost 11 miles on a gravel road to the Middle Fork Trail head parking lot. The trailhead and Gateway Bridge are at the north end of the lot. Northwest Forest Pass required. -Nathan



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