This hike is just INCREDIBLE! We climbed up through the old burn from 1994 and into the old growth forest by the Icicle River. Up and up we went to the most beautiful lake I have ever seen…Nada Lake. It is a long, large lake in a hanging valley. Great spots for the tent and the birds come down to get their photo taken as if they were tame! We enjoyed our lunch by the lake and then hiked up and around it through some pretty rough scree fields to Snowy Lake at 600 ft.. Snowy Lake was also beautiful and the mountains surrounding it were fascinating. There is a dam that you have to cross and this is the water source for Leavenworth. (Wow…how ever did they do it?)
By the time we hit Snowy Lake, it was over 95 degrees and we were roasting. We headed back down and saw our very first mountain goat! He was a young fellow and seemed to like us taking his picture since he hung around us for quite some time! The way down is as steep as the way up. For those of you who are not aware of this, going down is much rougher on your body than is going upward. We sure felt it by the time we got to the Jeep! You need permits to spend the night there, however, and they are not easy to obtain. We did this strenuous 14 mile trip in one day where it should really take two days comfortably, but it was well worth it! A feast for the eyes and the entire sensory experience! An absolute “Must Do” for the Cascade Hiker!
