Picture of the week ~ Watson lake

Watson lakes Trailblazer hike

An overcast sky met us at the Senior Center for our long (nearly 2 hour) drive for today's hike. We were driving down to Hwy 20 and the Baker lake area from Bellingham. I am always surprised when we get a good number of people to show up for these "long drive" hikes - 13 today!

We drove "up" an awesome gravel road to the trailhead parking lot. Nearly at the top I asked "Pat" if he would stop the car so I could get this photo of Mt. Baker with Baker lake below. The sky was looking particularly ominous.

There is an outhouse and a good sized parking lot at the end of the road, which is the trailhead.

We signed in and were off.

I loved all of the boardwalks trails, besides the view these were a highlight for me.

Just before the we dropped down to the lakes we entered the Noisy - Diobsud 

Wilderness area.

Our first view of upper and lower Watson lakes.

We hiked past the first lake and had lunch at the upper lake. 

What a view!

On the way out one of our hikers struggled on the uphills, so we decided to take turns carrying his pack. I volunteered first. Since I started training for my next Spartan race September 1st, I jumped at the chance to get in more of a workout. 

Bonus! 

(Thanks to Joe for taking the photo above and below)

The overcast skies continued throughout the day and we had a light shower just as we were finishing and reached the cars, but it didn't last very long.

I hadn't done this hike before and I loved every bit of it. 

It's definitely on my - "go back and do" list.

Endomondo Stats:

Total miles hiked - 5 miles

Total ascent - 1522 feet

Total descent - 1369 feet

Maximum altitude -- 4864 feet

Minimum altitude - 4176 feet