Doesn't the start of the trail look inviting?
12 of us began our hike at the Squires lake parking lot. I'd hiked this trail before with our group in January of 2014. You can read about that day's hike HERE.
The photo below shows that the "new" Fiddle head growths of the ferns are coming up, I did a search for Fiddle head recipes and found this one, I thought it sounded good "Spicy Stir-Fried Fiddle heads with Chile Paste, Sesame Oil and Walnuts". You'll need to scroll down a ways on the link's page to see the recipe.
The Bleeding Hearts are out - the flowers not the people :-)!
Before heading up the ridge to Alger Alp we went around Squires lake. There was a nice reflection of the trees mixed with the pond lilies.
The sign post photo below shows the white paint "blaze" mark of the Pacific Northwest Trail.
After we'd hiked the spine or ridge part of the trail we came to an outcropping of rocks, which Ed said were called "the rock". We went over and looked for the promised view of Baker, and there it was.
We also were fortunate to see some Trillium along the trail.
It was a wonderful clear blue sky day for our lunchtime view at the top. We could even see the Olympics off in the distance.
I found a nice shady spot to eat and enjoy my "room with a view".
Endomondo stats:
Total miles hiked - 6
Minimum altitude - 371
Maximum altitude -1379
Total ascent - 1286 feet
Total descent - 1227 feet
My "Spartan up" extra training miles walked after the hike were - 4
Minimum altitude - 597 feet
Maximum altitude - 701 feet
Total ascent - 269 feet
Total descent - 427 feet
My totals for the day:
Total miles hiked/walked - 10
Total ascent - 1555 feet
Total descent - 1654 feet
