Mount Beljica via Lake Christine Winter Hike

Another beautiful sunny day in February with very little snow and very low avalanche danger. We hiked up to Mount Beljica in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest just east of Ashford off of Hwy 706. The forest road was snow free, but lots of potholes. This hike is 4 miles round trip with 1100 ft of elevation gain. Because this trail enters the Glacier View Wilderness you need to stop at the trail head and fill out a permit. Most of the hike is in the forest.

The trail climbs 400 ft to Lake Christine. We didn't encounter snow until just before the lake. There were some loose rocks across the trail where we crossed avalanche chutes.

View of Lake Christine from the south looking toward Mount Beljica to the north.

Log bridge crossing the creek near the north end of Lake Christine.

1/2 mile from Lake Christine the trail, it is supposed to split. To the left, boot track up Mount Beljica, straight toward Beljica Meadows and Goat Lake. The boot tracks only went up Mount Beljica. We did some wandering around but couldn't find the trail to Goat Lake today.

The trail was mostly snow until near the top of Mount Beljica, snowshoes were not needed today. 

Looking south from the saddle of Mount Beljica, in the distance Mt Adams, Mt Hood and Mt St Helens

 Mt Adams

   

Mt Hood far to the south

Mt St Helens

Looking to the north and the top of Mount Beljica from the saddle.

Looking across Puget Sound to the Olympic Mountains to the far northwest

From the top of Mount Beljica: the west side of Mount Rainier, and in the foreground Gobbler's Knob.

Panorama from west to south:

 Bald eagle soaring above us while on top of Mount Beljica.

 Back at Lake Christine from the north, looking south. We met a few hikers on the way down, but we had Mount Beljica and the lake to ourselves today.

Bridal Veil Falls and Lake Serene winter hike

 Today we headed up to the West side of Stevens Pass on Hwy 2 to do the combination hike of Bridal Veil Falls and Lake Serene between the towns of Gold Bar and Index. The hike to Lake Serene is a little over 3 miles with a 1/2 mile spur trail to Bridal Veil Falls. Combining the two hikes gives you a good work out with the ups and downs. Overall hike is 8.2 miles with 2000 ft of elevation gain. This February, there is no snow on the trail or in the avalanche chutes.
The first part of the hike is in the forest with a gentle climb. there were a few downed trees and some water on the trail. We did see some blossoms.

 At 1.7 miles, the trail splits. We choose to take the spur trail to Bridal Veil Falls first. It is a steep and rocky 1/2 miles up hill.

There is a loop trail at Bridal Veil Falls, with a nice look out over the valley below.

View of the falls from the lower loop.

 View of the falls from the upper loop.

 Then we hiked down to the main trail, where it drops down to cross the creek below the falls. In this lower section, we caught some glimpses of Mt Index high above us.

 There were these other falls coursing over the rocks.

 Then the trail begins to climb 1,300 ft in a little over a mile to reach Lake Serene. We could see Mt Index and part of Bridal Veil Falls in the distance.

After the last switchback, we could see Mt Index looming above us. Surprised at how little snow there was.

 Another small falls

 Lake Serene and Mt Index:

 A log bridge crosses the outlet of Lake Serene.

View of Lake Serene from the bridge

View from the bridge overlooking the creek covered in logs as it heads to Bridal Veil Falls.

Right after the log bridge, the trail splits. Straight ahead Lunch Rock, with gorgeous views of the lake. To the right Valley Overlook.

 We went to the Valley Overlook first. Here the creek drops into Bridal Veil Falls, below the valley and the Skykomish River, and to the north some other peaks in the northern Cascades.

From Lunch Rock Mt Index above Lake Serene and

  Lake Serene

 We had Lunch Rock to ourselves while eating our lunch, and saw only a few hikers today. I hear it is a very popular trail on the weekends.

Mount Townsend Winter Hike

 With very little snow in the mountains, and a beautiful sunny day, we decided to hike up to Mount Townsend in the Olympic National Forest near Quilcene. The road was clear all the way to the upper trailhead. Very unusual for February. This hike in 8 miles round trip with 3000 ft elevation gain. The first part of the hike is in the forest. We only came across one downed tree and a small amount of water on the trail.

 About 2 miles the trail opens up and we had views looking across to the Cascade mountains and








we could see Glacier Peak.

 Looking back above the trail we could see a waterfall.

It was too early for flowers, but I was surprised to see some red berries along the trail.

 As we climbed the switchbacks, after the trail separates from the Silver Lake trail at 3 miles, we could see Mt. Baker and Mt Shuksan to the northwest.

 And Mt Rainier to the southwest.

 There was some snow on the trail on the last few switchbacks before the saddle, and from the saddle to the summit of Mount Townsend.

 We didn't need microspikes, but found our poles handy.

 Some of the low clouds lifted as we ate lunch. We could see the Hoods Canal Bridge crossing Hoods Canal with Glacier Peak in the distance.

Some panorama shots from the summit:

To the South and East, some of the Olympic Mountains.

 To the North, Vancouver Island, the Coastal Mountains in British Columbia and the other end of the top of Mount Townsend.

 To the west, Mt Baker and Mt Shuksan, Glacier Peak, Mt Rainier, Mt Adams and Mt St Helens. Hazy clouds over the southern volcanos.

It was hard to leave the gorgeous views and return home today.