Secret Lake 2008
On September 5, 2008 my son and I did our annual backpacking trip. It was a great trip. After a drive to what seemed like the top of the Cascades, we started from the trailhead on Friday night about 7:00 pm. The sun was out and it was very warm. We hiked until it was time to put on the headlamps, and then we hiked some more. It turned out that we hiked until I saw the trees thin out (in the dark) and I found a spot on the edge of the ridge. I knew it would be a great view in the morning and it had already been two hours of hiking. Torin needed a break.
Our plan was to sleep in hammocks the entire trip, however, I brought a light “Bug Hut” to set up tonight (takes a minute to setup). I wish I would have set up the hammocks. I can’t stand sleeping in tents. The ground is hard. I love my Hennessy Hammock, nothing like it. I did, however, love the stars. There were so many and that Bug Hut is all netting. 360 view.
We woke early the next morning and headed out quickly. We were afraid someone would come by any time on their way to our campsite. It turns out the hike was about two hours. That is a long time to have to wait for my morning coffee. It was worth it though.
To get to the camp we sought, you have to bushwhack for quite a ways in order to get to this site. Fortunately, Timmy, Our dog, knew where he was going. He turned and headed in the perfect direction. we basically just followed him. The brush and Rhododendrons were very thick and at times I wondered if we were going to make it. We did!
The camp was even better than I imagined it was from a quick glance I had some ten years ago. It was nice and open with a fire pit and a couple of benches that some one made. We were facing south, so the breeze blew off the lake towards us and did a good job keeping the mosquitoes away. There were even two (and only two) spots for our hammocks.
It was a really hot day so Torin and I spent most all the day playing in the crystal clear water. It is amazing how clear the water really is. It seems like it is even more clear than a pool. You can see forever under the water. Torin caught frogs and water striders and we even saw a giant Garter Snake that kept coming at us until he scared it away. It was the perfect day in the perfect place in God’s beautiful creation.
I then made lasagna and made a fire. we didn’t stay up very long before retiring to the hammocks. I helped Torin get in to his as this was his first time in one. I then went to sleep in mine. Some time that night Torin was crying for me. I didn’t know what happened, but he said he fell out. That was sad. I got out and helped him back in and we both went back to sleep.
Some time in the morning, I heard Torin moaning. I asked what was wrong and he said he felt sick. That sucks. Why was he sick? I got up and went to his hammock and he WAS sick. I asked if he wanted to pack out and he said yes. So I packed up camp and away we went.
The hike out was not so bad for me, but tough on little Torin. It took us 4 hours to get out. On the way out we stopped at the first nights viewpoint and we stopped at another lake for some lunch. Torin didn’t get sick the rest of the trip, and we made it out safely.
All in all, as I said before, it was a wonderful trip, but you really do need a three day weekend. There are tons of lakes and lots of exploring that can be done, but not in one day. It was was simply beautiful.
Enjoy!
Heath
