We try to document where we stay so that we can remember the places. This time, 420 miles or so from Bozeman, this is the Peaceful Pines RV Park.
Our second day on the road was from Cheney, WA to outside of Leaveworth, WA. The Rock Island dam comes into view.
Nice basalt lava flow along the Columbia River
Hiking Day 1. We picked Eightmile Lake in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. The road up to the trailhead is steep, rough and graveled and takes a bit of time. Here is Roger looking at the permit info board.
Soon, we get a few views of the surrounding peaks.
It was not too long before we crossed the Wilderness Boundary. Susie had been in this Wilderness before (hiking into the Enchantments), but if had been several decades.
We are still not sure what these berries are, but hopefully, someone will see this and let us know.
A lot of the trail is through a burned over area, but the good news is that you get to see a few more things.
Susie taking a photo of an interesting plant.
The flowers.
Sumac berries
After a bit over 3 miles, the trail arrives at Little Eightmile Lake, which is more like a pond.
Some nice ferns
After around 4 miles and 1400 feet of climbing, the trail arrives at Eightmile Lake. We did not see more than just a few potential campsites. The surrounding terrain was fairly steep.
One of our better photos of the Lake.
Heading back down the trail, you can see the extent of the burned over ara.
Looking uphill, we noted a lot of these sand-colored rocks. We don't know enough geology to explain their origin.
A view down to Little Eightmile Lake
I had noticed a large tree on the way up. What is that little white spec at the base of the tree trunk?
It's Susie! She was willing to pose to provide some perspective.
Continuing our descent, a look up the valley where we will be headed tomorrow.
In case you did not know, we are in Campsite #40. Eightmile was a nice Forest Service Campground, with clean pit toilets and paved back-in sites.
