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| Hiking | 6.00 Miles |
505 AEG |
| | Hiking | 6.00 Miles | | | |
| 505 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | Day 2/ 4 GNP:
Last night, I had stopped at Apgar visitor center to ask ranger about my plan for today. I wanted to take the park's shuttle to go to St.Mary lake and do a boat ride and return back. Should really watch the body language of that young lady ranger! She went into shock and told me that it is hard to do as I have to coordinate 2 schedules( the shuttle+boat ride). Advised me to stick to west side of the park. Although it was different from my expectation, I took it as though it was meant not to be done today. So I have decided to try trail of cedars with a boat ride in McDonald lake.
Showed up at TH by 9am. Plenty of parking still available at that time. Meandered to the west side of the lot and took lot of photos. Finally ended up on the trail. McDonald forest is the eastern most edge of Pacific Northwest 's temperate rainforest. Got really excited with all the wildflowers and decided to do the avalanche lake trail. It says 2miles each way but it is longer than that. It says 500ft which is not AEG. It is a mere difference between the starting point and end point which I figured out after doing the trail 
Nonetheless it was very enjoyable trail with lots of flowers. Ran out of battery again before I reached the bottom of the lake. Lots of people on the trail which is fine with me since it is a bear country. Most of the trail is in shade. All of a sudden an area opened up with views of LP and I think Mt. cannon. Thought that is the end of trail but false alarm. That opened area is a result of 2 avalanches from Mt.Cannon in 2010 and a microburst in 2011. Kept on going until the area finally opens up to a beautiful lake jammed with water logs. Scenary is gorgeous and can see the reflections so clearly in water. Ton of people sitting on logs having lunch. Then noticed people at the top of lake. Saw a ranger and asked her how to get there. She advised that I should take a back trail to get to the top instead of walking on the edge of lake. Went back to trail to the front which is also filled with people. But the middle of the lake does not have people. I found a few boulders and took a short break. It is around noonish. Had a snack(dried mango slices). A butterfly decided to give me company which I gladly accepted.
Loved watching it's flickering wings, the waterfalls, the reflections of snow and thinking this is heaven on earth. Decided to return back and noticed that flies there really liked my mango smelling hands. Who would have thought that flies from MT would love tropical mango 
Hike back was fast as there were only few photos to take. Some flowers opened up as it is later on in the day. Otherwise, it took about an hour to get back to my car. It is nearing 2pm so I have decided to check out McDonald lodge. Will post it as a separate triplog since there are photos with it. |
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Wildflowers Observation Substantial
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Route Editor
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