The trail to Blue Lake is easy to get to and the short distance – 2.2 miles – makes it a popular destination. From my house, it’s less than an hour to the trailhead, all on paved highway. No bumpety bump roads to contend with. Yesterday’s weather forecast showed thunder and lightning all morning and into the afternoon but, like as often happens, the forecast was wrong and the storm passed by ten am. I met Juliet in town and we were off to relish a few moments in the mountains together before we both get busy going in opposite directions.
The lake is just over that ridge
Blue Lake lives up to its name
White heather flowers
Considering a swim
We can’t get enough of this view
Whistler Meadows
This is where the mosquitoes come from
Backside of the iconic Liberty Bell formation
Heather
How old was that tree when it died? What kind was it? How long ago since it died?
Backing up to get the shot
The outlet
An old cabin. What an amazing place to spend the short summer.
Two boys and their dad watch trout in the small outlet stream
This image does not do justice to these delicate flowers
Lupine
White rhododendron, a native wildflower, very unlike the rhodies seen in NW gardens
Hemlock with its telltale tipping over top
The outlet stream
On the trail
A lousewort
Polemonium, Jacob’s Ladder
A little pond near the trailhead
Elephanthead, another lousewort
My Everyday Photos 
3 Comments
Blue Lake is always so beautiful! Once we met a women’s hiking group from the West side on the trail, they had a 90 year old member making the hike with their group. It was great!
It is such a terrific hike. Most folks can do it and the reward is so good when you get there.
Fantastic pictures, looks like it was a great day for a hike.