This time of year, the Twisp River seems more like a creek or small stream. A few months ago it was a different story as it flowed to the tops of its banks and filled side channels from its confluence with the Methow at Twisp to Road’s End. Now it’s a welcoming respite, reflecting the colors starting to turn to fall.
The trailhead for Blue Lake is right on the highway between Washington Pass and Rainy Pass. Easy to get to and very popular. So why did it take me so long to visit this beautiful little lake?
Yesterday was a nice day for a hike – cool and sunny. Frost in the valley. I think I may have seen the first larches beginning to turn color. Luna and I had the place to ourselves til about lunch time when other folks began to arrive and on the way down we saw lots of hikers. Lots of climbers on the Liberty Bell rocks were shouting back and forth to each other too. I saw a few birds including a big flock of Gold-crowned Kinglets, an American Three-toed Woodpecker, a Sooty Grouse and numerous finches. Also, lots of pikas, chipmunks and squirrels
Luna liked swimming in the deep clear water
She wore a bandana so hopefully, no one would mistake her for a bear in the woods
I could easily see trout swimming in the shallows
Surprisingly, even after first snow and hard frosts, there are still flowers blooming including arnica, lupine, blue gentian, yarrow and others including this one I don’t know
A shallow pond near the trailhead
Now I know why this lake if often painted and photographed
The garden is doing pretty well producing tomatoes, especially given our late start on everything and slow developing summer. Not enough to make tomato sauce. Ken suggested salsa so I bought a bunch of peppers at the farmers market and figured out a recipe and well, I took a few photos along the way also.
Peppers at the market
Halved garden tomatoes ready to start the process
Juicy Walla Walla onions
Cooking the tomatoes
These are about ready to be put through the food mill
I roasted the peppers on the grill
There’s the pureed tomato sauce
And there it is quite a bit reduced. I like my salsa on the thick side
Chopped peppers, onions, garlic
Spices – cumin, red sea salt, chile powder, chipotle powder
All mixed together in the pot
The finished product
I added a 1/4 teaspoon citric acid to each jar to boost the acidity
Pearrygin Lake State Park
My Everyday Photos 