I did something on Tuesday I haven’t done in a few years, I got up early for a New Year’s Day hike in the mountains. Lately the trails have been so busy on this day, I just prefer to ride my bike around town or do an urban stroll.
But I got out the door by 6:00 am and on the trail by 7:30 am to have this lake to myself for an hour. It was glorious! Yes, I passed about 50 people on the way out but it was worth it.
In September of 2022, the Bolt Creek Fire erupted near here and since then the fire damage has kept visitors from hiking to popular Barclay Lake. This enjoyable, family friendly trail that rests below Mount Baring (Baring Mountain) close to its namesake town near Stevens Pass just reopened in November. The scorched trees and earth were the most noticeable differences since the last time I hiked the trail in what was most likely 2015.
But another thing I observed that I hadn’t before was how as I approached the lake, the forest had two distinct levels. There were trees that reached way over my head and a much shorter level that couldn’t have been more than 10-15 feet tall. Nothing in between. It had me wondering at what might have happened in the past that would have caused such a obvious demarcation. There is an obvious avalanche or landslide near by, could something like that have caused it?
It was also interesting to see the dead trees where the fire had flamed up the sides of Baring Mountain.
Like many, I remember the video from hikers who had been trapped on the mountain when the fire exploded and how they were lucky to have escaped. They definitely had lessons to share about their harrowing escape.
These observations, not only after the fire but after a long hiatus from the trail, are the reasons I enjoy doing repeat hikes, something I plan to do more of in 2024. It gives you a chance to see things in a different light every time you go, whether it is something you didn’t observe before or changes over time.
How about you, do you prefer familiar hikes you have done over and over or new ones you have not been to before?
You can read more about this hike and my previous times there here.
Thank you so much for stopping by Must Hike Must Eat!
If you need some healthy eating inspiration start here:..
Need some eating out suggestions when friends want to stop after a hike? I have a Pacific Northwest Eating Guide here.
Find out what’s been happening outside the blog:
If you have a question you don’t want to post in the comments, you can ask them here:
Discover more from Must Hike Must Eat
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.