One of the things W and I did while on my 10 days off from this blog was hike the Crystal Lakes Trail. It's 3 miles (4.8km) long one way, ascending 2300 feet (700m). We were both out of hiking shape, so it was a pleasantly strenuous hike, but even at our "relaxed pace" we managed to get to the top in 2.5 hours, and then make it back down in just under 1.5 hours.
On the way up, it feels like the switchbacks are endless! But once you get to the first Crystal Lake, then the alpine meadow in bloom, then the upper Crystal Lake with its ring of jagged peaks, it becomes clear that it was all worth it.
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| Lower Crystal Lake |
The wildflowers were my favorite part, until we got to the end of the trail at Upper Crystal Lake!
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| Upper Crystal Lake |
There was a tiny trail circling the lake, sometimes quite precariously, and sometimes winding through tiny green meadows.
There were a few opportunities to catch close-up glimpses of Mount Rainier. Though during the whole hike up, and back down, we encountered no other people, There were a few groups camping around the lake.
