The Hike to Gem Lake

I have been told that good things come only to those that toil, tear and sweat. They are right, but damn! Does it have to be so much at once?

A friend, Cliff, announced on a Facebook hiking page that he wanted to take a trip up to Snoqualmie pass, Snow Lake and Gem Lake, and maybe a little farther.

I was like hmm, sounds fun. Been running 1-3 miles a day for a while now. Let’s switch it up. How difficult can it be? You can feel where this is heading, can’t you. Little tip, running on a flat surface, vs Miles up and down a mountain, not the same.

So I decided it has been too long since my previous hike. I am in.

Fast forward to Hike Day. Our small group of five adventures are walking from the north end of the main parking lot, to the entrance up to the trail. Beautiful mountains, and trees showing the first signs of fall. Fresh air, and a full tank of energy to attack this trail. Smiles and small talk, start our day. Almost hopping with excitement for what is to come.

You start the initial climb up about 300 feet of log steps. Then a nice gradual rise into the forest. The views continued to amaze me at every turn but, someone evil kept placing another mountain to climb, behind each turn.

This is for me where I get an idea that um, hiking up a mountain, not the same are running on a flat surface.

We continue to climb, the path switches back and forth, and then back and forth some more. Up we go, then down, then up some more, miles disappear behind me, several times, and I mean several times, I need to take a few moments to stop, and get my heart rate down.

On the ascent, I feel bad that the others need to stop for me. I suspect way more times than they would normally need, novice that I am. Hey, I am just giving them time to enjoy the views, and takes tons of pictures, right?

This continues for several great locations, and landscapes. By lunch time, I am spent. Not so much my physical strength, legs great, feet great. Endurance not so great.

I also learned via a small pain starting in my lower back. Maybe the weight of my backpack, though, mostly empty. Should rest on my shoulders not on my lower back. Because it didn’t have much in it, I never thought much about it. Well I think I should have. Lesson learned.

After lunch, it was time to go back down the mountain. My lower back started talking to me in a language I haven’t heard in a long while. Though musical, some kind of metal I am sure, was playing down my back on each step, I endured. Still upbeat, still moving, still enjoying the scenery.

My return down the mountain was much slower, and more deliberate, to say the least. But since I am typing this small book, you know I made it. Overall a great trip, would I do it again. I would, just maybe a few more small hikes before I take on such a large trip again. AND make sure you actually use the straps on your backpack correctly. Carry weight on shoulders only.