It has a reputation for being overcrowded with inexperienced hikers, and that doesn't exactly sound like it will provide the peaceful solace I crave when I go outdoors. I'm pretty outspoken, and I won't hesitate to chastise people for meadow trampling, littering, or even blasting their music on the trail, but it's usually easier if I just try to avoid the trails where that will happen. However, the end of October was nearing, and I wasn't sure if I'd have a hiking buddy that day, so I figured a trail that was guaranteed to have some other people on it would be a good plan. As it turns out, Adriana was free, and had also never done Rattlesnake Ledge, so we set off for a nice afternoon in the woods!
The hike is lovely and shaded most of the way. Moss covered trees and boulders line the trail which climbs steadily upward. While it's definitely a climb, and it certainly FEELS like a hike, it was not so steep as to be discouraging--and sometimes it's nice to feel like you're doing some work for the reward.
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| If you look closely, you can see the middle and lower viewpoints from here. |
We definitely chose to hike at the right time of year. There were plenty of people on the trail, but there was still space in the parking lot, and everyone out there seemed to be experienced (no hikers in flip-flops, nobody struggling with heat exhaustion, hypothermia, or dehydration, no music blasting from bluetooth speakers) which always makes my trip much more enjoyable.
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| Hike happy! |
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| What you can't see is that I'm desperately clutching my backpack so it' doesn't fall. I've learned a thing or two about sitting on the edge of a cliff this year... |
Adriana and I were both feeling good, so we decided to push on to the upper ledge, rather than the lower one most people stop at. Boy was it worth it! About a half mile more of trail gave us a private viewpoint of our own! The lake at the bottom had dried up at the end of the season, but I'd love to see it full and I may have to re-visit this early in the spring (before everybody else decides it's "hiking season" again).
One of the best parts about a good hike? Good food afterwards. If you're headed out to the Issaquah Alps, be sure to stop at the North Bend Bar and Grill for some killer nachos!
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| The remnants of a pretzel and a mountain of nachos |
My next "adventure" is going to be a big one, so stay tuned!
Hint: It's going to involve a lot of training on the "hill" featured in this picture :)
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