Outdoor Adventures with Ancient Brit
PCT 2002 - September 21st
Day 151: Saturday 21st September
Ridge above Milk Creek – Image Lake
After half an hour traversing the alpine ridge, I saw a bear well below me in the
morning in a meadow beside the E. Fork, Milk Creek. The trail then dropped 3,000ft
down to Vista Creek with 59 switchbacks. Vista Creek was bridged, as was Suiattle
River, which I reached half an hour later. I collected the supply bag that I had left by
the river and had a big lunch to reduce the weight of my pack for the afternoon’s climb.
I decided to detour via Image Lake. This route was slightly longer than the PCT
with more climb, but followed a more interesting route. It only took me 3 hours for the
3,000ft climb up to Image Lake, but by the time I arrived it was already in shadow and
unfortunately too late for photography. Image Lake was a popular site and camping
wasn’t allowed beside the lake, but there was a campsite about five minutes away with a
fine view across Suiattle River to Glacier Peak. When I arrived at the camp as the sun
was setting, there were already three youngsters up for the weekend. Earlier in the day
they had seen and filmed a Mountain Lion in the rocks behind Image Lake. One of
them was carrying a handgun for protection! I put up my tent with the view of Glacier
Peak and settled down for dinner. It got cold very quickly as soon as the sun had set.
Day 151: 16.9 miles 8.31 hours Camp: Image Lake
Ridge above Milk Creek – Image Lake
After half an hour traversing the alpine ridge, I saw a bear well below me in the
morning in a meadow beside the E. Fork, Milk Creek. The trail then dropped 3,000ft
down to Vista Creek with 59 switchbacks. Vista Creek was bridged, as was Suiattle
River, which I reached half an hour later. I collected the supply bag that I had left by
the river and had a big lunch to reduce the weight of my pack for the afternoon’s climb.
I decided to detour via Image Lake. This route was slightly longer than the PCT
with more climb, but followed a more interesting route. It only took me 3 hours for the
3,000ft climb up to Image Lake, but by the time I arrived it was already in shadow and
unfortunately too late for photography. Image Lake was a popular site and camping
wasn’t allowed beside the lake, but there was a campsite about five minutes away with a
fine view across Suiattle River to Glacier Peak. When I arrived at the camp as the sun
was setting, there were already three youngsters up for the weekend. Earlier in the day
they had seen and filmed a Mountain Lion in the rocks behind Image Lake. One of
them was carrying a handgun for protection! I put up my tent with the view of Glacier
Peak and settled down for dinner. It got cold very quickly as soon as the sun had set.
Day 151: 16.9 miles 8.31 hours Camp: Image Lake
Dawn from camp
Glacier Peak
Suiattle River Bridge
Suiattle River
 |  |
| |