Rainy Pass to Stevens Pass, 1979 - page 14

PCT switchbacks down that nasty ridge (that I chose to avoid!)

Sunday, Day 8
September 23, 1979
10:30 AM, Kennedy Hot Springs

Well, what do you think of that! Talk about trottin’ right along! I made 20-miles yesterday. I left my little camp at about 8:05 AM and headed for Mica Lake at a leisure pace. It was overcast, with the bottom of the cloud layer hanging at about 3500 feet. Needless to say, I was in it before very long.

I met two guys headed out about a mile below where this trail meets up with the PCT. They'd been going to climb Glacier, but conditions just weren’t very good. They said the clouds were really socked in up there. I also met a party of three at the bridge crossing and they said they been up on Lime Ridge the day before and had just come down from Grassy Point. They were just leaving when I arrived so I sat down on one of the rocks they vacated and put on a couple of sweaters, my hat, and then tied a long wool knicker sock around my neck as a makeshift scarf. I ate a little snack but didn't stay too long. I guess it was around 10 or 10:30 AM by then. I thought I would make my way up to Mica Lake And set up camp there.

Man, that was one stiff climb up to the lake! And it’s another thousand feet up to Fire Creek Pass after that. The PCT dropped back down to Milk Creek before switchbacking all the way up to Grassy Point. It’s a little discouraging to work so hard to gain elevation only to lose it so soon afterwards.

Mica Lake

But as I was climbing up to the lake the sun started breaking through the clouds. It was pretty much clear by the time I hit the lake. And what a lovely little lake it is. Now, this is my idea of a mountain lake! Clear, deep blue water in a barren rocky basin. The camping situation wasn't very good, though. There was one site and it would have been okay I guess, but it was pretty rocky and very exposed.

I took a break and sat down on the rocks near the lake. It was wonderful to sit in the sun. I ate some trail snacks and took a couple photos of this little lake, which (according to the PCT trail guide) is pretty much frozen over nine months of the year. As I sat there, I realized that it was only 1:30 PM.

Mica Lake tent site

I started thinking to myself, it must only be another 7 to 8 miles to the Hot Springs. So I’ve got out my map and proceeded to check things out. Here are the pertinent elevation numbers: my Milk Creek camp, 2000 feet; the junction with the PCT, 4000 feet; Mica Lake, 5450’; Fire Creek Pass, 6200’. And the distance to Kennedy Hot Springs was only 8.2 miles. Hey, I could do that!

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