Green Mountain #57

After hiking to Lower Wallace Falls Friday evening, the following day I hiked with B and his cousin, and cousins finance to Green Mountain. We left later than we had planned to, but still early enough, as in we left our place at 9 a.m. The drive is very long, and the dirt road seemed to last forever.....28 miles forever and is so narrow only one vehicle fits. However the drive up was pretty.  A northwest forest pass  is required, the trail is dog friendly, there is no bathroom of any sort and no drinking water.

Once you arrive there is only parking on the shoulder, there didn’t seem to be an actual parking area. But there were a lot of cars, I was really surprised at the amount, I thought that the drive on the dirt road would keep people away. But it didn't. See what I mean about the parking?

A sign that informs you not to mess with anything on the Lookout.

You start up this incline and go around the curve

to the information sign.

A sign with information on the Lookout.

Okay enough lollygagging, let's get serious here.

There were a few switch backs through this wooded section.

Then it opened enough to tease you with this view.

Back into the trees we go.

At this point in the trail B was way a head of the 3 of us. He hikes so fast compared to me, I literally have to run to keep up with him. Which is exhausting and I am not able to do.

The trail for the most part is relatively clear of roots.

I always find trees being held up by other trees or in a v shape fascinating.

I thought that this tree was pretty cool, and I really really wanted to go sit on it, but alas I did not because I am responsible and don't go off trail.

Then you break through the trees and come upon this view.

And this view.

What a pretty view!

I took this picture because I felt like I could walk right into the blue sky.

This one is looking down to the river.

A very pretty flower.

This part of the trail the sun became very hot, there is only sections of shade along the way.

So so pretty and so hot.

Another very pretty flower.

What do you see or hear Cookie? She found B. He waited at this section for us to catch up to him.

At this point we started catching up to other hikers.

We stopped and ate the lake but the bugs and mosquitoes were so bad that we didn't stay very long. Mosquitoes love me even with what feels like gallons of bug spray applied to myself. The joke is that I am B's bug spray because he never gets bit when I am around. The below picture is shortly after the lake. We did come across some people that camped around the lake. Which I think would be lots of fun to do next time.

This section had a ton of bugs and mosquitoes as well. Cookie was covered in them, poor girl.

There is a stream on the right hand side of the trail here, with lots of bugs as well.

B crossing the small section of snow that covers the trail.

As you hike you can see everyone on the trail with how the trail meanders and winds.

I can see it.............So close but still so far..

I couldn't get enough of the views, it was spectacular.

I felt the need to take a cheesy picture of myself on the lookout. That is a solar panel behind my right shoulder.

Earth meets Sky.

On our way back down the trail. Cookie did such an amazing job. I am so proud of the kind of hiking dog that she has become. She stays right by my side or goes back and forth between B and I. She never gets side tracked by other people or dogs. She has come a long way from the scared dog that we rescued 2 years ago.

But back to the hike, it is so worth it. I absolutely loved this hike in a short time you get to have that being in the alpine feeling. On the way down we caught up with a women's hiking group; and thoroughly enjoyed talking and laughing with them. It made the time go by faster. In all I think we did about 8 miles round trip. After making it back to the car we drove to Darrington and had hamburgers.

Until next time!