Friday-Sunday, July 13-15, 2012
As
soon as I wrapped up my work deadline, we hit the road for the North Cascades to
go camping and kayaking. We set up camp at Colonial Creek campground at a
waterfront walk-in site near the picnic area and boat ramp. We took Chance for walk
along Thunder Creek Trail where we only saw snippets of Diablo Lake through the
thick trees.
This
was a cool cracked cave-like rock.
Me
inside a tall old tree!
Tree
mushroom dew droplets.
Now
how come leaves this size are nowhere to be found when you need to go #2.
Diablo Lake was formed in 1928 when the Seattle Lighting
Department completed the Diablo Dam in the Skagit River Gorge. The water is so
cold with its glacial water source hours away. In the summer, the lake turns
vivid green as sunlight scatters through floating particles of glacial rock
flour. Green wavelengths of light reflect, while other colors are absorbed.
Thunder Arm shoreline of Diablo Lake.
Looking
back at our camp through the trees from the dock.
Camp.
Surprised
that Chance is laying down at camp.
Cooking
dinner over the fire.
Crazy
dog curled up at camp. This can’t be Chance.
Dusk
on Diablo Lake.
Chance
wants out of the tent. I guess it’s time for bed.
The
next morning we took the kayak out to paddle 4+ miles of Diablo Lake. It was a
little overcast, but cool enough to not worry about Chance staying in the car
while we paddled. We started from the boat ramp at Colonial Creek campground.
We
paddled by the rest of the campground and Thunder Arm on the north side of Hwy
20.
Our
view.
And
then it started to rain.
We
put on our skirts and paddled through. There wasn’t any rain in the forecast
and it didn’t look as bad further ahead. As we made it closer to the main
portion of Diablo Lake, the rain thankfully subsided.
Beautiful
shorelines.
Misty
fog over the cold water in the warm air.
Reflections.
Clear
calm water in tight waterways on the north side of Diablo Lake.
Green
moss.
Waterfall.
We
paddled as close as we could to Ross Dam before we encountered Danger signs and
turned around.
On
our way back to camp, another great view of the long waterfall.
The
water was so cold, it was too cold to let your legs sit on the bottom of the boat
for too long.
Great
tandem paddle.
Back
at the campground.
With
the rain and denser growing fog growing, we went into the nearest town, Newhalem,
home of Seattle City Light for the afternoon. We picked up more firewood and
then visited the small General Store established in 1922 and the Seattle City
Light train car.
The
water in the Skagit River was raging fast.
Suspension
bridge.
Spiderweb
after rain.
More
raging Skagit River near Gorge Dam.
Gorge
Creek Falls.
We drove to Diablo, the other Seattle City Light worker
town, which was practically nothing, even smaller than Newhalem.
Back at Colonial Creek Campground with the misty
rainy weather, the fog was rising off the cool glacier waters into the warm air.
It made for some cool pics.
We walked
over the other side of the campground’s shoreline.
Colonial
Creek log crossing.
I
took Joe’s poking stick. He’s a very possessive pyro.
Doesn’t
get much better than a campfire with roasted marshmellows.
Saturday
night’s misty dusk sunset.
Sunday morning we packed up camp and head to the trailhead
to Ross Dam.
Three border patrol officers were there checking
license plates and then proceeded down the trail carrying an M16. Wonder what
that was about...
Ross
Dam Trail that also leads to Ross Lake Resort.
Top
of a waterfall which I believe was the big one we paddled past on Diablo Lake
the day before.
Dam!
I see a dam! Look Chance!
Dam!
Now that’s a dam!
As
far up Diablo Lake below that we were allowed to paddle.
Ross
Lake behind Ross Dam.
Waterfall
into Ross Lake.
Beautiful
colorful weeds.
Back
across the Dam.
I’ve
had a really bad sore throat so I had been drinking a lot of water all weekend.
This port-a-potty would have to do. Chance had to make sure all was good with
me since the wind had started to blow really hard. My idea of a picnic lunch on
the dam turned into a save yourself and don’t lose your favorite hat kind of
moment.
On
our drive back home we stopped at the Diablo Lake overlook. It was really windy
here too.
We also stopped at the Que Car BBQ served in an old red
caboose. There was a little too much sauce for our liking, but it was still
good for BBQ not from the south.
We were beyond ready to be home to take a shower after 3
days.
