Lake 22

Hiking to Lake 22 was a surreal experience and one of my favorite hikes that I’ve ever done. The lake itself was gorgeous, but what I loved even more was the journey to the lake and walking around it. I did this hike on a foggy morning, so a majority of the time the trail was shrouded in fog. This made for a very moody hike and I felt like I was walking through a misty, magical land. Throughout this 5.4 mile hike, you can hear the rush of Twentytwo Creek as you steadily climb through a forest of western hemlock, mountain hemlock, alder, and red cedar. There are several waterfalls flowing down Twentytwo Creek. One of the waterfalls that I stopped at was tucked back into the forest.

This waterfall was about 1.5 miles into the trail and isn’t marked. I found it because I saw a small path to my left leading towards the sound of rushing water, which usually indicates a waterfall is near. My curiosity got the better of me so I followed the path into the forest. I didn’t know what to expect and was pleasantly surprised, the waterfall was serene and secluded. After admiring this waterfall and having a snack, I continued on the main trail up a rocky hill. The section of the trail was my favorite because the fog was being blown around through the trees, making them look mysterious and full of secrets.

Once I reached the lake, it was completely covered in fog. I couldn’t see very far in front of me. I had no idea what the lake or my surroundings looked like because I had never done this trail before.

Despite not being able to see anything, I still wanted to walk the loop around the lake since it wasn’t very long. As I begin walking, the fog started to clear up a little bit and the sun started to peak through. I passed an older man on the trail and we were talking about how foggy it was. He told me that I should try to wait out the fog. Since fog moves, there was a chance that the weather would clear up. So I followed his advice and continued to wait. I’m glad I did, because he was right. The fog started to float away and the sun came out.

The mixture of fog and sun made for breathtaking views. Since I could see better, I decided to fly my drone to investigate my surroundings from above. Once I made it to the sky, I could see that the fog was being pushed north out of the mountain range.

After about an hour, I was finally able to see all of my surroundings. This hike made me realize how unpredictable mother nature can be and how patience pays off. If I had given up and turned around, I would’ve never seen these breathtaking views. While I love hiking in moody weather, it was a surreal experience being able to see Lake 22 completely covered in fog and slowly watch it clear up. It’s an experience that I will never forget.

Note for the reader: I share these locations so that others can see beautiful places and enjoy nature as much as I do. Please be respectful of the outdoors and what condition it is in when you visit. Don’t go off trail, leave no trace, and pack out what you came in with.