
Trip Report
Backpack - Gem Lake
Incredible scenery and swimming (for the cold tolerant). :-) Incredibly buggy and smoke from distant fires rolled in.
- Wed, Jul 31, 2024 — Fri, Aug 2, 2024
- Backpack - Snow & Gem Lakes (Snoqualmie)
- Snow & Gem Lakes (Snoqualmie)
- Backpacking
- Successful
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- Road suitable for all vehicles
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On our second day smoke rolled in from distant fires and we chose to cut our trip short by one night. The smoke lifted as we hiked out (and took time to play at Snow) but it returned (according to purple air) the next morning. All were happy with the call. Below are the before and after pictures.
Day 1 afternoon
Morning of Day 2
This is a very used trail. We started out on a Wednesday to avoid crowds and I think we did. We saw at least 6 other backpacking groups heading in. Two mother daughters. Two single men (one carrying an paddleboard to Wildcat). And two duos. Only 3 parties (including us, at 5 people) wound up at Gem. We were open about our destination and that might have encouraged some to press for Wildcat.
I would probably not do this as an overnight again during bug season. Only one of us was adequately guarded and most were covered in welts.
But we all left happy -- for the challenge, for the beauty, for the bear grass bloom, for the swimming in crystal clear lakes, for the gazillion stars (some reflected in the water), for the comradery.