I woke up late having not fallen asleep right away. I think my body is getting too used to not having to wake up at a certain time. Going to bed at a decent time becomes harder the more I sleep in. I'd rather get up early if I can get my rest in. I'll have to work on this.
Since the info I read about the hike to Lake Marian said it would take about 3 hours there and back, I did some grocery shopping and got some stuff done before driving to the hike an hour away. I arrived at the hike starting point around 3:00 PM - enough time to get there and back I figured. As I headed to the path, I noticed Eva’s host coming off the path. We talked for a bit before I headed out for the hike. I saw Eva a few moments later trying to catch up with the group. She’d swum in the lake, so was a few steps behind everyone. She was in a hurry, so we said our hellos and such, then parted.
The hike was steep! But the view of the mountain lake at top was amazing. A mountain lake surrounded by steep mountain walls. On the far side of the lake was some snow, maybe left over from winter, or an avalanche from a glacier above, and what looked like a cave. I decided to walk around to it and it explore it a bit. Unfortunately, to get over to the other side you had to basically rock-hop along the shore the whole way, so it was extremely tedious. The other issue was the dark. Since I'd gotten such a late start I needed to make sure I had light to hike back in. The trail was steep, rocky, and muddy so you really had to watch your step. I slid on the wet rocks quite often coming up.
It was slow going and by about 30 minutes I’d made it to the other side. Reassessing everything I figured I was about 30 minutes away from the snow and potential cave. Didn't look that far away when I first started this side trip. Having already passed the time I set aside to head back down so as not to be traveling in the dark, I decided it best turn around. I was also pretty tired anyway. Had I come earlier, I would have had the time to do it. I now deeply regretted coming so late. I considered doing it anyway, taking my chances with the dark, but as it looked like everyone had left the area across the way, I felt as though I should leave. In hindsight, I probably would have been ok, especially as I would later see others coming up the hill as I went down.
When I arrived back at the shore where people view the lake from I was the only one there. It was nice. I had the whole view of the mountain lake and steep mountain walls to myself. It was an amazing experience.
I made it back to my car in light, with light to spare. Yeah, I could have done the extra hour of hiking out to the snow and whatever it was that looked like a cave. Maybe I'll come back to this hike before leaving the area? I googled it once I got home, but don't see anything about a cave up there. If it was a cave, it would be more well-known. Maybe it was just a shadow?
Since the info I read about the hike to Lake Marian said it would take about 3 hours there and back, I did some grocery shopping and got some stuff done before driving to the hike an hour away. I arrived at the hike starting point around 3:00 PM - enough time to get there and back I figured. As I headed to the path, I noticed Eva’s host coming off the path. We talked for a bit before I headed out for the hike. I saw Eva a few moments later trying to catch up with the group. She’d swum in the lake, so was a few steps behind everyone. She was in a hurry, so we said our hellos and such, then parted.
The hike was steep! But the view of the mountain lake at top was amazing. A mountain lake surrounded by steep mountain walls. On the far side of the lake was some snow, maybe left over from winter, or an avalanche from a glacier above, and what looked like a cave. I decided to walk around to it and it explore it a bit. Unfortunately, to get over to the other side you had to basically rock-hop along the shore the whole way, so it was extremely tedious. The other issue was the dark. Since I'd gotten such a late start I needed to make sure I had light to hike back in. The trail was steep, rocky, and muddy so you really had to watch your step. I slid on the wet rocks quite often coming up.
It was slow going and by about 30 minutes I’d made it to the other side. Reassessing everything I figured I was about 30 minutes away from the snow and potential cave. Didn't look that far away when I first started this side trip. Having already passed the time I set aside to head back down so as not to be traveling in the dark, I decided it best turn around. I was also pretty tired anyway. Had I come earlier, I would have had the time to do it. I now deeply regretted coming so late. I considered doing it anyway, taking my chances with the dark, but as it looked like everyone had left the area across the way, I felt as though I should leave. In hindsight, I probably would have been ok, especially as I would later see others coming up the hill as I went down.
When I arrived back at the shore where people view the lake from I was the only one there. It was nice. I had the whole view of the mountain lake and steep mountain walls to myself. It was an amazing experience.
I made it back to my car in light, with light to spare. Yeah, I could have done the extra hour of hiking out to the snow and whatever it was that looked like a cave. Maybe I'll come back to this hike before leaving the area? I googled it once I got home, but don't see anything about a cave up there. If it was a cave, it would be more well-known. Maybe it was just a shadow?