2012-09-03 17-Lakes Loop Hike (#8)

Hiking Photo Link

Praise the Lord for a great hiking weather on Labor Day. Aesthetically speaking, the 17-Lakes Loop trail is by far the most awe-inspiring trail I've ever gone on this year. My family, Yizhe, and her two friends had great time enjoying the fellowship and numerous lakes alongside of the trail. The trail leading to "The Notch" (rock mountain shelf and cairns) is quite visible. We took a lunch break at "The Notch" - the highest point of the hike with great view of the surrounding lakes. From "The Notch" on, however the trail is hard to identify at times. But we knew that we had to head west between Twin Lakes on the left and some no-name lakes on the right. So we were able to find the trail leading to the Clyde Lake - second largest lake on the loop trail. Trail leaving Clyde Lake was quite visible for about half mile, then right before Watson Lake (we could see the lake from above), we got lost and went on the back side of Watson Lake and several no-name lakes. Even we had only 6 people in our group, we easily got separated. We had to shout out and wait for others to respond to locate each other. Luckily we got back as a group after a quarter mile searching for each other. We then got to a fork and bumped into a hiker who happened to hike from Cliff Lake trail to "The Notch" and on his way back. At this point, we were back to the loop trail again. What an impressive hike! Back at the trailhead parking lot, we saw a "Lost Dogs" sign posted on the tree near the restroom. We now understand how easily hikers can get lost in this beautiful but at times treacherous terrain and really appreciate what had happened to us.