Early Season Snow

Whether we want it or not, hiking season in Washington always starts with snow. It’s beautiful, but I will never be warm again so there is that. Since I’m starting this blog mid-year, here is a few of those early season hikes in 2026 to get the year started

Gold creek pond

Since Gold Creek Pond is a very short walk, I continued on to Heli’s Pond. It gave me the experience I was looking for in the day. A trudge through the snow surrounded by trees with that quiet solitude

For some crazy reason, after doing that hike, I decided it would be great fun to head uphill at Kendal Lakes. I didn’t make it very far as the snow had started falling and I didn’t bring snowshoes. It was still a great time and I regret nothing - despite what my face seems to suggest

Lake 22

Way too popular a location to go in the summer time, I always enjoy it as a shoulder season hike. The lake looks particularly spectacular frozen and you only see a handful of people. There was a whole family doing the polar plunge. Out of respect, I didn’t take pictures of strangers. It still made me smile and it was nice to enjoy a cup of coffee and eat my lunch to a show

ollalie lake via pratt connector

There are two ways to get to Ollalie Lake, one of my favorite places in Washington. The main road, FR 9030, always closes in the winter. This means the only way to get there is to sneak across the Pratt Connector trail. More elevation gain, but the miles are enjoyable. It was my first time going this way and it was a really perfect day

Perfect

The hike up was just a light marino wool shirt, but the second you dropped down into the basin it was immediately ice cold and the trail was covered in snow. I had myself a little picnic and it was truly a perfect day. The type of days you dream of when you’re at work wishing you… weren’t at work