North Lake is one of those over-looked surprises of a lake.
Nestled back in an area that's easy to reach, but seldom
visited. It's a spectacular blue gem of a lake surrounded by
steep, difficult and rocky terrain.The route to North Lake
is a continuation of the trail to Independence Lake. The trail
is gentle and easy as it climbs little more than 100 feet to
the shores of Independence Lake at .7 miles.
Follow the
trail around the lake to its northeast corner. Here the
climbing begins. The route to North Lake climbs through many
steep switch backs and continues grinding on up 1500 feet
above little, forest-bound Independence Lake.
Before
reaching its high point at 5000 feet, the trail passes a
small tarn on the left. Shortly thereafter is a field of
broken rock. A trail continues forward and down to a larger
melt-water tarn. Here there are a few campsite and great views
to the South. But this is just the terminus for those who have
lost their way to North Lake.
Back at the rock field search
for a trail heading upward. The true route may be marked by a
cairn or by flagging. Follow your instincts and regain the
obvious tread as it climbs to a pass and your first glimpses
of North Lake.
From the pass, a short way trail leads upward
to the southwest and ends at a point with a fantastic view of
Mount Baker to the North.
The trail to North Lake heads down
giving up 1500 feet of elevation as you go. Though the stretch
of trail rarely if ever sees any maintenance it is in very
good shape and easily followed. The trail plays a crazy game
of connect the dots with every tarn on the southern slope of
the bowl before diving straight down to the lake's blue
waters.
North Lake is surrounded on all sides by steep
terrain. Traveling around it would be very difficult - bring a
boat. The trail meets the lake-shore at its southern-most end
and here is only one small site barely suitable for camping.
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