Coon Lake

It seems like weather in Stehekin more or less alternates, a bad weather day, yesterday was cold, windy and overcast, with a good weather day, today was warmer, sunny, and less windy.

Left early (about 6:10) for High Bridge to take the Coon Lake Trail. Stopped for shots off the pier right down the road where the peaks were just catching the sunlight. Got to High Bridge abut 7:05. Found the trail head and went back to the truck for my camera. Took about 70 minutes to hike the Coon Lake Trail which is listed as 3.2 miles round trip with a 700 ft increase in elevation.

It was awesome early in the morning, unfortunately where the trail hit the lake, the sun was right in front of me, causing a lot of glare. The were lots of small birds active by the trail, and ducks in the water. I walked around to the left, probably about a third of the way around the lake where I lost the trail in the snow. At one point I sank to mid-thigh in the snow, but managed to continue a little further. Tromped down to the lakeshore and was able to photograph the Beaver lodge. By that time, they didn't seem to be active. Made my way back, and around the other side. Saw bear tracks in the snow. McGregor Mtn. seemed to be sitting in my lap -- it is huge at that point. Went back to where the trail hit the lake, found a comfortable rock, and sat and waited for the sun to be in the other direction; popped off the occasional shot. Saw a hummingbird, but it was gone in a flash. Ate lunch about 12, and started back around 12:50 after deciding that, as beautiful as it is, I didn't want to sit there until 4 or 5 PM for better light.

There is great seep about two-thirds of the way down, but the light was wrong, so maybe tomorrow, when I plan to go back to High Bridge and take another shot at Agnes Gorge.