Summer's End Goal - Accomplished!

On our first hike in May of this summer's season, Chereé and I made it our goal to hike to Lake Serene by the end of summer. I will let you double click on this first picture so you can read the description of this "strenuous" hike.

In June we hiked to Bridal Veil Falls, which also goes along this same trail. What we saw on that hike was a middle portion of the multiple falls.


This time, the trail to the lake took us to, and actually across, the lowest portion of the falls.

The cliff drop-offs for the falls are pretty spectacular!

The steep trail is composed of many, many rocks......

....... and steps made from rocks..........

.....and a mixture of rocks and wooden steps....

This is the only break we took on the 3+ hour hike up.

Get the picture of the workout our legs received?!?!

At the top, the view of the valley towards the pass is something else!

Finally, the last turn comes and we see Mt Index, what the locals call "WOW! Corner". Just a 'few' more steps and we will be at the lake!

WE MADE IT!!!!

From the top, looking down where the falls first begin.

Cool tree!

Lake Serene

Mt. Index rises out of the lake

Beautiful glacial water

Lunch Rock

Phenomenal color!

...and to end our time in this Paradise, a lovely orange butterfly alights by us!

I thank you God for this most amazing day, for the leaping greenly spirits of trees, and for the blue dream of sky and for everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is yes. ~e.e. cummings