Reed Lakes

Despite the dark skies dripping with water, I felt absolutely determined to get out of the house, even for just a night. So on Sunday, after drinking two cups of coffee and reading the newspaper cover to cover, I packed my backpack and headed out the door toward Hatcher Pass. The rain seemed to intensify as I approached the trail head. I pushed away the thoughts of "are you crazy," with the thoughts of "at least you have your gators and lots of layers." And I'm glad I did... the trip turned out to be phenomenal. I hiked past waterfalls, over a boulder field and through a plethra of marmots to Reed Lakes - beautiful blue-green glacial lakes tucked on a mountain side. I camped next to upper Reed Lake, in a flat and grassy spot with gorgeous views in all directions. My cooking spot, down a ways (due to bear considerations), had equally spectacular vistas. In the evening the rain let up and I was able to cook free of splating water (even so, I still managed to burn diner) and the lifting clouds led to a great evening jont up the nearby hillside.

The moral of this story: getting outside is good for the soul.

The perfect spring!Water was literally shooting out of the side of the mountain.

If you look close you can see a moskito on my forehead...there certainly are a few of those in Alaska right now!

My tent site

I mean, some people might call this beautiful

Upper Reed Lake

Breakfast: oatmeal, the remainder of my hot cocoa mix, dried milk and cinnamon. Yum!

The peak up above