Hike Distance: 7.8 miles Yearly Hike Distance: 1785.0 miles
Elevation Gain: 675 feet Yearly Elevation Gain: 232089 feet
I hike these trails often enough that I typically take a new route each time. Today was yet a new route for this wonderful hike! When I arrived the State Park employees were cutting down a rotting tree. I initially heard the chainsaw but didn’t see what tree was being cut. There was a yell and then I saw the HUGE tree fall, and it landed with a loud thud! I took a look, later, and saw that indeed the tree was rotted on the inside near the base.
Getting back to my hike. I started out by heading down to the lake are hiking around the lower lake trail. Views of Battleground Lake were exceptional and there were only a few fisherman along the shores. It was drizzling when I got there, but the rain picked up later in the hike, and then went back to a drizzle later in the day.
After exiting the lower lake trail I headed to the outer loop trail and went in a counter-clockwise direction. When I intersected the trail leading to the Chelatchie Railroad Trail I took it and went to the end. I only saw one couple along this trail and it was nice to be alone. Once I got back to the Battleground Lake outer loop trail I continued in a counter-clockwise direction and completed the loop.
The mood today was outstanding and I felt like I was hiking just before sunset. It felt like the darkness would soon consume me but it never quite came about. I looked around but never saw any animals and no people were on the Battleground Lake trails. Someday I need to take the time and just sit and observe where I am. I don’t seem to ever just rest and spend time absorbing my surroundings and being an observer. Definitely a wonderful rainy day in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.