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.