lost lake trail run
1/1/ 2023
Weather
Tue, 05.12
Wed, 06.12
Thu, 07.12
...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT PST TONIGHT... * WHAT...Southerly winds 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 50 mph expected. * WHERE...San Juan County, Western Whatcom County, Western Skagit County and Admiralty Inlet Area. * WHEN...Until midnight PST tonight. * IMPACTS...Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.
(NWS Seattle (Northwest Washington))
...HEAVY RAINFALL TODAY THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT WILL LEAD TO AN INCREASED THREAT OF LANDSLIDES IN WESTERN WASHINGTON... Rainfall of 1 to 5 inches over the past 3 days has increased soil moisture to moderate levels across western Washington. Heavy rainfall of 2 1/2 to 5 inches is expected today through Tuesday night. This amount of rain will put extra pressure on soil instability, leading to an increased threat of landslides and debris flows. For more information about current conditions, visit www.weather.gov/seattle, select Hydrology, and then scroll down for the links to the landslide information pages. For more information on landslides, visit the website for the Washington State Department of Natural Resources landslide geologic hazards at: http://bit.ly/2mtA3wn
(NWS Seattle (Northwest Washington))
.Heavy rain along with rising snow levels Monday into Tuesday will lead to rapidly rising rivers across the area. It is likely that many rivers will reach flood stage late Monday night or Tuesday. ...FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT... * WHAT...Flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues to be possible. * WHERE...Portions of northwest and west central Washington, including the following counties, in northwest Washington, Clallam, Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, Kitsap, Mason, San Juan, Skagit and Whatcom. In west central Washington, King, Lewis, Pierce, Snohomish and Thurston. * WHEN...Through late Wednesday night. * IMPACTS...Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. Flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas. Low-water crossings may be flooded. Extensive street flooding and flooding of creeks and rivers are possible. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - Excessive rainfall Monday and Tuesday with 7 to 10 inches possible over the Olympics, 5 to 9 inches over the Cascades, 3 to 5 inches along the coast and 1.5 to 3 inches over the interior lowlands. Snow levels will rise to around 9000 feet Monday night before dropping Tuesday. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood
(NWS Seattle (Northwest Washington))
Gaia Map
Approximate Route Map
The activities depicted on this site are inherently dangerous and can result in serious injury or death. Any action that you take as a result of information obtained from this site or any information provided through Hike2Hike is at your own risk.
2022 was just one of those years. It gave me some wonderful things. I can’t thank the year enough for my partner TrailCutter and all of our adventures so far. I finally got my freedom and independence back after the COVID lockdowns forced me into a destitute situation. But somehow it still felt like a year I couldn’t wait to say goodbye to. There were still a lot of failures, shortcomings and unresolved issues. Maybe that is every year. Maybe we all just idealize the ones that have enough good times.
Either way, after visiting my sister in southern Oregon for the Christmas holiday TrailCutter and I had planned on making a run at the summit of Mount Saint Helens via the Worm Flows Route. Weather was perfect. Timing for the route was superb. But, unfortunately, TrailCutter came down with an illness that was most likely passed along by one of my nieces or nephews.
Instead we drove home on New Year’s weekend. Since I was still healthy I decided I would do something outside to celebrate the coming of 2023, and after much debate with myself I decided on a trail run in the Chuckanut mountains to lost lake.
The first section of trail is all uphill so the day began with a fast walk up a gravel road. Without a pack on and in running shoes it was a brief walk up to the trail junction for Fragrance Lake road and the South Lost Lake trail junction. When I arrived here I knew my original intention was to take a right and head for the lake. But after looking at my Gaia map, I realized the ridge above me could be a fun run on a foggy day. So instead of heading right I took a left and headed uphill.
The trail up to the Ridge Trail is steep. So much so that keeping my heart rate in a defined training zone felt like a chore. I would lightly jog, then walk, then stop just to stay in the range I wanted to be in. By the time I reached the ridge proper I was really looking forward to actually letting my legs get going.
The ridge trail was definitely the best part of the run for the day. It rolls up and down, is covered in roots, has slopes that are made of rock and was plastered with blow-downs. I will admit I hate running but ever since TrailCutter introduced me to running a trail it has grown on me. The more technical the more distracting it is. The challenge feels like a low level meditation. The ridge trail above Lost Lake was one of my favorite runs so far. I didn’t even feel like I was running anymore. If you are looking for an easy day out, run somewhere else. If you want an easily accessible challenge, this ridge is probably for you.
After a couple of miles the ridge does end and heads down toward the North Lost Lake trail. The next couple of miles heading toward the lake are a bit boring and monotonous. In fact until reaching the South Lost Lake trail again the run is a mostly flat jog through thick forest.
The trail passes Lost Lake high above the shore, then the trail rises quickly and wraps back around to the west side of the Chuckanut mountains. From here there is a well defined path to run as it leads back toward the road you started on.
When I reached the junction between the trail and the starting roadway, I realized I was just about 0.5 miles short of what could be a half marathon. The farthest I have ever run previously was exactly 13 miles. Mistakenly I thought that was a half marathon at the time and gave up once the GPS said I had gotten there. This time, I figured I could actually run one. So to make sure I got the full one I turned right and headed up the road toward Fragrance Lake determined to make it the full distance.
I managed to make it back to the trailhead after an (actual) half marathon, panting and excited. It is not often that you head to do a trail run for the day and end up starting off the year with your longest run ever. Here is to a 2023 that is filled with exceptionalism (hopefully…).