Good for you for beating the crowds. They can be daunting on nice weekends. Especially in the warmer months when vehicles can overflow out of the parking lot all the way down to Highway 2. I first hiked to Lake Serene nearly 50 years ago when the old trail was nearly a straight shot up to the lake from a different parking area near the mine that you visited in your previous video of this hike. Having hiked both trails, my preference was the old trail. Those steps are a grind. I believe the USFS punched in the new trail due to the number of injuries sustained by hikers. Many years ago I witnessed a trio of lads who looked like they had stepped out of an equipment ad for REI. One of them slipped on an icy patch near the bottom and broke an ankle. After telling his companions to keep him as warm as possible I scrambled the rest of the way down to the parking lot and drove to my home in Index where I called the intrepid folks at the fire station in Gold Bar who came up to carry him out. I beat those folks back to the injury site and waited until they arrived. The point of this missive is to point out the wisdom wearing your spikes during these icy times. Having some basic back-country first aid training will always be helpful, as well. Injuries can happen in an instant. I share your opinion of Mount Index as it is also my favorite mountain and I have had the distinct pleasure of looking out on it every day since 1976........weather permitting. Keep on Wandering Washington.
So beautiful! You got some great pictures! I appreciate that you always make sure to mention when a trail is more difficult, and any potential dangers, like avalanche chutes.
Phenomenal 👌! Your video was an absolute delight to watch, thank you for sharing your talent with us.
Good for you for beating the crowds. They can be daunting on nice weekends. Especially in the warmer months when vehicles can overflow out of the parking lot all the way down to Highway 2.
I first hiked to Lake Serene nearly 50 years ago when the old trail was nearly a straight shot up to the lake from a different parking area near the mine that you visited in your previous video of this hike. Having hiked both trails, my preference was the old trail. Those steps are a grind.
I believe the USFS punched in the new trail due to the number of injuries sustained by hikers. Many years ago I witnessed a trio of lads who looked like they had stepped out of an equipment ad for REI. One of them slipped on an icy patch near the bottom and broke an ankle. After telling his companions to keep him as warm as possible I scrambled the rest of the way down to the parking lot and drove to my home in Index where I called the intrepid folks at the fire station in Gold Bar who came up to carry him out. I beat those folks back to the injury site and waited until they arrived.
The point of this missive is to point out the wisdom wearing your spikes during these icy times. Having some basic back-country first aid training will always be helpful, as well. Injuries can happen in an instant.
I share your opinion of Mount Index as it is also my favorite mountain and I have had the distinct pleasure of looking out on it every day since 1976........weather permitting. Keep on Wandering Washington.
That sunrise on Index was super cool
So beautiful! You got some great pictures! I appreciate that you always make sure to mention when a trail is more difficult, and any potential dangers, like avalanche chutes.
Yes, that's important to me. Don't want to have people getting into conditions they aren't prepared for
It can be a little Avi prone as you are coming across to the bridge
Said that before you got to it. Check
What are you training for. Seems to me you are good to go
Here before the title changed :)