My left ankle has been very sore the past week(probably from not using it enough!) so I wanted to loosen it up with more of a walk than a hike. Sunday Mar.1 was a very nice day, cold to start but warming in the sun, so I headed east over the pass to Easton to walk the old Milwaukee rail-trail headed west along the lake. From the Iron Horse State Park parking area in Easton, it was a mile and a half west along the lake to the Yakima River which runs into the now half dry lake bed. Not enough snow in the mountains this year to fill up the lake. The trail follows the current Stampede Pass line that is still occasionally used by BNSF.
There is a small tunnel about 2/3 of the way, its maybe 200′ long, just long enough to echo or amplify sound. Fun to yell when nobody else around!
At the west end of the lake where the river comes in, the tracks curve to follow upriver. There is a relatively new concrete and steel trail bridge in place but there was a locked fence at each end of the bridge. From the east end where I arrived, there was a wide enough gap in the fence to slip thru onto the bridge, but the other end wasn’t wide enough to continue thru, and I didn’t feel like climbing over the fence.
There were two picnic tables just outside the fence for resting/eating, so I had my sandwich and hot cocoa there hoping a train might come thru. After I finished I slipped thru the gap in the fence and sat in the middle of the bridge in the sun relaxing and enjoying the warmth of the sun along with a slight cool breeze. Continuing to hope a train might come, as it was a perfect viewpoint above the river and the tracks. Sadly, nada.
I will have to come back on a warmer day when the gates are open and I can continue on the trail. Anyway, after about an hour, I headed back to the car. I slowly drove thru town and up to the state park and went into the picnic area by the lake. The camping area was closed. Hadn’t been there in 20 years or more. Had some more of my cocoa and enjoyed the sun and quiet, hardly anyone else around, only a handful of people walking the lakebed.
From there I slowly headed home. I pulled off the hwy at Hyak exit and drove to the boat ramp at Lake Keechelus. The lake was full up, which was surprising since we haven’t had much snow this year to melt off. It was quiet there too, and one or two small boats out on the lake.
Got home about 330 where it was clouding up already and cooling down again. But a great little outing for the day. And my ankle much improved from the walk!