Showerthought: The trail to Blue Lake is not the same as it was two years ago

I hiked the Blue Lake loop in the North Cascades last month and compared it to my photos from 2022. The main campsite near the water is now about 30 feet further back from the shore because of erosion. Rangers told me a big storm last fall washed out a big piece of the bank. It changed where you can safely set up a tent and filter water. Has anyone else noticed a spot on their favorite route that changed fast?

3 comments

3 Comments

hernandez.ben20d ago

Man, that's wild. I had to totally change how I camp at this spot in the White Mountains because of the same thing. The stream I used to filter from cut a new channel and left the old one dry. Now I pack way more extra cord for my water bag so I can reach from further back. Always check the ground for fresh cracks or loose dirt before you set up, too. It's crazy how fast a good spot can become a bad one.

ryan_hayes223d ago

Saw a geology report that said the Pacific Crest Trail near Stevens Pass lost over 50 yards of path in a landslide last spring. They had to reroute the whole section.

james_clark23d ago

My local park had a creek that shifted its entire bed after just one heavy rain season. It feels like the ground under our feet is less solid than it used to be. You see it on the news with roads washing out and coastlines changing. Makes you wonder what maps will look like in another ten years.