Topped off a wonderful five days at Lake Crescent with a morning hike up Pyramid Peak. It was especially fun after hiking up Storm King on the opposite side of the lake a few days before. We were blessed with a gorgeous cloud-free sky which showed off the incredible color of this most amazing lake. The temperature was perfect as we set off at 9:15. We encountered only four other sets of hikers the whole time so it was a very peaceful walk.
The trail starts off at a perfect grade and the most easy-to-walk-on padded trail of compressed forest duff, gradually climbing until reaching the white-knuckled traverse of the slide area. The trail here was dry and pebbly which made the crossing fairly terrifying. Being able to see all the way down to the lake 1500' below did not help! Using my hiking pole and gripping the edge I managed to make my way across, sending just a few small rocks plummeting downward. Whew! It was easier on the way back since it was uphill, so less sliding.
That bit over, the trail became a bit steeper but still on a great substrate with some shade flowers blooming and just a few trail obstacles to climb over/around. The view was absolutely stunning, but the bugs at the summit were super annoying. (What is it with bugs on sunny summits?? There weren't any the rest of the hike.) We returned to eat lunch down the trail a ways where the bugs were only slightly less fierce.
It took us 3 hours and 15 minutes of active time up and back. I highly recommend it as a nice alternative to the highly trafficked Mt. Storm King if you're in the area. Which you should be. Lake Crescent is the BEST.
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