Talapus and Olallie Lakes, WA

Celea McInerny
Sep 15, 2016
3 min read

With some extra time on my hands this week, I decided to venture out into the Snoqualmie-Mt. Baker National Forest, just an hour East from my Seattle home. I found Talapus and Olallie Lakes which had an elevation gain of 1,200 feet and was an eight mile round trip hike. I went by myself but with the company of my pup, Mac, on a Tuesday morning. I exited on exit 45 and quickly drove up a tall gravel forest road. The September weather had been wonderful, at a comfortable 70 degrees, a perfect temperature for a long hike through the forest. I was surprised to find I wasn’t the only one who had the same brilliant idea as myself. The beginning of the trail was a bit crowded with the fellow hikers, but I ended up letting everyone pass me because Mac had to stop and smell the ferns every 20 feet.

I always enjoy going on hikes on my own. There’s something about my personal energy that just feels relieved. Not that I don’t like hiking with others, but there are definitely advantages.

I’m on my own schedule, which means I can depart and arrive whenever I want or spend a little extra time on places that stand out the most to me.
I don’t need to talk and hike, not because I don’t want to, but because I can’t breathe while hiking altitude and miles.
People don’t understand Mac, he stalls, smells, gets scared of people, and a whole bunch of abnormal dog traits that annoys and slows people down.
I can soak up the moment without the opinions of others. Every step I take is for me to digest, which is a beautiful thing to do in wilderness.
I don’t need to worry about accommodating fellow hiking friends. Although great to experience with others, the focus can sometimes move away from the experience and onto the individual needs of people around you.
Lastly, it feels like a test of independence. Everything relies on you, if you get a flat tire, need for water, get lost on the trail, etc. those are all factors that keep the mind busy and alert when traveling alone. There’s no one to rely on and cell service usually falls out.

The first hike on the trail was Talapus lake, which was the marker for the crowds of hikers to break up. I decided to not stop at the lake, and to instead catch it on my way down. I continued a few miles up to Olallie Lake which was a beautiful lake with a full circumference of trees. My main goal was to get an aerial or downward shot of the lake, but as I circled the body of water, there was no path leading up, and the tall trees blocked any chance of that. Instead, Mac and I sat at the base of the lake, with no people in sight, only voices. This hike is meant to be a beginner’s backpacking hike, so campsites were scattered around the lake. It was extremely peaceful to be hanging out on a mountain top lake, and the weather was just incredible. Mac even enjoyed jumping into “deep” puddles of thick mud-which later earned him a bath.

After some time at Olallie, I headed back down to Talapus. It was a pleasant downhill climb through the varied paths of the forest. Sometimes switchbacks, boardwalks, tree roots, creek crossings, or just plain wide trails. Talapus lake was no longer heavily populated, so I snatched a floating log to sit on and enjoy the views until the rest of the hike. After 8 miles, which was supposed to be 6, and four hours, I was so exhausted and refreshed. Mac did a great job, but instantly rested his head on my lap. It was a great September hike into an area I had never seen and one I may backpack through next Summer with some friends. All in all, I would give this hike a score of 7 out of 10-due to the limited viewpoints of the lakes. I’m sure it would also be beautiful if it were frosted with snow during the early or late winter...