Garfield Ledges & Middlefork Valley
Saturday March 27th I had a free day. No obligations, a new camera, and the weather looked like it was going to clear as the day went on. I had to take this opportunity and find a great place for some photography. So I did what I usually do when I look for new places to explore. I headed to google maps. After an hour or so scrolling around the cascades near my house I stumbled upon a hike I had never heard of before. Garfield Ledges. It is a short hike with a great view at the end, this was exactly what I was looking for. It was located at the end of the Middlefork Snoqualmie Valley, an area I was very familiar with, so I set off.
As I drove down the valley I was on the lookout for photo opportunities along the river. The clouds still shrouded the mountain peaks so I had some time before I needed to start the hike. The low clouds gave a great sense of mood to these valley photos, with a little adjustment in Lightroom they turned dark and roiling.
The parking lot was filling up as I set out on the hike. It was short, but steep. Climbing over 800ft in just over a mile. The path was forested and mossy all the way up. The shade would be welcome on a warm summer day, but it was a little chilly on a dark March day. At the top the trail emerges from the dark woods and a view of the whole valley opens up before you. I was able to see all the way down the valley to Rattlesnake Ledge and up the side valley to the ridge behind Snow and Gen Lake.
As I sat up on the ledges I had lunch while watching the clouds swirl around the peaks. Over the next couple hours the clouds dissipated and the snow covered peaks showed through.
After the hike I explored down by the river across from the parking lot. It sparkled in the sunlight now that the morning clouds were gone.
