So, I know I have previously discussed my soul friend/hiking buddy. A few months back we decided we wanted to plan a girls weekend and go out to Leavenworth, which is a big deal to people around here. Anyways, we wanted to do an over night hike in the mountains and then do a night in Leavenworth. She texts me super hyped about a Larch. I didn’t know what this was so I asked, what the heck is a “Larch” ? She responds its this tree and they are so amazing. Im just thinking, you want me to hike this big a** mountain for a tree? She was so excited about it being a yellowish orange tree. So naturally I asked if she’s ever been to midwest during fall? They have a lot of colorful trees and you don’t have to gain 4000 ft of elevation to see them. She SWORE it was different. So I decided ok, sure I need the exercise and I like hiking in the mountains anyways.
As we drive 4 hours out to the mountains, I am super intrigued to see these ever so valued trees. We get to the hike and we start our way up the mountain. Everything is so beautiful, it was honestly incredible which was good start to our hike. I, of course, am dying at how fast we are gaining elevation. We played leap frog with like 2 other groups on the way up, the elevation gain was getting the best of everyone that day. This was the FIRST time I had ever got nauseous from elevation change.
A few hours pass and we are almost up to the trees, I look up and see this giant switch back but its open now so we have fresh air and views of all of the mountains surrounding us. No yellow trees yet though! We take it easy up this switch back, do a quick little photo shoot and pet a few pups. We were getting so close and her excitement was real, which lead to me getting hyped. Im thinking wow, I get to see these wild trees that bring thousands of people out this time of the year every year.
After another mile, we walk through this beautiful little entry way and I stop. WOW. This you can’t find in the midwest. I was in awe. I was teasing her non stop about being excited about a tree but I can’t even explain how breathtaking this view was. Surrounded by mountains and these incredible orange and yellow trees. It was basically a “Fall version” of a Christmas tree. I felt like the sun bursted into this field and created an epic opening. Imagine watching a sunset, all of the incredible colors filling the sky but you’re standing in the middle of it with the colors just consuming you. My friend wanted to hike to this view point but I was beat and I just wanted to take in the beauty surrounding me. I sat in this open field of trees for about an hour or two while she did the hike and I couldn’t get enough.
Once she popped back out of her little solo adventure I was ready to go, mostly because this was my hike where I learned the lesson that cotton is not your friend on a hike and I was FREEZING. We then ventured our way down and I finally understood, this is why people go wild over these trees. I would be willing to make my way to the north part of the Cascades for these epic trees every year, forever.. or at least until my knees give out on me.
**I highly recommend doing one of these “larch madness” hikes if you ever find yourself in the PNW during Larch season**
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