To beat the heat this past weekend I broke out of my comfort zone and embarked on a new solo hike. I hadn’t been to an alpine lake in nearly a year, and with temps in the 90’s I figured there would be a few other hikers there.
No other hikers makes me nervous for animal encounters.
I headed to Annette Lake, and the trail was more popular than I anticipated. Thankfully I arrived early enough to snag a parking spot and beat the latecomers.
I only had to pass people a few times, leaving me alone with my thoughts the majority of the 7.5 mile round trip adventure. I adore solo hikes.
Once I reached the lake I noticed a handful of campers. As I sat and ate my food I daydreamt about overnight hiking and waking up with the sun.
Sipping my coffee with a view like this needs to happen soon.
This trail has a great canopy cover making for a comfortable hike despite the heat. The elevation gain was a mere 1400 ft, but I definitely got sweaty. One of these times I will jump into a lake, I’ll be doing plenty more lake hikes this summer.
My fuel of choice during the hike was a scone and some berries, and post hike I wolfed down some potatoes and veggies courtesy of Whole Foods. I haven’t been craving sweets much lately, and I think it’s because I’ve upped my protein intake (naturopath’s orders), but then I stumbled across something I couldn’t pass by.
This old school VW travels around Seattle selling vegan ice cream sandwiches with unique flavor combinations. I’d heard about it, I’d seen photos of it, but just like a mystical unicorn I had never actually seen it myself.
Then I drove by it and knew I had to stop.
My heart was set on the snicker doodle cookie with coffee ice cream sandwich, but I was too late and there was only one option left. This would never have been my first choice, but trying something new was fun and it was delicious.
It was a successful Saturday indeed.
Q: What’s your favorite solo adventure?
Blissfulbritt 
62 thoughts on “Annette Lake”
50statecanuck
Beautiful pics!!!!!!!
Beth
Great post…
Beth
Jessica
OMG, I just want to jump through the screen and insert myself in that hike. You are so so great at self care and listening to what you need – such an inspiration.
I love hikes by myself too.
Brittany
Thank you, what a sweet thing to say. 🙂
pickyrunner
Wow it’s gorgeous there!
Also. I need that ice cream sandwich. STAT.
Jane Likes to Run
So pretty! I think that my favorite solo adventure is trail running. There is some sort of perfect balance to hit between having too many people on the trail and not enough. Like you, I get a little nervous when I’m the only one out there. Because of animals. And I have an irrational fear that convicts are hiding in the woods!
Brittany
I have this same irrational fear. I watch too many horror movies, I’m crazy paranoid, OR I’m spot on with my fear….I hope it’s the first one. 😉
Natalie @ The Ravenous Mommy
What an amazing place to hike! Scenery is way better in the west than here in FL!
Jessica @ VEGGIE RUNNING MOMMA
Scones and berries.!! yesss. haha
That is so cool about the VW bus.!! and that ice cream sandwich looks delicious.
I don’t think I’ve ever solo hiked before.. I really need to though. I love to be solo
B
These photos are amazing! It looks like a great hike!
Amy @ A Desert Girl
Oh my goodness, that VW with the ice cream sandwiches!! If I travel to the PNW again, I will refuse to leave until I find that unicorn. Your hiking photos are so beautiful, as always.
Jess @hellotofit
You are so in touch with nature and I LOVE it. Me? Not so much…yet? I like solo shopping adventures – I can go at my own pace, get lost in my thoughts, etc. That scone and ice cream sandwich look amazeballs!!!
Kelsey
I live in Duluth, MN and I’m a fan of walks on our Lakewalk. Yes, on nice days it tends to be busy, but I still love being able to see Lake Superior. Vegan ice cream sandwiches?! Sounds like an absolute dream…especially since the whole dairy thing is no good for me!
Brittany
Sometimes I really like being around the crowds of people!! When I go for walks around our lakes I love when others are there.
Emma @em-poweredwellness
That hike looks gorgeous! And nothing better than a cookie sandwich after a long hike 🙂
Miss Polkadot
Girl, your idea of solo adventures is very much to my liking. I’m a born and bred country bumpkin and despite enjoying city life these days my heart will forever belong to nature and the countryside.
Confession: I’d be too scared to set out for long solo hikes so it’s long walks in more populated territory for me.Take me with you on your next hike 😉 – even if that’d counteract the idea of a solo adventure.
semisweettooth
That looks beautiful! I’m new to the hiking scene, so I haven’t gone solo yet, but I LOVE a good solo adventure! Having a little time by my lonesome is essential for centering my thoughts and getting in touch with who I am.
Thanks for sharing!! 🙂
Shawna
this is a great post. i love your hiking posts — and you’re so cool to go solo and love it! i’ve never done a solo hike — not the easiest thing to achieve here in NYC so i’d have to do one upstate — but my fave solo activity is running for sure. i like traveling solo too, planes and airports and all that jazz. and kayaking. and sleeping. 🙂
Brittany Lesser
I need to live in the mountains!!! I wish I could just go for a hike 😦
Lauren
I’ve never had anything Matcha. I’m kind of scared to try it haha! Beautiful day and beautiful pics!
Brittany
Matcha will never be my first choice, despite it’s health benefits (as long as it’s straight matcha and not the crap at Starbucks…yes…I just said that) I don’t care much for the taste. This cookie sandwich was good though!
familyrulesbyplainjane
Enjoyed your post! Ok, I confess–I had to look up what Matcha. #oldpersonproblems
karla @ finding my fit
Can I have your life for like… ever? Those views are spectacular. I would have wanted the cookie with coffee ice cream too. ❤
kathy at real talk
oh west coast; how i love thee (and you!). amazing pictures!
willrunforpizza
Once again, jealous of your views and hiking! Have you seen ‘Wild’ with Reese Witherspoon? My hubby and I have our hearts set on that PCT when we turn 40! Maybe not the whole thing, but a month out there would be just fab.
Brittany
You betchur britches I saw that movie!! I’ve been longing to thru hike the PCT for years now. I think I will wait for the hype to die down from the movie though. It will be such an adventure!
pangie223
Beautiful! It looks like it was the perfect Summer day 🙂
allisonfiorini
Gorgeous pictures!! What a great adventure. I was in Alaska a few years back and ran some of my friends ragged hiking. They were over it, so I took a bus 60 miles into Denali and hiked up a mountain by myself. It was the most incredible, liberating, and gratifying experience!!
Brittany
WOW, I love your spirit for adventure!! I would have hiked all the live long days with you! Alaska is on my list of MUST VISITS!
allisonfiorini
Omg you have to go! It’s incredible!
jaydamartens
Those views are amazing!! And that ice cream sandwich VW sounds so cool! Too bad they were out of the flavour you wanted though!
Heather @ HeatherRunsFast.com
Those views, though. Amazing. I really wish we had hiking like that in FL. You should make an overnight camping trip happen this summer! And that scone. Swoon.
Brittany
Why is it that I KNOW I can always count on you to comment on the carb-y goodness in my posts. No joke, you were the only one to appreciate the beauty of the scone in my last scone post, and here we are again. This is why we are friends. ❤
Ellie
Please send my address to the Cookie Counter. I will single handedly double their profits! My favorite solo adventure is thrift store shopping 😉 The thrill of the chase!
Searching For Ironman
It looks amazing and so peaceful! It’s great for the soul to spend some time in nature, and lovely to have some solo time.
Christina
Amy
COME VISIT!!! We’ll head up to my parents cabin so you can hike every day and have your choice of camping or cabin-ing! Seriously… This needs to happen. Soon!
Brittany
I am embracing some travels this year!! YES.
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy
You rock for going on a solo hike like this. This is something I have always wanted to do and since seeing Wild I have wanted to do it even more. I really don’t know what is stopping me.
I want that ice cream sandwich too. Email me one? 😉
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets
I want to come on one of your solo hikes, which would clearly take away from the whole solo idea, but still.
I would also love to wake up with that view, a cup of coffee and a sun patch with the cats so long as I was able to step out of my cabin and the comforts of a bed to do it. Despite my hippy ways, I’ve got a bit of city diva in me and I won’t do tents. I’ve seen the Blair Witch Project, no thank you. 🙂
Jane
What a beautiful hike! Loved the views and you are looking great. 🙂 Those cookie creations are just too yummy! 🙂
Brittany
Thank you! 🙂
Kayse
So, don’t get me wrong, I adore living in Minnesota (minus the mosquitoes, of course), but all of your hiking pictures make me want to pack up and move there! That ice cream sandwich looks fabulous.
My fave solo adventure is hiking & camping. I highly suggest camping alone at least once. I think I’m going to in two weeks!
Brittany
Oh my!! Camping alone, you’ve got me beat there. I admit that would be a bit scary to me. I think I’m up for the challenge though…
Kayse
Oh, it’s totally scary. Every noise makes me jump haha! But I still enjoy it.
The Vegan 8
You seriously live in the most beautiful, incredible place. I cannot get over those views..they are breathtaking. You are also super brave. I actually LOVE being alone and am super independent but I would be so scared to go hiking alone out of fear of being eaten by an animal. I’ve seen and read too many stories I guess, haha!
That ice cream sandwich…good lord I want that now.
harveylisam
Gorgeous! I’m looking for a place to go for a week-long hiking trip with a friend — Washington is on our short list. I’d love any suggestions on great hiking/camping places!
Brittany
Oh how exciting!! Check out the Olympic mountain range, and the Cascades for week long trips! Also, the PCT runs through the entire state of Washington (the trail made popular from the book Wild) and you can hike that for weeks on end!
jswunxin
This is a really nice trail with wonderful scenery 🙂 Indeed a wonderful adventure for you!
Jim Brennan
Very cool, Brittany. Great photos. Lovely. I cam smell the air. The espresso sign had to look like an oasis. Trek well.
darwinontherocks
This hike just look beautiful and what a gorgeous weather !!! 7.5 miles.. oh gosh, I’m always so impressed to hear about your physical activities. You seem so fit !! My goal is to become as fit as you haha ! :p And one day, yes one day, I’ll climb Ben Nevis (the highest mountain in Scotland, a 8 hours hike). I will do it !
Brittany
WOW, that hike sounds epic. Please take me with you!! 😉
Aja
That is so beautiful! I need to go on more hikes!
themauritiangeographer
Oh my, this is absolutely breathtaking!
P
It was fate! Looks like it was a perfect Saturday indeed!!
liathebookworm
Awesome pictures! My favourite solo adventure would have been that train trip I took last spring and basically hopped around England. So many gorgeous places! Btw, I nominated you for the Liebster Award if you’re interested. 🙂
Bubbles and Booyah
Is that REAL LIFE?!?! Absolutely STUNNINGGGG!!! 😀
Rach @ This Italian Family
Brittany, these photos are gorgeous. Just breath taking. I had never really cared to visit Washington before I knew you. But all these posts about your hikes… just magic!
Brittany
Just wait for my next one 😝
stateeats
Britt – you are very adventuresome. I doubt I would ever attempt a solo camping trip by myself. I would be way more scared of the two legged animals than the 4 legged variety. You pictures are beauty-ful! – Kat
Heather
Just found your blog and I LOVE it! I traveled a lot for my previous job and took a few opportunities to stay over and explore solo. My favorite solo trip was to Nova Scotia. Beautiful place, wonderful people, great boardwalk to run. One of my favorite places.
Brittany
Thank you for the comment!
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