Rattlesnake Lake - North Bend, WA

September 4, 2009 & September 2 & 3, 2010

Rattlesnake Lake is a medium-sized lake just south of the town of North Bend in Washington. I've now been to the lake twice while visiting Monica.  Both times we stayed at her co-workers house, just outside of town, so we could puppy-sit sweet Luna dog. Before I get to the lake, I must tell you how much I love that house! It's right on the Snoqualmie River with no neighbors on the opposite side of the water, so you can sit on the back porch and watch for osprey and hawks and other critters. nearly the entire back side of the house is windows or large sliding glass doors, so you can open it all up and still feel like you're outside even while you're in.  There's also a little cottage with a living roof that hangs out over the water with just enough room for one people bed and one doggie bed. Unfortunately, Monica has claimed that as her own and doesn't like to share. Ok, so on to the lake. 

We reached the lake in two ways, twice by car and once by biking up the Snoqualmie Valley Trail that runs right past the house.  Ann joined us for one of the car trips and we brought along dinner and some light cocktails for an evening picnic. The biking trip wasn't too difficult, despite the fact that I hadn't ridden a bike in years and I have asthma.  A few stops along the way and I was good to go.  In 2010 we stayed on the shore and picnicked and hung out, but in 2009 we spread out on the beach and played in the water a little.  The water was much lower in 2009 than it was in 2010, and we were able to see the stumps of old trees that had been cut. The water was even low enough to walk out to one of the larger stumps and climb around without getting too wet.  We never ventured up the Rattlesnake Mountain trail, which leads to an awesome (as evidenced from pictures) overlook of the Lake; however, I did take a short walk up a tiny part of the Iron Horse Trail (which seems to go all the way to the eastern Cascades as far as I can tell from Google Maps) through the Iron Horse State Park, which was a nice little stroll. We never did see any rattlesnakes though. I'm not sure whether to be upset by that or glad...

2009

Rattlesnake Lake

Rattlesnake Mountain

Luna says "Throw the ball Monica!"

Luna also says "Now YOU go get the ball Monica"

Total relaxation 

2010

 Osprey

Luna likes the lake too