Necklace Valley

Jason and I spent the last three days in the Necklace Valley to enjoy the last little bit of summer and celebrate our three year anniversary.

Here are a few pics...


This bridge is terrifying. I swear that it is about to fall apart, hence the terrified run across it.


After 8.3 miles and 3,000 feet later, we made it to the Valley. We spent the first night at Locket Lake. Jason wouldn't let us miss it, since someone, somewhere, once said that it was the best alpine fishing anywhere in the Cascades. Clearly Jason looks enthused. Check out the reflection in the lake. It was gorgeous.


I've decided that my ridiculous self portraits will need to happen on every trip. Enjoy, there are many more to come.


Here is our camp at Locket Lake. We were the only ones at the lake. There was a nice guy who camped on the rib overlooking a lower lake. He played Danny Boy on his recorder as the sun was going down. It made for a really cool evening. Note Prusik standing guard. His duties include keeping us safe from squirrels.


Don't worry, Prusik didn't eat the fish. This was his first kiss with a trout though.

I am sorry there are so many pictures of Prusik. He is just so damn photogenic.


Locket Lake.


Although it looks like the Caribbean, my guess would be that the water temperature was right around 32.5F....


Obilgatory husband/wife portrait.


We cruised around for a bit, checking out the lakes and the potential fishing before we found our way to Opal Lake and Cloudy Lake. There was a granite rib that separated the two lakes with an amazing camp-spot right in the middle. We set up camp and got straight to the fishing. Here, Prusik is standing on the cliff about 15 feet above the marshes of Opal Lake.


Anyone who has ever seen me with a fly-rod would doubt that such a thing was possible. But I did land a beautiful, and good-sized Cutthroat. I think I landed about 5 fish the whole trip... good for me... ridiculous when compared to Jason's 30.


Here is the view up Valley (looking at La Bohn Gap) from the western shore of Opal Lake. I'm sure if you look closely you can see how poorly I am casting.


This next photo is Jason in the morning of the third day. But before we get there, I want to go back to the end of our second night, and mention how our wonderful, never-do-anything-wrong dog found a make-shift back-country human latrine, rolled around in it, was found out, hastily grabbed and washed with pack-soap in a frigid alpine creek, got away covered completely in suds, ran to the top of the 15 cliff where our camp was, rolled around on our tent, then proceeded to roll around in the bushes trying to get the soap off of him, until he rolled right over the edge of the 15 foot cliff!! He slipped and rolled slowly grasping dearly with his useless dog claws, until he got his head first and was able to "bounce" off the last ledge before he hit the ground... completely fine. We were able to grab him, dunk him and rinse him. The only problem left is that the sun was almost all the way down and we had a soaking wet dog with whom we got to share a tent for a long, frigid night. Ahhh.... love dogs....


Cuddles to stay warm until the morning sun finally made it across valley to warm us up.


Here is Prusik, post human-poop, cliff fall, dog-washing...


Love how Jason fishes in his glacier glasses...


Yup, more self-portraits/dog photos...


Opal Lake.


Lots and lots of mud makes great shadows in the lake.


Family photo after a hour fishing (for sardines) at Emerald Lake.


End of the day... back at the car. Yay!