Direction: 2 hrs from Seattle on Hwy 2. Turn left to Index, but do not go to the town. After 15 miles on Forest Rd 63, turn left to a gravel road for the last 2 miles.
Level: 10Km, 900m gain in, and 200m out.
The first 3 miles are forested. Steady grade up 2700 ft. On the ridge, it's possible to see Glacier Peak to the north east, and Mt Index and other peaks to the south.
Then the trail drops down to a Virgin Lake (it's just a pond, and don't stay here too long: mosquitoes!). Another ~500 ft steep downhill leads to the glacier fed Blanca Lake with a distinct green color. Stunningly beautiful. The Columbia Glacier is quite receded. One can see several little waterfalls on the glacier surface. You'll hear them a lot better!
