Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Two days deep in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness: a night at Wildcat Lake, then a scramble up Caroline Peak.
Day one started fine, but a light drizzle past Snow Lake soaked us through the brushy trail down to lower Wildcat Lake — a switchbacking 1,000 ft descent from Gem Lake, then 300 ft back up to camp at upper Wildcat Lake.
Day two brought a complete turnaround — bluebird skies for the real objective. The ridge north of the lake fights back with brush, exposure, and cliff bands before opening into heather benches and a scree scramble to the summit ridge.
One last push to the top of Caroline Peak — Preacher Mountain, Lake Caroline, and Derrick Lake on one side, the Wildcat Lakes on the other, Cascades rolling out to Rainier.
We broke camp, downclimbed our line, and hiked out grateful for two solid days in one of the most beautiful corners of the Cascades.
Timestamps:
0:00 introduction
0:20 snow lake trail to gem lake
1:11 hiking down to lower wildcat lake
1:43 upper wildcat lake
2:23 scramble toward the saddle
3:24 caroline-wild dare saddle and ridge scramble
5:11 approach to caroline peak
5:49 scramble to summit ridge of caroline peak
6:40 caroline peak summit and the views
8:35 climbing back down
10:40 wildcat lake
11:57 gem lake
12:20 snow lake
🏔️ Hiking: goo.gl/6gzaSZ
_________________
TUTORIALS:
Adobe Illustrator: goo.gl/DeaKFe
Adobe Illustrator Christmas Edition: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSQcxS0ygkS6h1NA9imACy5MJjZ05chsl
Adobe Photoshop: goo.gl/rYq4mX
____________________
BECOME A PATRON:
As a patron, I can answer specific questions you may have, and help you make the most of your projects. You are limited only by your imagination!
patreon.com/Hikeart
_____________________________
MY TRAVEL/HIKING VIDEOS:
Places to Visit: goo.gl/HSYoT4
New Zealand: goo.gl/d8PXte
The North Cascades, WA: goo.gl/C9pF9y
Mount Rainier, WA: goo.gl/XpLVQe
__________________
MY CALLIGRAPHY:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSQcxS0ygkS4dGXbgvIuwo6z20ubfGjKz
_________________________
MY RELAXATION VIDEOS:
Snow Videos: goo.gl/NUUvyV
River Videos: goo.gl/BKNHHM
Waterfalls Videos: goo.gl/WbpH36
____________
FOLLOW ME:
Facebook: facebook.com/Hikeart-497870650269178
Instagram: instagram.com/hikeart
#wildcat #backpacking #alpinelakes
Two days deep in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness: a night at Wildcat Lake, then a scramble up Caroline Peak.
Day one started fine, but a light drizzle past Snow Lake soaked us through the brushy trail down to lower Wildcat Lake — a switchbacking 1,000 ft descent from Gem Lake, then 300 ft back up to camp at upper Wildcat Lake.
Day two brought a complete turnaround — bluebird skies for the real objective. The ridge north of the lake fights back with brush, exposure, and cliff bands before opening into heather benches and a scree scramble to the summit ridge.
One last push to the top of Caroline Peak — Preacher Mountain, Lake Caroline, and Derrick Lake on one side, the Wildcat Lakes on the other, Cascades rolling out to Rainier.
We broke camp, downclimbed our line, and hiked out grateful for two solid days in one of the most beautiful corners of the Cascades.
Timestamps:
0:00 introduction
0:20 snow lake trail to gem lake
1:11 hiking down to lower wildcat lake
1:43 upper wildcat lake
2:23 scramble toward the saddle
3:24 caroline-wild dare saddle and ridge scramble
5:11 approach to caroline peak
5:49 scramble to summit ridge of caroline peak
6:40 caroline peak summit and the views
8:35 climbing back down
10:40 wildcat lake
11:57 gem lake
12:20 snow lake
🏔️ Hiking: goo.gl/6gzaSZ
_________________
TUTORIALS:
Adobe Illustrator: goo.gl/DeaKFe
Adobe Illustrator Christmas Edition: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSQcxS0ygkS6h1NA9imACy5MJjZ05chsl
Adobe Photoshop: goo.gl/rYq4mX
____________________
BECOME A PATRON:
As a patron, I can answer specific questions you may have, and help you make the most of your projects. You are limited only by your imagination!
patreon.com/Hikeart
_____________________________
MY TRAVEL/HIKING VIDEOS:
Places to Visit: goo.gl/HSYoT4
New Zealand: goo.gl/d8PXte
The North Cascades, WA: goo.gl/C9pF9y
Mount Rainier, WA: goo.gl/XpLVQe
__________________
MY CALLIGRAPHY:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSQcxS0ygkS4dGXbgvIuwo6z20ubfGjKz
_________________________
MY RELAXATION VIDEOS:
Snow Videos: goo.gl/NUUvyV
River Videos: goo.gl/BKNHHM
Waterfalls Videos: goo.gl/WbpH36
____________
FOLLOW ME:
Facebook: facebook.com/Hikeart-497870650269178
Instagram: instagram.com/hikeart
#wildcat #backpacking #alpinelakes
