Of all the times, this was by far the best

5/1/2025 Lake Serene and Bridal Veil Falls

I've hiked to Lake Serene many times, under all kinds of conditions, from heavy rains to freezing winds to deep snow to very hot. This time, however, was the best ever. The weather was perfectly comfortable weather, with temperatures in the sixties and blue skies. There was "just the right amount of snow", meaning the snow greatly enhanced the views of the mountains and the lake, but there was little to none on the trail.

Below is a picture of the first clear view of Mount Index, which literally stopped me in my tracks. And once at the lake, you can see it even better.

It is hard to put into words how majestic the lake looked with the sun reflecting off the mixture of water and snow on the surface. I gained a new appreciation for this hike I have done so many times, including times when I couldn't see more than a hundred feet through the rain and fog. It goes to show that ever hike is different, even if the trail itself is the same.

Across the footbridge and up a few dozen steps is Lunch Rock, the best vantage point from which to take in the full splendor of the lake and surrounding mountains.