Friday, September 1 – Sunday, September 3
With rain in the forecast this weekend we had to cancel our plans to go backpacking to Hunts Cove. The forecast was a little bit better to the north, so we decided to do a trip in the William O. Douglas Wilderness.
It was 57 degrees when we arrived at the White Pass Trailhead at 2:15pm. There were 16 cars there, plus campers in the campground, including at least one party with a campfire (there’s a fire ban right now).
Greg needed time to finish packing so we finally hit the trail at 2:45:
We followed the PCT north through the forest, dodging puddles from the recent rain:
After a mile we crossed the wilderness boundary:
I bet this meadow is green and buggy in summer:
We reached the side trail for Deer Lake and turned left to check it out:
We took off our packs and had a break. There was a contingent of gray jays here that tried to use their cuteness for handouts. No dice, guys:
Back on the trail we passed the number 2300 on the ground, which is how many miles from the start of the PCT in southern California:
We passed Sand Lake on the right, which was pretty low at this point in the season:
Continuing north:
Our goal was Dumbbell Lake. However Greg was really dragging by the time we got to Beusch Lake and even though it was less than a mile to continue on to Dumbbell we looked for a camp at Beusch:
If you haul it in, haul it out, people:
Unfortunately the shoreline of this lake was very marshy and and it was impossible to get to the water by our campsite:
A bit further down the trail the lake access was slightly better and I was able to filter water. Unfortunately a group of young people camped near there was washing their dishes in the water here. This is very bad backpacker etiquette. The lake level is so low right now that it’s not flowing out, so there’s no movement in the water. Therefore their soap suds fouled the water in this spot and lingered long after they were done:
Saturday morning was sunny. We made breakfast and got ready to go on a day hike. We headed north on the PCT, passing Pipe Lake along the way:
Then we turned east off the PCT and headed towards Tumac Mountain:
Looking back we got a glimpse of Mt. Rainier:
Hey frog!
This trail doesn’t appear to receive much use or maintenance:
Last climb to the top:
We made it!
This is where the fire lookout once stood:
Pretty nice views up here. The trees have grown up since the lookout was removed in 1968 so the view is no longer 360 degrees. Through a gap in the trees we could see Mt. Rainier:
Looking northwest at Mt. Aix and Bismark Peak:
Arnesons Peak at center, Shellrock Peak, and McNeil Peak.
View south from Tumac Mountain. Mt. Adams barely visible through the clouds.
View to the northwest and Twin Sisters Lakes:
Looking at McNeil Peak:
There was a summit register that was fun to look through while we took a break:
Heading back down:
This trail needs some TLC:
On our way back to the campsite we took a detour to Long John Lake where we found a large pile of chopped firewood:
Long John Lake:
From there we cut over to Dumbbell Lake:
Dumbbell Lake and Cramer Mountain:
We got back to camp at 7, made dinner, and went to bed. That night we heard elk bugling for part of the night which sounded eerie in the dark.
Sunday morning was cold and cloudy:
We made breakfast, packed up camp, and made it back to the trailhead by 11:40.
Gaia stats: 21.3 miles, 2,970′ elevation gain
