10-07-23
I
did 9 miles with 2800' of gain on
a larch hike to Ingalls Lake with Gary on Thursday. On Saturday I was
looking for more mileage on a gently graded trail. It also was looking
like the last 80 degree day of the year. Something in a cool forest or
to a lake sounded good. The trails to larch or fall colors are packed.
I hoped to avoid the crowds too. I settled on an old favorite. Up the
Pratt Lake Trail then down to Pratt and Tuscohatchie Lakes. I could get
in 13 miles with 3100' on nice smooth trails. I needed another early
start to beat the crowds. I reached the parking lot at 7:45 am. There
were still half a dozen parking spots in the lot. On a summer trip to
rainbow Lake I was earlier and parked on the road before the lot.
Granite Mountain is popular and I hoped Pratt Lake would not be on this
day. I was on the trail at 7:53 am.
It was cool but would warm up fast. Just before the switchback at .50 miles I passed a lone hiker and then a pair. I started with long pants and a long sleeve shirt. I was now heating up. At about 1.4 miles I stopped to zip off my pants legs and put on a short sleeve shirt. Within 30 seconds the lone hiker now passed me. It seems that he sped up when I passed him. I was much more comfortable as 50 degrees turned to 60 very fast. At about 2 miles a runner went by heading down. He mentioned the Defiance Trail had a hornets nest along the trail on the descent to Rainbow and Island Lakes. I usually go that way but this day I was not. Half a mile later I passed the lone hiker once again. I had solitude as I passed the trail to Talapus and Olallie Lakes. It was getting much warmer as I passed the inlet creek to Olallie Lake. I stopped for a water break at the Olallie Lake/Mt. Rainier viewpoint. With blue sky it was a clear view. As I was leaving the lone hiker arrived. This time we talked a bit.
It did not take long to reach the Defiance/Pratt junction. I headed down. I visit Rainbow Lake most years. I was very surprised to see the last time I hiked this trail to Tuscohatchie Lake was 10 years ago. I did do a loop trip via Melakwa Lake but not down the trail to Tuscohatchie in a decade. I visit regularly and I could not believe it had been that long. Once I started down the trail I started seeing the mushrooms. I saw a few in the mile before the junction but now they started showing up everywhere. After recent rain I had seen them the past week but this was a lot more. Just below the junction there was a big patch and I had to lay down to get a close up view. A woman runner came by and asked if I needed help getting up. I guess I am starting to look like a senior hiker. No, I had not trouble getting up. The lone hiker now reappeared. I kept stopping for mushroom photos and he kept catching up. He never did go ahead. The mushroom variety was outstanding. Most I had seen before but a few seemed new to me.
Crossing the boulder field I had great views out to Kaleetan Peak and others nearby. Pratt Lake remained out of sight. When I passed the old trail junction I knew it though the trail looks to be completely lost. Ten years ago I managed to follow it through all the devil's club. I don't think that will happen again. Finally, the route leveled out in forest and the mushroom show managed to improve. The forecast was for 20 mph wind gusts until 11:00 am then 10-113 mph winds. It was calm until near the junction up on the ridge top. As I left forest at the start of Pratt Lake there was some wind. It was now 10:20 am. The trail along the lake is cut from slide alder. It was very colorful a few weeks ago. There were still colorful leaves though many had already fallen. The low sun lit up the other side of the lake but it was all in shade on the east side. Perhaps I would have some leaf color on the way back? I stopped at the end of the lake for photos. I saw two people on the other side of the lake near the outlet. That brought the total hikers seen in 6 miles to 7. Still not too bad for a hike off I-90 on a sunny Saturday.
The lone hiker arrived. I headed on to Tuscohatchie and did not see him again. The trail is a bit rocky. That I recalled. I had good views down the Pratt River Valley and up to Kaleetan Peak. The last part was not what I recalled. A big log that sat across the trail for a decade was finally cut out. Near the lake the trail was rebuilt. It is wider, flatter, and has rocks set to keep it drier. One bit of trail building almost 6.5 miles from the trailhead was not expected. As I reached the bridge over an outlet, the wind really picked up. It was probably 10 mph gusting to near 20 mph. It was also bright sunshine and near 70 degrees. Two backpackers were just leaving. We talked a bit. They spent two nights at the lake and did not see anyone. They also hiked up to Kaleetan Lake. I did that over 30 years ago and have not been back. They left and I sat on a flat rock jutting into the lake. I immediately put on a windshirt. With the hood pulled tight it was not too bad in the wind. There were even a few whitecaps on the lake.
I arrived at the lake at 10:53 am. It was time for lunch. After that it was time to sit back and enjoy the views and the sunshine. Twenty minutes later it was time to find a spot with less wind. I headed around the lake. the second outlet was completely dry. That was unusual. I left the trail as it rounded the lake and found a spot on the short that was out of the wind. It was time for rest break #2. Four dragonflies zipped all around me. I never did get a photo of them as they refused to land near me. There were a lot of birds singing here. I would have liked to spend a few hours here. I had another hike planned for Sunday so I did need to get home before evening. Well, I left early enough that getting home early was not a problem. I left the lake at 12:15 pm after spending 1:22 there. Now I just had 6.5 miles to go with a 750' climb back to the ridge top. Before leaving I met a woman hiking in. We talked for at least ten minutes about hiking. Finally, I was on my way back.
It was nicely shaded back to Pratt Lake. From Pratt I was out in the sunshine. The leaves were lit up in front of me. I timed that right. Many had fallen, but there were enough left to provide some very nice color. I had one last look at the end of the lake then it was into the forest and more mushroom views. I saw two groups on my way back up to the ridge top. I was glad to have the elevation out of the way. Now, I just had 4 downhill miles to go. The grade is moderate and the hiking is pretty easy. Still, the last couple miles my feet were feeling the distance. I did see some saprophytes I missed on the way up. Otherwise, I took a lot fewer photos coming out. I arrived at the trailhead at 3:47 pm. My car registered 76 degrees. By the time I reached Issaquah it was up to 80. This will probably the last 80 degree day until sometime next spring.
After the great larch hike two days earlier, I ended up with exactly what I was hoping for. I managed to hike 13 miles, gain 3100', and have a lot of solitude doing it. Spending nearly 1.5 hours at the lake was a real bonus. The unexpected part was the terrific mushroom display. It was even better the next day but for 24 hours it was the best mushroom display of the year. This is a great hike. I need to make sure I do not let a decade go by until I do it again.
Click on thumbnails to get
larger pictures.
Trips - 2023
Home
It was cool but would warm up fast. Just before the switchback at .50 miles I passed a lone hiker and then a pair. I started with long pants and a long sleeve shirt. I was now heating up. At about 1.4 miles I stopped to zip off my pants legs and put on a short sleeve shirt. Within 30 seconds the lone hiker now passed me. It seems that he sped up when I passed him. I was much more comfortable as 50 degrees turned to 60 very fast. At about 2 miles a runner went by heading down. He mentioned the Defiance Trail had a hornets nest along the trail on the descent to Rainbow and Island Lakes. I usually go that way but this day I was not. Half a mile later I passed the lone hiker once again. I had solitude as I passed the trail to Talapus and Olallie Lakes. It was getting much warmer as I passed the inlet creek to Olallie Lake. I stopped for a water break at the Olallie Lake/Mt. Rainier viewpoint. With blue sky it was a clear view. As I was leaving the lone hiker arrived. This time we talked a bit.
It did not take long to reach the Defiance/Pratt junction. I headed down. I visit Rainbow Lake most years. I was very surprised to see the last time I hiked this trail to Tuscohatchie Lake was 10 years ago. I did do a loop trip via Melakwa Lake but not down the trail to Tuscohatchie in a decade. I visit regularly and I could not believe it had been that long. Once I started down the trail I started seeing the mushrooms. I saw a few in the mile before the junction but now they started showing up everywhere. After recent rain I had seen them the past week but this was a lot more. Just below the junction there was a big patch and I had to lay down to get a close up view. A woman runner came by and asked if I needed help getting up. I guess I am starting to look like a senior hiker. No, I had not trouble getting up. The lone hiker now reappeared. I kept stopping for mushroom photos and he kept catching up. He never did go ahead. The mushroom variety was outstanding. Most I had seen before but a few seemed new to me.
Crossing the boulder field I had great views out to Kaleetan Peak and others nearby. Pratt Lake remained out of sight. When I passed the old trail junction I knew it though the trail looks to be completely lost. Ten years ago I managed to follow it through all the devil's club. I don't think that will happen again. Finally, the route leveled out in forest and the mushroom show managed to improve. The forecast was for 20 mph wind gusts until 11:00 am then 10-113 mph winds. It was calm until near the junction up on the ridge top. As I left forest at the start of Pratt Lake there was some wind. It was now 10:20 am. The trail along the lake is cut from slide alder. It was very colorful a few weeks ago. There were still colorful leaves though many had already fallen. The low sun lit up the other side of the lake but it was all in shade on the east side. Perhaps I would have some leaf color on the way back? I stopped at the end of the lake for photos. I saw two people on the other side of the lake near the outlet. That brought the total hikers seen in 6 miles to 7. Still not too bad for a hike off I-90 on a sunny Saturday.
The lone hiker arrived. I headed on to Tuscohatchie and did not see him again. The trail is a bit rocky. That I recalled. I had good views down the Pratt River Valley and up to Kaleetan Peak. The last part was not what I recalled. A big log that sat across the trail for a decade was finally cut out. Near the lake the trail was rebuilt. It is wider, flatter, and has rocks set to keep it drier. One bit of trail building almost 6.5 miles from the trailhead was not expected. As I reached the bridge over an outlet, the wind really picked up. It was probably 10 mph gusting to near 20 mph. It was also bright sunshine and near 70 degrees. Two backpackers were just leaving. We talked a bit. They spent two nights at the lake and did not see anyone. They also hiked up to Kaleetan Lake. I did that over 30 years ago and have not been back. They left and I sat on a flat rock jutting into the lake. I immediately put on a windshirt. With the hood pulled tight it was not too bad in the wind. There were even a few whitecaps on the lake.
I arrived at the lake at 10:53 am. It was time for lunch. After that it was time to sit back and enjoy the views and the sunshine. Twenty minutes later it was time to find a spot with less wind. I headed around the lake. the second outlet was completely dry. That was unusual. I left the trail as it rounded the lake and found a spot on the short that was out of the wind. It was time for rest break #2. Four dragonflies zipped all around me. I never did get a photo of them as they refused to land near me. There were a lot of birds singing here. I would have liked to spend a few hours here. I had another hike planned for Sunday so I did need to get home before evening. Well, I left early enough that getting home early was not a problem. I left the lake at 12:15 pm after spending 1:22 there. Now I just had 6.5 miles to go with a 750' climb back to the ridge top. Before leaving I met a woman hiking in. We talked for at least ten minutes about hiking. Finally, I was on my way back.
It was nicely shaded back to Pratt Lake. From Pratt I was out in the sunshine. The leaves were lit up in front of me. I timed that right. Many had fallen, but there were enough left to provide some very nice color. I had one last look at the end of the lake then it was into the forest and more mushroom views. I saw two groups on my way back up to the ridge top. I was glad to have the elevation out of the way. Now, I just had 4 downhill miles to go. The grade is moderate and the hiking is pretty easy. Still, the last couple miles my feet were feeling the distance. I did see some saprophytes I missed on the way up. Otherwise, I took a lot fewer photos coming out. I arrived at the trailhead at 3:47 pm. My car registered 76 degrees. By the time I reached Issaquah it was up to 80. This will probably the last 80 degree day until sometime next spring.
After the great larch hike two days earlier, I ended up with exactly what I was hoping for. I managed to hike 13 miles, gain 3100', and have a lot of solitude doing it. Spending nearly 1.5 hours at the lake was a real bonus. The unexpected part was the terrific mushroom display. It was even better the next day but for 24 hours it was the best mushroom display of the year. This is a great hike. I need to make sure I do not let a decade go by until I do it again.
 Past Prime Leaves |
 Sun On Trail |
 Old Boardwalk |
 Yellow Leaves |
 Lemon Amanita? |
 Caramel Amanita? |
 Big Mushroom |
 Viewpoint |
 View |
 More Leaf Color |
 Talus Field |
 Interesting Mushroom |
 Dark Mushroom |
 Fat Mushroom |
 Vertical Mushrooms |
 Another Big One |
 Very Different |
 Pratt Lake |
 Trail In Shade |
 Some Better Colors |
 End Of Lake |
 Looking Up Pratt Lake |
 Trail To Tuscohatchie |
 New Trail Section |
 A Chunk Missing |
 Underside View |
 More Amanitas |
 Arriving At Tuscohatchie |
 Lunch Rock |
 Wind Free Break Spot |
 Small Shroom |
 Numerous Shrooms |
 Nice Colors |
 Many Colors |
 Back At Pratt Lake |
 Backlit Leaves |
 Color Along Lake |
 Mess Of Shrooms |
 Very Colorful |
 Saprophytes |
 A Panorama Shot of Lower Tuscohatchie Lake |
Trips - 2023
Home