We’ve had improving weather all week, and Saturday was a great one to be in the mid 80’s. I got up about 5:30, having prepared my lunch last evening, so a quick bowl of oatmeal and I was on the road at 6:20 headed for the Teanaway area NE of Cle Elum. I arrived at the trailhead at 8:10 to a 3/4 full parking area, put on my boots, used the restroom, and was hiking at 8:20.
While there were plenty of cars in the lot, there was little activity nearby, leading me to believe most were overnight campers having arrived the night before. I did run into a few people on the trail but not many, I was still early enough. The first mile was in shady trees and the sun was just popping up over the hills. It was cool but warming and would be a fairly warm day. I think 85 or slightly higher was what it turned out to be. Once I passed the turnoff to Longs Pass, I was mostly in the open and the sun felt good but definately warming. I had about 1.5 liters of water in my pack and I would use most of it getting to the lake. I brought my water filter so I could refill before coming back.
I got to Ingalls Pass about 10:15 and took a short break. I’d been drinking enough up to that point but needed a snack. I sat with my back to the sun and watched some campers in the distance. Another hiker came along and passed me by and I was ready to continue at that point. I caught up to him a 1/4 mile later in a camping area where there were some mountain goats eating and playing. A couple of them were youngsters. They were fairly tame, I got to within 20 feet and just watch them. They watched us a little but pretty much ignored everyone. Other campers almost ignored them, as if they had coexisted for ages.
I didn’t waste too much time, only had another 3/4 mile or so to the lake, but it was the most difficult part, up and over and around rocks and another “pass”. Got to the lake at 11:20, just 3 hours. And I was tired. There was still lots of snow at the lake basin, but the surrounding hills and rocks were clean and dry and I found myself a nice resting place overlooking everything. Took off my boots and socks and leaned back against a nice rock and enjoyed the view. Mt Stewart was in full glory. There were 2 guys scaling another mountain on my left and two on the hill to my right. I was there 45 minutes before anyone else showed up. I was there an hour for lunch before I put on fresh socks and my boots and headed back.
More people were definately headed to the lake as I headed back. About 1/4 mile from the lake there was a nice rushing stream straight down from the snow fed hills above. No one could have been too close to the stream, other than the goats, so I filled my pack bladder using my filter, and had fresh cold water to drink the rest of the way down. THAT was refreshing.
Ran into probably 2 dozen people on the way back to the trailhead, a few campers, but most just late starting day hikers. The parking lot was overflowing with parked cars a hundred yards down the road. Glad I got there early. I left the parking lot at 3 and used A/C as the 13 mile dirt road out is extremely dusty. That didn’t do much to help me cool down. So I stopped at that little drive-in burger joint just east of Cle Elum for a burger and cold pop. That was again very refreshing for my drive home. I opened windows and turned off the A/C for the hour ride home, aired me out a bit. When I got home about 4 and cooled down I realized I got some good sun on my neck, arms, and legs. Only a slight sunburn, nothing too bad or annoying. But enough that I wouldn’t go for a hike early Sunday up Rattlesnake as I might otherwise do.