Day 2
1544ft gain/loss 4.9 miles. Ahhh…the sun in the morning after a cold night, listening to the wind screech, and bellow, is a welcome sight. After breakfast, we take full advantage of the morning light, and wander about the place taking pictures of everything. It’s like an addiction, once you start, it seems hard to stop. Did I take a picture of this already? That, and all the other doubts that seem to creep in, because you just don’t want to miss getting that right picture.
…taking pictures of everything. It’s like an addiction, once you start, it seems hard to stop…
Finally satisfied, we pack light, and leave our campsite to head for Alta Mt. and Lila Lakes. Alta Mt. is a walk up, but is one of the high points in the area, so we want to get above it all, and see what there is to see. You climb its ridgeline all the way to the top and every couple hundred feet or so, reveals new things! Wow! Once we get higher than Rampart Ridge, we can see unobstructed views of Mt. Rainier, and Mt. Adams in the distance! Incredible! Then all the other surrounding mountains seem to shrink as we climb higher.
Once on top, we have spectacular 360 degree views of the area. Now, we are high above the Lila Lakes basin, many of the small tarns are still snow covered, but the two largest lakes are sparkling in the sun, sitting in a bowl below HiBox mountain. To our northwest, we see Alaska Mountain, and at its base, its namesake lake. North, to Chikamin peaks, and the Four Brothers. West, lies Kendall peak, and from the west to the east, all along the faces of the surrounding peaks, we can see traces of the PCT, winding itself around. Looking south, we can see Mt. Rainier, and Mt. Adams, and the Snoqualmie ski resort, with I-90 a gleaming ribbon winding through the landscape, and around the shores of Lake Kachess. So many features, we spend a half hour on top, marveling at the view.
Time to move on, we want to see the Lila Lakes. There are still large snow fields everywhere, and from our high perch, we spy out a possible route down into the Lila Lakes basin, that will help us avoid going back down to the trail junction, and then walk back up to the lakes. We’re able to make it, its’ steep, but with the snow strategically placed, we’re able to make it down this side of the mountain. I don’t think I would want to try it without the snow, as it is steep.
…the surface cracking like a chick trying to escape it’s egg, revealing the turquoise blue of icy water beneath…
We use the few trees in the steepest section as handholds, to stop us from careening out of control down the mountain side. It’s a different perspective once in the lake basin. The upper lakes are still hidden under the snow, the only indication that there is a lake underneath, is where the surface of the snow has finally succumbed to the water below, the surface cracking like a chick trying to escape it’s egg, revealing the turquoise blue of icy water beneath. HiBox Mountain rises steeply above the lake basin, looking insurmountable with its sheer walls that taper off like castle ramparts in either direction, cutting off the views to the north.
…this basin is rugged eye candy…
The tops are jagged, and form a dramatic skyline, and in two places, there are rocks that look every bit as menacing as two large shark fins. Both menacing and beautiful at the same time, this basin is rugged eye candy. We move down to the lower lakes, Lila lakes, stomping through snow, making our own trail once more. Once we finally reach the lakes, we are again amazed at how perfectly shaped they seem to be. Is it possible that an area can boast so many treasures in such a small area? The largest of the two is azure blue, a little deeper than its sister, and on the western shore, there are two waterfalls that spill into the lake, feeding it snow melt. Its picture perfect, and hard to describe, as the water rushes down slope, hits a flat, then pours unhindered over sloping granite walls into the lake. Indescribable…
…we find a perfect place to perch on the granite slab above the waterfall, enjoying its cool spray…
We take many pictures, hoping that at least one will attempt to capture what it looks like here…We linger, not wanting to take our eyes off this place, and we find a perfect place to perch on the granite slab above the waterfall, enjoying its cool spray that blows back towards us. A perfect way to spend lunch, lazing on the shores of Lila Lake. Reluctantly, we leave, and head back towards camp at Rampart lakes.
As we approach our campsite, we are greeted by laughter, and many voices. It appears that we will have company. We round the bend, and there are three women sunbathing on the rocks. After spending the night before virtually alone here, it seems odd to come back to a place that is now teeming with folks, I’m guessing there are close to 35 people here at Rampart lakes now, and all the available campsites are full.
In fact, there is a group of 4 that keep circling the lakes, looking for that right place to set up camp, free of snow. Greg and I want nothing else right now except to get clean, so we wander over to the smallest of the lakes here, only about 6 or 7 feet deep, hoping for it to be the warmest of the bunch.
…my muscles cramped so bad, I thought that I may be permanently disfigured into the incredible hulk pose…
The water temp is a balmy 50 degrees, or so, and we take the plunge. Greg is sure that his toes froze off the instant he hit the water, and my muscles cramped so bad, I thought that I may be permanently disfigured into the incredible hulk pose, you know the one, where he stands there roaring, with his arms flexed and fists clenched, pumping up his pecs…Yeah, well, that’s how it felt after hitting the water, everything just locked up. Try getting out of a rock rimmed lake, when your body is doing its best imitation of Lou Ferrigno!!! That was some cooooooold water.
…as quickly as possible, before becoming the latest ice bergs to ply the waters…
Undeterred, though, we jump back in, and this time spend a little time trying to wash off the trail grime and sweat as quickly as possible, before becoming the latest ice bergs to ply the waters…After sunning ourselves dry on the rocks, we return to camp, and prepare our latest feast. Tired of standard trail fare, (I.e., freeze dried meals in a bag), we decide this year’s gonna be different.
We find delectable recipes from magazines, and just wandering the local supermarkets, finding fare that is both palatable and light weight. Greg prepares a feast of noodles, with chicken and mashed potatoes!!! It’s awesome, and tastes so much better than the stuff that we’ve been eating for the last few years. I know that I now look forward to dinners, wondering what new recipe that we are going to try out on one another. Here is a sample of what our dinner is now:
Serves 2 Click here for recipe and downloadable link!
1 Knorr Pasta sides, Butter and Herb ( Fettuccini in a Delicate butter and Herb sauce. No lie! Their words, not mine…) 4.4 oz serving, serves 2 diminutive appetites…
1 foil chunk chicken 7oz, by Kroger.
1 Idahoan Roasted Garlic mashed potatoes, 4 oz. YUM!
The noodles boil in 7 minutes, per directions, and this is pretty accurate. We take two Jetboil stoves, so while the noodles are cooking, we boil 2 cups water in the other stove, and put the mashed potatoes into a gallon zip lock bag, doubled up, and after the water reaches a boil, pour the hot water into the bag and stir. Once stirred up, you can seal the bag, and it will stay hot for several minutes. Right before the noodles are done, or even during, your choice, pour the chicken chunks into the pan with the noodles, and after about 7 to 10 minutes, they’re done! If your time it right, you have hot noodles and chicken with mashed potatoes!!!
…I’m sure you can come up with other tasty alternatives!
The whole meal is usually cooked in 10 minutes, or so, and you can serve it with crackers, or bread, if you brought it. It’s a delicious alternative to freeze dried meals, and we’ll never go back. True, the extra pots and pans are heavier, and there is a bit of clean up afterwards, but…After a long day on the trail, I actually look forward to meals now. There’s no going back, and if you use your imagination, I’m sure you can come up with other tasty alternatives! Look into it, Knorr has all kinds of “instant” meals, and they don’t weigh any more than the freeze dried meals. There are Asian sides, as well as rice, too!!
I may have to stop the narrative here…I’m hungry now…
Day turns to night, and true to form, the wind begins to howl right around dinner time, and I’m left to chase after whatever the wind decides to pick up and throw. After dinner, it’s time to turn in, and we hunker down in the tent from the wind, that howls relentlessly through the night. On more than one occasion, the sides of the tent get pushed down into Greg’s face, as he is on the windward side, and he gets peppered with sand and grit that the gusts blow under the rain fly and through the netting.
I do not even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was good. I don’t know who you are but certainly you are going to a famous blogger if you aren’t already 😉 Cheers!
Hello, and thank you! I am humbled, for sure! Just updated my site, and these are the first positive comments that I’ve gotten since it went live! Still have soooo much more to add, just been a little overwhelmed trying to get 11 years worth of data uploaded, pictures, video, etc…
Again, thank you so much for the positive feedback! Sorry I haven’t responded earlier, it’s just that I’ve been getting alot of spam lately, and have been a little discouraged wading through it all…Glad I checked in today!!!
t more. Thank you
http://educationpoints.eu
There is certainly a lot to know about this subject. I like all of the points you made.
Thank you very much! Sorry I haven’t responded earlier, busy preparing for the upcoming season! That, and as of late, I’ve been getting a lot of spam, so haven’t checked back as often as I should. Again, Thank you!
Thank you so much for the compliment! Appreciate that greatly!!! Sorry I haven’t responded earlier, been inundated with spam, and haven’t been wading through it to find genuine posts! I still have a long way to go, want to load some of my videos, and other trip reports. Updated my site this year, and it’s been a monumental task…
Again, thank you so much!!!