Karl went hiking August 1, 2015 18.5 miles 3,500 feet gained
Extended the usual trip, after a quick tour of the lakes, up to the perfect lunch-with-a-view spot atop Park Ridge. It was a hot day, hotter than we had expected to be sure. There's one patch of snow on Park Butte that still offered a running stream down across the PCT on our way up.
The Park is almost entirely devoid of wildflowers now, other than some few spots of gentians and a dozen or so paintbrush sprouts. All the little tarns are dried up. Rock Lake is nearly half gone, too. On the other hand, both Scott and Bays lake were glorious!
On the way back down the ridge, we took a quick wade into Russell Lake, which helped combat the heat immensely. Then it was on to Scott Lake for full immersion therapy. The water was probably 70° and oh so luxurious! Spent a bit of time talking to a sobo thru, before taking one last lingering loop around Bays Lake.
Oh, ran into Kyle Meyer on the way up the Whitewater trail, too! :-)
Just another incredible day in the mountains!
