Uphill Is Where the Alpine Meadows Are

8/5/13

PCT mile 2319-2334 Sheep Lake - 15 mi

Elev 4881 - 5750

The 1st part of the morning we climbed beneath rocky spires and went over a saddle, almost a 2 mile climb. 

We rested and met a man whose trail name was  Overdrive, hiking from Ashland, Oregon to Canada.  We also met Toucan on a weekend hike, we each thought the other looked familiar, he was the young man we met in our first days hiking to whom Peggy gave her maps!  Rounding a bend in the trail as we climbed higher we saw Mt Rainier in all it's splendor for the first time in this section.

We also saw Mt Adams to the south behind the snowy ridges of Goat Rocks where we were 3 days ago. They look so far away!

It took us awhile to do the first 5 miles due to the uphill grind but we rested and pushed on to the 10 mile mark, these were hard miles today. We arrived at Dewey Lake, a beautiful place for a rest.  I saw a juvenile eagle splash down snatching a fish out of the lake them flying to a tree top to dine! Other hikers were enjoying the lake too, we spent about an hour here. 

The hike out of the lake was about 2 miles, we passed families coming down the trail and we knew it was going to be a busy place in a few hours, it's not very far from Hwy 410. As we topped out we could see the road in the distance as we passed through stunning alpine meadows and a tiny aqua blue lake just 2 miles from the road. Tourists were ambling up the path enjoying this accessible beauty.

Western Pasqueflower.

We crossed the highway and traversed the hillside as we wound our way up and through a saddle to our camp at Sheep Lake. I was so tired I complained that they moved the lake whenever I got close, I thought I'd never get there.

But here's proof that we finally made it!

There are other tents here, people enjoying the close proximity to the highway.  We've decided to get up at 5 tomorrow because we have a steep climb right away and it helps to be fresh in the cool mornings. We've got 16 miles planned if we can do it.