Because this was a double-hike week, this outing was only supposed to be a 7-miler. We arrived at Sunrise Point — a popular parking area and view point on the way to the Sunrise visitor area — and TBG parked and scrambled to get a few pics while the clouds and light were doing interesting things.
 |
| Interesting things. |
Then I had to go and open my big yap, wondering aloud why we weren’t starting from Sunrise proper. “Oh!” said TBG, “I hadn’t thought of that. We can drive up there and do that.” Boom! Six miles added.
 |
| Jazz hands! |
This was not a warm morning, and I was exceptionally glad to have my fleece beanie and little gloves in the car. Three shirts and a neckerchief round out the ensemble.
 |
| You can’t hide from us, Tacobeh. |
The sun was out, though, and we knew as soon as the clouds and mists blew away, we’d warm up, but, man, it was hard to take at first still being August and all. I figured we would at least be warmer than the climbers we espied who were headed up from Camp Schurman to summit.
 |
| Lending TBGuide a hand. |
Stepping off the trails is disallowed, so this was the best I could do to indicate we were headed back to Sunrise Point. On foot. Due to my big yap.
 |
| Move it or freeze it. |
Despite the chill, there were some good things about the beginning of the hike. Like no bugs, almost no other people, and lighting conditions that made colors go kapow!
 |
| What goes down… |
As the name of the hike indicates, it is a lake trail, but what the name doesn’t tell you is that there are eight lakes in all along the way.
 |
TBGuide narrowing the choices. |
This is where we would’ve started if not for my big yap.
 |
| Sunrise Lake. |
The above photo was taken on the return trip, so now I’ve ruined the surprise about the weather, but I wanted to keep things in order here. A pretty lake that is a natural choice to make a brief stop and do some clothing adjustments.
 |
| 0900 means time for caffeiney-beanies! |
Down to two shirts, the neckerchief, and a different hat.
 |
| Pika! |
They look like overgrown mice, but they’re not even rodents. They are basically under-grown rabbits. Science aside, they are ridiculously cute, and if they weren’t so speedy, I wouldn’t be able to keep myself from snatching one up. On the trail near Clover Lake, we spotted some fresh elk pee in the path and thought for sure we would see them, but despite our stealthy ways, we never did.
 |
| Pretty stream crossing the valley between Clover and Dick Lakes. |
The clouds almost completely cleared out, but it never would be anything close to hot. That is mostly a good thing, especially when you have to walk uphill later in the day for the better part of six miles because someone doesn’t know when to keep her big yap shut.
 |
| The Palisades |
As we neared Dick Lake, which is the middle of Tom, Dick, and Harry Lakes only the first two of which is the middle of Tom, Dick, and Harry Lakes only the first two of which are visible from the trail, we heard a muffled peeping coming from the grasses.
 |
| A blue grouse squeaker! |
 |
Then came mama hen. |
 |
| And then the second cheeper. |
They weren’t in too much of a hurry, and we warmed up in the sun watching them do their forest chicken thing.
 |
| TBGuide says, “Let’s revisit this on the way back.” |
After another mile, we reached what would be the trail terminus for us.
 |
Upper Palisades Lake |
We opted not to go down the last .4 mile hill to the camp, since we were most likely going to add another 1.2 miles to see Hidden Lake on the return. This was our lunch view. TBG suspected Hidden Lake might be pretty view-worthy, and I was silly enough to agree to it.
 |
| Sketchy. |
Climbing up to it was not at all delightful. It was downright scary in a few places due to steep, rocky, on-the-edge-of-death terrain. Although this photo is pretty, I wasn’t able to enjoy it while I was there because I found watching my feet to be of utmost importance.
 |
| Hidden Lake |
It was kind of gorgeous, I must admit. We walked around to that point on the left, briefly wishing it was a hotter day to warrant a dip. It was then time to start the journey back in earnest. TBG said this was the biggest hike I’d have ever done in terms of distance (~14 miles, ~4000′) I told him to stop badgering me with numbers while I was trying to enjoy a hike. We made another brief stop at Clover Lake to try some timer photos. I had to crop due to the indecent placement of a knot on a log.
 |
| sMiles |
There were still some wildflowers blooming, but the heyday has already passed. One flower is just coming into its glory, though, and it happens to be my favorite.
 |
| Mountain Bog Gentian |
They were everywhere, getting ready to carpet the ground with their blue brilliance. They’re going to make next week’s hike sublime. We’re planning on 11.5 miles. I’m planning on keeping my yap shut.