Sunday, August 2, 2009

Dewey Lakes

We just got back from a wild backpacking adventure!  We hiked down to two lakes just outside of Mt. Rainier National Park.  The wild flowers from the beginning were spectacular!  I got behind because I wanted to capture each one!  We hiked through these meadows in the afternoon shade and enjoyed passing by many small waterfalls, a few of which we dipped our heads into.  We arrived at the lakes in the early evening and soon realized that there were quite a few mosquitoes.  Then we realized that there were an unbelievable amount of mosquitoes.  Then we realized that there were an impossible amount of mosquitoes.  The kids and I went and swam in the lake for a reprieve from the mosquitoes, Dan cooked dinner and just got eaten.

 

The hike out was easy as cake for the kids and killer for the adults.  It was 700 feet up! but at the end of the climb we came around a curve and up a small hill and there was an amazing view of Mt. Rainier set beautifully by a meadow and a small alpine lake.  We continued to have beautiful views of Rainier for the rest of the hike.

 

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Emma and I at the site where we started the hike.  That is Naches peak in the background.  Our hike completed a circle of it with a dip down to the lakes to camp midway through the circle.

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This is the Dewey Lake that we camped by.  It was very beautiful with the afternoon reflection.

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Our campsite

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Chas with one of the frogs he caught.  Emma was catching them too but I didn’t get a picture of her with a frog.

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the big Dewey Lake in the morning

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the big Dewey Lake from the 700 foot climb

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This is the meadow where we got our first glimpse of Rainier!

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The bird tracks that Emma found

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8 comments:

Dan Ward said...

I would love to comment but I'm too busy itching the mosquito bites!!!!

David said...

sounds like a great hike but why do you always bring the mosquitos with you?

Charlie said...

That is a great post! And your pictures are amazing... I can't get over those lupine! And that last picture of Lucy is so darn cute I can barely stand it!

Michael said...

Great pics as always....I would leave the skeaters at home next time camping is more fun without them.

Anonymous said...

did you have repellent? You guys sound a lot like mom. I agree with Char; the picture of little Lu is priceless!

Anonymous said...

Forgot to say that that was a big pack Chas carried. Looks like it weighed a ton, maybe a ton and a half.

Kristi said...

We did have repelent but it was just baby strength which didn't do much good.

Dan Ward said...

Chas' pack was so light he didn't even bother putting the hip belt on. The way the kids shot up the trail on the way out they get heavier packs next time.