Lake Ingalls hiking weekend

Adrienne picked me (and friend Marin) up after work on Thursday and we drove northeast to the Alpine Lakes wilderness in Washington, just outside Leavenworth. We camped at 29 Pines, a very rustic campground along a creek. Morning came very early and we immediately headed to the Lake Ingalls trailhead.

The wildflowers were blooming all the way up the trail -- lupine, penstemone, daisies, paintbrush, thistle, and more.

Since we got such an early start, and the sun was rising behind the ridge, we got to hike the first 4 miles in the shade, which was very welcome.

Once we got high enough, we could see Rainier popping up in the distance.

Our first goat sighting! A mama and baby.

This mountain creek ran through a grassy meadown and then gradually slid off the side of the cliff in such a way that it looked like an infinity pool.

 

The final scramble up and over the ridgeline before you drop into the basin of Lake Ingalls.

 

Beautiful, blue-green mountain lake. We sat down and enjoyed lunch, and enjoyed our goat and marmot visitors.

It was a hot day, destined to get hotter in the afternoon, so despite the glacial temperatures of the water, we decided to take a dip. My first foray was just wading; for my second I sunk down to my neck, and then for my third Adrienne bullied me into diving with her. :) The water was so clear and the lake bottom was soft sand, no rocks or slimy things. It was amazing.

And then we hiked up over the saddle and all the way back down to our car -- it was hot and sunny, but at least we were going down. And we saw a whole herd of goats on the way -- three adults and four babies. And many more wildflowers. It was an amazing hike -- 10 miles round trip, so beautiful.