I arrived to a nearly empty parking lot at 9:00 am Friday – only 3 other vehicles present. I immediately hit the trail, but was slowed by scenes like this.

Beautiful colors started almost immediately in the vine maple dotting the hillside. Soon I was climbing the staircase of tree roots and rocks to the shores of Rachel Lake, which was completely vacant of visitors. I took a short break before attacking the last ½ mile of trail up to the ridge.

Colors on the ridge were quite nice, and continued all the way to the lakes. I found a nice campsite well off the main trail and settled in.

I was pleasantly surprised by the lack people. I witnessed a single day hiker pass by on his way up the ridge, and two other hikers picking berries. I had the lakes all to myself Friday night.

The weather hadn’t materialized as forecast, remaining mostly cloudy all day. The sun appeared to be winning the battle against them in late morning, but by early afternoon the clouds grew thicker and settled in for the rest of the afternoon.

As sunset neared, the clouds began to drop and obscure some of the taller peaks in the distance. And as I gave up on sunset, magic happened. The sun dipped below the cloud level to the west and transformed Alta and Hi Box into blazing red spectacles of grandeur. It was one of the best sunrises I have witnessed in several years.

Funny how things work out sometimes.

I nestled into my bivy sack with cloud cover over head. An hour later, the sky was filled with stars and the moon. A short time later, the clouds had reclaimed the sky.

I was awakened at 4:30 am by a critter resting on top of me; something much larger than a mouse. I was so bundled in that it took me forever to pop my head out to see what it was. By then it was gone. I can tell you that it didn’t startle easy.

I awoke for a sunrise that never materialized and waited until nearly 10:00 in hopes that the morning sky would clear. But it was not to be. Instead snow flakes began to fall, turning the frozen tarns around me white. I hiked out amid gray skies and light snow flurries.

At Rachel Lake I noted a single party that had stayed the night. Such solitude would not be afforded to those staying the next night. I passed a ranger with overnight pack just below the lake, and assumed it was a sign of the throngs of people expected for the weekend. Based on the number of people I saw coming up the trail, expectations may have been exceeded. I was glad to have missed the crowds by a day.

The trail from the head of the valley up to Rachael Lake has always been bad, but now it is worse. This was my third or fourth hike up there, and I'm disappointed to see how badly conditions have deteriorated. Due to poor trail design (if there was any design), heavy use, and serious erosion the trail from the head of Box Canyon valley up to Rachael Lake has become a steep scramble over roots and rocks. Coming downhill it is actually dangerous.

If the Forest Service ever obtains any money for trail reconstruction, I hope this segment is high on the list. It is worse than the old scramble up to Mason Lake that was finally replaced with a new route. The same thing needs to happen here.

The hike to Rachel Lake does have water on the trail as previously reported, but it lasts for less than a quarter of a mile and provides no real obstacle. Once you hit Rachel Lake the mosquitoes become apparent. On the way up to Rampart Ridge they intensify, and finally reaching Rampart Lakes, they appear in full force. Be prepared! Rampart Lakes are beautiful of course, one of the top spots in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. Come prepared for mosquitoes, or wait and do the hike later in the summer.
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Going up to Rachel Lake, after the big waterfalls just before the lake, it can be very confusing where to go because water is running right down the trail. The trail has, in fact, become a creek that you’ll need to hike up.

Due to the many rocks and roots this is very slippery and you need to go slowly and be very careful, both going down and coming up. Without good hiking boots, I’d think it would be easy to hurt oneself. Glad I had two hiking poles, especially when coming down.

Lots of mosquitoes at Rachel Lake. Lots of wildflowers and they are gorgeous.

Hiking up from Rachel Lake to Rampart Ridge, once you reach the top you’ll be in a snowfield – look for the Rampart Lakes / Lila Lake junction sign there. Rampart Ridge is around 30 – 40% snow covered, but there are some bare camping sites.

Upper Rampart Lake is 85 – 90% covered with ice. South side of the lake and the two gullies going up to the ridge are covered in snow.

I started the trip back down from Rachel Lake at 10:15 am on Saturday, July 11 and counted over 100 people coming up, many with only tennis shoes and some with just sandals. Hard to imagine them negotiating the creek/trail I spoke about above.