Pacific Crest Trail Section J - Snoqualmie Pass to Stevens Pass - East, Icicle Creek, Chain Lakes

Took PCT to Icicle Lake Trail to Chain Lakes Trail to Doell Lakes. Barney the 7 year old Cairn Terrier led the way. Weather was cool and cloudy on the way in, Saturday, with full sun on the way out the next morning, but still pleasantly cool. Huckleberries were abundant on the south side of the Stevens ski area, on the PCT. A few salmonberries (mainly unripe) in the thick schwack along much of the Icicle below Lake Josephine. Barney had an advantage in the schwack as he was mainly under it. The only bugs were a few skeeters around the Stevens Pass ski area, and an occasional biting fly. Some mud along PCT and Icicle, made noticeably worse on the PCT coming out by one or more horses (shorty gaiters recommended) that passed on Saturday, after us. Lots of water for drinking along the way. The 1600 foot climb to the lower Chain Lakes was stout,as advertised, but mercifully, was only a mile or so. Best views from the col between Chain and Doell Lakes. Very uncrowded. No one seen at the Doells, although there was one set of footprints that looked recent.