The temporary signs at the turnoff from the Mt. Loop Highway promised logging trucks, but they must be confined to week days as we saw none on a Sunday, which was fortunate, given the width of the Forest Road 2080. Forest Roads 2081 and 2086 held no promise of logging trucks, and they were even narrower. The only gravel visible was a narrow track for the right tires and another for the left -- all else was grass, but the only car we met was conveniently near a turn out.
Some translations from the 100 Hikes guide book are in order: "Relentless switchbacks" means 28 switchbacks on the 1200 foot elevation gain to the high point of the trail. ". . . the trail deteriorates to a boot-beaten path as it descends to the lake" means the trail makers gave up on the swtichbacks and just went straight down the hill.
Still a nice sub-alpine lake, nice meadows on the way in and a grand view across to the Swauk/Whitechuck valleys to Whitechuck Mt (follow the obvious path on the south side of the meadow to viewpoint). A good hike if you like solitude, as we encountered a grand total of 8 other hikers in 4 hours on the trail, and this was on a sunny, 80 degree day in the middle of July.
Snow is all gone, which means there were some flies and mosquitos. Flowers are transitioning from the early summer marsh marigolds in the meadows to arnica and Sitka valerian, with plenty of queen's cup and bunchberry in the shadier woods.
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