Josephine Lake, Icicle Creek, Chain Lakes

Great hike, with lovely campsites.

First day: a fairly easy hike in Stevens Pass to Josephine Lake (about 4.5 miles). We were the only group camped there. Saw three rivers otters in the lake in the early evening - one caught a fish and sat obligingly on a log in full view while eating.

Second day: a harder stretch to Chain Lakes (about 7 miles?). The portion of the Icicle Creek trail we hiked was fairly overgrown, but passable. After leaving the Icicle Creek trail, a hard steep couple of miles up the Chain Lakes trail. We encountered about three small blowdowns, but they were easy to step over. Chain Lakes were very beautiful - found a great campsite by the second lake.

Third day: back down the hill for another night at Josephine Lake, before heading back to the car on day four. Blueberries are beginning to ripen - should be fantastic in a week or two. Met a few PCT through-hikers on that first stretch of trail - wow.

Bugs were fairly bad all over (mostly black flies, and some mosquitoes), although much better on the last day when the breeze picked up. Pit toilets at both campsites (thank you, Forest Service!).