Robin Lake

The weather was predicted
to be 85 in Seattle and the air conditioner was out at the office and the kids and mom were going to the beach. This made a trip to Robin Lakes seem particularly appealing. Left home at 8:00AM Scatter Creek was about 6"" deep and no problem the road is just starting to develop washboard and made the trail head at 9:30 (note for permit protesters: there are about 3 trails in a row here so you would have to park over a mile from trailhead). There were about 3 cars at trailhead. The insect life was a mixture of deerflies and mosquitoes. Bathed myself in repellant. The rail to Hyas Lake was uneventful. At the lake weekend partygoers had left 4 Coors Light one Rainier and a Miller Draft. Being a good citizen I picked up the Miller in the spirit of volunteer trail maintenance. My pace somewhat slowed, I started up trail to Deception Pass filling water bottle at first large creek. Horseflies added to mix at Hyas. Trail to Tuck Lake splits off at 4200’, as Green Trails says not 4300 as my (old) guidebook claims. Trail to Tuck Lake is in typical condition dry, dusty, and steep. A few blowdowns were present but no worse than usual. Arrived at lake and set off for Robin Lake there was a party at Tuck that was somewhat loud. The trail (') To Robin I took started at outlet of Tuck not up waterfall by Tucks pot. The trail is cairned but the cairns lead to many trails all converge by the time you drop into a valley. You then go up other side to cairned trail to ridge above Robin Lake. It was now getting hot. I first picked a scenic camp on ridge and went exploring. Headed toward Trico Peak along ridge and saw Granite potholes. Wandered around swatting flies and decided to move into flats as it was windier there. Say male goat in the evening, oblivious to my presence, made sure salty pack straps secured. After a buggy night went over to Trico, there were about 5 new names in register. I left message to Rueben as he said he was going up this weekend. It was just as hot and buggy at peak as flats so I moved camp to the area between lakes (called ""killer camp"" by late arrivals). Went up to Granite and stayed most of the rest of the day. On the way to Granite there is a snow pass that is not difficult but there is a class two descent to the pass. I saw a family of ptarmigans within arm length. Many ladybugs were on the summit and a cozy cave to hide from bugs and sun. I read the first 25 of Shakespeare sonnets. Read register three time and several names from WTA. Headed down about 4PM sliding on snow as it was more cozy than steep dirt. This camp was not quite as buggy but I noticed a new kind of fly that looked like a yellow jacket but bites like a deer fly. No body else was in the area until about 6PM when party of three arrived. About midnight the bugs went to bed. I saw a pika in the rocks by camp. Thursday I awoke from sounds of two goats, a male and baby, I was afraid they would run into my small tent. He made his mark in the snow patch that I had been using for a water supply (glad I filtered and boiled it first). I started down and saw one couple headed up to Robin that could not believe they were on the trail. Filled water again at Tuck and headed down trail and saw a tired group of kids (scouts') just up from Hyas. I saw about three more parties headed in on the way out. I would anticipate that it would be crowded this weekend. A secluded camp could easily be found close to highest Granite pothole near Trico. I appolgize for the length of this report but I was solo and remember each moment. In spite of the bugs and heat it is one of the most sublime (in the words of Edmund Burke) spots in the range.