**Please be mindful of trash falling out of your pockets! I picked up several food and bandaid wrappers, three damp tissues, and a used qtip on the trail.**

Gorgeous day on the trail. It was busy but everyone was respectful and it didn’t feel overly crowded. In the shade the trail was icy in places so I definitely recommend footwear with good traction and warm layers. 

I started the loop around 1:00 and decided to extend the hike down to Dewey Lake on the PCT segment. It was a great detour, especially to leave the crowds for a bit. 

This loop would be perfect to bring visitors from out of town—it’s accessible and stunning views almost the whole time. 

After a weekend of heavy rain, the weather looked to be gorgeous. We parked at the Sheep Lake - Sourdough Gap parking area along Hwy 410. Instinctively, we chose a parking spot in the shade; but after opening the door, we quickly moved the car to a sunny spot. At 5,400' elev, shade is chilly even on a sunny day.

Note: At this parking area, the restrooms are closed.

We headed eastward on the PCT. The trail rambles along, slowly gaining a bit of elevation, through beautiful meadows and forests near treeline. Fall colors are popping in the meadows and along the trail, including purple huckleberry leaves and orange Sitka mountain ash. Mountain hemlocks are abundant near the beginning of the hike. (The presence of these mountain hemlocks, which prefer marine air, may indicate that the area is not quite within the rain shadow on the NE side of Mt. Rainier.)

At 1.5 mi, the PCT meets a trail coming from Tipsoo Lake, marked with a sign. Not far from this junction, and staying on the PCT, we began a steady descent to Dewey Lake. On arriving at the lake, the PCT heads right, along the southern lake shore. We headed left on a trail that's not quite as well-used, going along the northern shore to find a campsite. There are a several great spots before getting a quarter of the way around. The only slight downside of our spot was the absence of a view of Mt. Rainier.

We spent a delightful evening with not a single mosquito. Huckleberries were abundant and delicious, reminding us of "Blueberries for Sal." In the middle of the night, we heard elk bugling for about 30 minutes ... either that, or maybe it was hunters using an elk call.

From the lake and along the trail, several dramatic volcanic plugs are visible on the ridge to the south.

Heading back westward, we chose to veer left and take the return trail toward Tipsoo Lake. On this trail, Mt. Rainier seems right overhead. I recommend making this loop.

After reaching Hwy 410, we turned right and walked along the road for about 10 minutes to get back to the Sheep Lake - Sourdough Gap parking area.

I hiked out to Dewey Lake and back starting from the PCT parking lot just past Tipsoo Lake lot. I started at about 7:15 and there was plenty of room int he lot. Be aware that restrooms at this lot are closed and you will need to use the ones at the Tipsoo lot if you need them. 

Fall colors are beautiful and I didn't run into anyone on the way to the lake. I passed a number of people on my way back but the trail was certainly never crowded. I did pass a group with four horses close to the trailhead. Fortunately, some hikers gave me a heads up that they were coming so that I could step aside in a spot where I was readily visible. 

I met up with a friend and her pup to hike out to Sheep Lake. Beautiful trail, not very crowded and we saw a mountain goat on one of the hillsides. Thanks to the other hikers we passed that had their dogs safely leashed and we're courteous about giving us some space when we passed. 

Ethan, Karen, Brenda, Jonah, & I headed off to Chinook Pass to escape the smoke today (though it turned out not to be so bad in town, either).  We had planned to go to Deadwood Lakes, but it was foggy when we arrived and the vegetation was wet from yesterday's rain, so we decided to go to Dewey Lakes instead.  We arrived at Tipsoo Lake about 9:15 and had no problem finding a place to park.  We hiked the loop trail around the south side of Naches Peak to the junction with the PCT.  The fall color is starting and it was a beautiful walk in & out of the fog with all the vegetation coved with dew.  All the valleys were filled with fog on the way in.  Once down at the lakes we walked along the southwest shore of the big lake for a ways, then went back to the little lake for lunch.  We relaxed in the sun for our usual hour or so before heading back the way we had come.  By this time the valleys were clear of fog, but Rainier was hiding herself.  We all appreciated the clean, moist, fresh air.  

Jeno, Chris and I arrived at the Tipsoo Lake parking lot a little before 6AM this morning.  The moment we stepped out of the car we could smell smoke.   As we started up the trail I could see stuff falling in the light of my headlamp.   It was fine particles of ash.   Luckily for us there was a stiff wind blowing and by the time we got on the back side of Naches Peak the smoke smell was mostly gone and the ash was all gone.

One thing to note as we crossed the bridge over Highway 410 there is a lot of road work being done east of Chinook Pass.  Lots of signs and highway vehicles were out and about so be aware of that if you're heading east.

I was on the point and came around a corner of the trail and scared a Bull Elk. He jumped across the trail in front of me and took off.  It sounded like thunder as he crashed down slope thru some trees.  

With the smoke and ash gone for the most part we decided to head down the PCT to Dewey Lake.   We saw one person camping by the lake but did not talk to them.    There are a number of areas under restoration so be aware of where you are going down there.

The skies were blue and there were no clouds above us as we climbed back out of the lake basin and took the Naches Peak Trail west and we had high hopes of getting some great views of Mt Rainier.   Alas there was a persistent cloud cover right in front of the mountain which never went away and kept it partially hidden.  We met one couple coming towards us and then passed 3 people we had seen in the parking lot when we got there this morning. And that was it for hikers so a very quiet morning on the trail.

There were no bugs to speak of and a little bit of fall color coming out right now.   We got back to the car at 9:15 and stopped to chat to a number of rangers who were in the parking lot this morning.

Stay safe everyone.  See you on the trail.   SR