The campsites at Dorothy Lake are just melting out. There still is some snow on the trail as you move along the shoreline of the lake. The trail which exits from Dorothy up to Bear is still real snowy. Looks like a work party did an excellent job on the first mile of the trail. Melt, snow,melt.

Hiked to the lake with Dad and wife on Saturday the 19th of June, and returned Sunday (Father's Day). The trail to Dorothy is short, but challenging. The trail crews have done a good job removing blowdowns, but the erosion caused by many years of hikers is pretty bad. A very nice Saturday with occasional sunbreaks. Sunday we woke to light rain and ran for it. Most of the ice was melted off the lake, and what's left won't be there next weekend. There are still a few blocks of melting snow lying across the trail here and there, but they too will recede by July 1. You won't be alone on this hike no matter when you go. The trail is short and close to civilization, so expect a lot of dayhikers, kids, and noise. Campfires are prohibited within half a mile of the lake, which makes sense. There are so many people using this lake now. Campsites abound at every turn along the 2 mile long lake. Be respectful of your neighbor's privacy. If you're really fed up with the crowds at Dorothy, try Bear Lake or Deer Lake at the end of Dorothy and up the hill a mile or so.

The road to the trailhead is open. All rivers were running high, from the Skykomish to Camp Robber Creek and Miller River. (The water-bar 2 miles before the trailhead is easily forded by ordinary automobiles.) No mosquitoes or biting flies. The first 2 miles (the section before Dorothy Lake), is virtually snow free, with one short log on the trail. The tread surface is very worn and eroded, but no worse than in previous years. There are some muddy spots. Snow begins 0.1 mile from the lake. The ice has broken up, and 1/3 to 1/2 of the lake is open water. Several campsites are snow-free, while others are covered. The 3 mile section along the lake is about 2/3 covered with snow, especially at the far (southern) end. There is also about 0.4 mile of mostly snow at the outlet (northern) end. The intermediate portion has only patchy snow. I fell though a couple of holes, so use caution on this section. There are at least 6 logs across the trail (and maybe more under the snow). I estimate that the lake will be ice-free, and the trail mostly snow-free in 1 to 2 weeks. The foot log bridge across the inlet creek at the southern end is still there, but is damaged, and somewhat hazardous. The handrails are down, and the log has rolled about 10 degrees downstream (but is still on its supports). No snow on the foot log. I didn't cross it. The USFS should use our trail pass fees and repair this bridge prior to the July 4th weekend! The following plants were in bloom: Trillium (Trillium ovatum) Star-Flowered Solomon Plume (Smilacina stellata) Yellow Glacier Lily (Erythronium grandiflorum) Woodrush (Luzula campestris) Yellow Skunk Cabbage (Lysichitum americanum) Marsh Marigold (Caltha biflora) Bleeding Heart (Dicentra formosa) Slide Alder (Alnus sinuata) Sandwort (Arenaria macrophylla) Vanilla Leaf (Achlys triphylla) Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis) Foamflower (Tiarella trifoliata) Vine Maple (Acer circinatum) Stream Violet (Viola glabella) Red Huckleberry (Vaccinium parvifolium) Alaska Blueberry (Vaccinium alaskaense) Alaska Cedar (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis) Bob Plaag

Very nice hike. All the snow and blowdown is gone off of the road and you can get right to the trailhead. Their is no snow on the trail until you get to Lake Dorothy and then it becomes pretty solid. The lake looked gorgeous with all the snow on it. It is 99% covered with ice and the water was VERY cold. :-) If you are looking for a short hike (<1 hour to the lake) this is a nice one.

Entering the trail head on the Miller River/Hwy 2 side I was surprised to see that the Miller River Rd. washout of two years ago was fixed and the added 1.5 mile hike on dirt road had been eliminated. The trail is clear up until the bridge where the snow starts to appear in large drifts all the way to about .5mi. of the lake where it becomes a perminent and constent two or 3ft. Once I hit the lake the trail was no longer visable and the snow is still anywhere from 3 to 6 feet deep. Some dry camp spots are available but not many. On the way up I past a father and son who had spent the night and stated they were snowed on all night and woke to 3"" of new wet snow. After working my way about .75 miles along the East side of the lake I decided, after falling into a snow hole that I could not feel the bottom to, it was time to turn around. I turned around, headed for one of the dry camp spots along the shore and pitched a small bivy, changed clothes and socks, cooked a hardy bowl of Top Ramen while the snow began to fall in a light mist. I waited out the snow and relaxed for about 40min. and then headed back down. The snow is melting fast and many underground streams are audible. be alert and very cautious. Dear lk and Bear Lk will have to wait for at least a month unless you have snow shoes. Joe