The first really warm days in our June-uary saw me along with just about everyone else eager to get out, go camping, and hit the trails. My nephew and I snagged one of the last spots at Salmon la Sac (got there at noon on Thursday), and on Friday drove the slow, potholed forest service road to Tuquala Meadows and beyond to the trailhead. There were 3 small road lakes to cross, the first being the scariest-- high clearance would be good. (We had a Subaru which was sketchy). The expansive meadows around the lake are ready to bloom in the next week or two and should be quite a sight. All the dispersed campsites along the lake/river were also pretty much taken, but the trailhead wasn't so busy.
After about 2 and a half miles, we saw why. From the junction for Waptus Lake Trail it's feet of snow. A returning backpacker said he couldn't find Squaw Lake though he looked for an hour, and said every else he passed was wearing skis. Oh well-- the dogs loved the snow, and I hope to return for a loop hike later in the summer. The trail is wet in many places with several small and one large creek crossing-- the first crossing not far from the trailhead is the trickiest, but you can scout a way across.
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