Followed the route in vtelgarsky's excellent trip report- https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/trip-reports/trip_report-2020-08-31-1243252923 for a 3 day/2 night trip. Camped at Dewey Lake and Cougar Lake.
Trail conditions:
- Road to Mesatchee Creek trailhead has a few sizable potholes but drivable with care.
- The Dewey Lake trail and trail down to Mesatchee had a lot of blow downs and involved climbing over/under/around some big trees.
- Bugs are unrelenting on the Dewey Lake Trail and in the Dewey and Cougar Lakes areas. Repellent didn't deter them and they bit through bug netting and long sleeves.
- Couple of campsites with awesome views of Tahoma (see pics) along the eastern shore of Dewey Lake before the creek.
- Quite a few Campsites along Cougar Lake were closed for restoration.
- Nobody on the trails except for the little stretch of PCT after Dewey. Could hear people and dogs at both campsites.
- No running water source on the way back from Cougar Lake for about 7.5 miles until the trail crosses Mesatchee Creek.
Comments
Sims on Mesatchee Creek, Dewey Lake, Cougar Lakes, American Ridge
Hi,
Planning a similar trip in a week. Was their drinkable water in either of the two ponds on American ridge before the trail crossed mesatchee creek?
Posted by:
Sims on Aug 08, 2021 10:20 AM
gardaeh on Mesatchee Creek, Dewey Lake, Cougar Lakes, American Ridge
We didn't have to use the ponds. You could probably use the larger pond in a crisis. I left Cougar Lake with 2.5 liters and that was enough to get me to the creek. The smaller pond didn't have much water if I remember. I started with 1.5 liters from the trailhead and topped up at the American River on The Dewey Lake trail. Started with the same amount from Dewey and it lasted until Cougar. There's plenty of running water between Dewey and Cougar.
Posted by:
gardaeh on Aug 09, 2021 09:58 PM
gardaeh on Mesatchee Creek, Dewey Lake, Cougar Lakes, American Ridge
We didn't have to use the ponds. You could probably use the larger pond in a crisis. I left Cougar Lake with 2.5 liters and that was enough to get me to the creek. The smaller pond didn't have much water if I remember. I started with 1.5 liters from the trailhead and topped up at the American River on The Dewey Lake trail. Started with the same amount from Dewey and it lasted until Cougar. There's plenty of running water between Dewey and Cougar.
Posted by:
gardaeh on Aug 09, 2021 09:58 PM
Sims on Mesatchee Creek, Dewey Lake, Cougar Lakes, American Ridge
Thanks so much for the follow up. Its hard to get information on this part of the trail.
I was thinking of actually camping at the larger pond because I wanted to break up the distance if possible. (Were doing the hike with a 79 year old). Sounds like the water quality of the larger pound is questionable. Was there a campsite near where the creek first crosses the trail?
Posted by:
Sims on Aug 10, 2021 07:21 AM
Sims on Mesatchee Creek, Dewey Lake, Cougar Lakes, American Ridge
Thanks so much for the follow up. Its hard to get information on this part of the trail.
I was thinking of actually camping at the larger pond because I wanted to break up the distance if possible. (Were doing the hike with a 79 year old). Sounds like the water quality of the larger pound is questionable. Was there a campsite near where the creek first crosses the trail?
Posted by:
Sims on Aug 10, 2021 07:21 AM
gardaeh on Mesatchee Creek, Dewey Lake, Cougar Lakes, American Ridge
In that case I suggest you take a day hike and scout it out. Good luck!
Posted by:
gardaeh on Aug 10, 2021 05:26 PM
gardaeh on Mesatchee Creek, Dewey Lake, Cougar Lakes, American Ridge
Awesome that you have a 79 yo but here are some seriously big trees down across the trail that you should probably scope out before you decide.
Posted by:
gardaeh on Aug 11, 2021 12:37 PM
Sims on Mesatchee Creek, Dewey Lake, Cougar Lakes, American Ridge
Thanks for the heads up. We might just out and back through Chinook Pass. Sounds like water and trail conditions are better if we stick to the PCT.
Posted by:
Sims on Aug 11, 2021 12:42 PM