Ingalls Creek — Saturday, Jun. 15, 2024

Cold rainy and snowy conditions up in the mountains pushed us to do a longer drive out to the east slope of the cascades. This is a great standby hike, backpack or long trail run. Flowers were mostly lupine, mariposa lilies, sunflowers, yellow salsify, honeysuckle, spirea, and paintbrush. There were plenty of backpackers and hikers but it didn’t feel too crowded and everyone seemed friendly and accommodating to our younger hikers. The gentle beginning grade is helpful for making pace and there are plenty of fun distractions with scrambling boulders and plant life to check out. Rattlesnakes were reported in the area so keep an eye on dogs and kids. Quite a bit of fresh June snow up at Stevens on the drive back.