Fisher Lake, Tonga Ridge / Mount Sawyer — Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024

Trip Report:  Fisher Lake / Mt Sawyer / Tonga Ridge
Rating:  5 of 5 stars for Mt Sawyer (4.5 stars for Fisher Lake)
My opinions:  This is one of my favorite moderate hikes up to Mt Sawyer.  However, when you do both in one day, the rating goes to difficult due to the length of about 12 miles.  There are lots of miles with easy grades, but near the lake and up Mt Sawyer, there are spurts of difficult grades. 
We hiked to Fisher Lake first and had a nice dip in the lake. 
The hike up to Mt Sawyer had nice views and fall colors.  There was a haze (or smoke), so we could only see the “closer” mountains, such as Glacier Peak.  My friend saw a hazy Mt Rainier, but I could not see it. 
Snow:  None yet.  However, some weather reports say there is some coming soon.
Trail conditions:  Great.  At about 2 miles, the trail to Mt Sawyer is on the left, after you pass through the meadows.  There is a sign on the right.  
Bugs:  None.
Time: This trail to the lake took us 3 hours.  We “swam” for about an hour and explored the lake a little.  We rested at the peak of Mt Sawyer for about 30 minutes.  Our total trip was 9 hours, (6.5 hours hiking).  I’m 66.
Views:  Very beautiful mountain views, although a little hazy or smokey.  We could see Glacier Peak, but I could not see Mt Rainier or Mt Baker.
Flowers:  None.
Parking & Road Conditions:  No problem getting to the parking lot with an all-wheel drive (Toyota Highlander).  A very good gravel road.  I think most cars could make it, although there a few potholes to watch out for.
Highway 2, going back to the Seattle area was very crowded on a Sunday evening about 7 pm.  It was bumper to bumper starting before Gold Bar, with us inching along. 
Food:  However, this traffic delay had us stop at Gold Bar Thai Cuisine and all of us were very happy with our food!  I give this place a 5 of 5 stars!  I got the Panang Curry with Chicken and added mushrooms & I loved it!  The Pad Thai and Pad See Yu (?) thick noodles were yummy too!  A little spicy—a 2 is like a 3 in most places, so get it mild if you don’t like spice…  It was a little slow service because they were swamped, but worth the wait!