There's one thing that the WTA official description got wrong...
"The open area includes 3 creek crossings before the trail dives back into forest and continues climbing." - y'all, the first one is a TOWERING GORGEOUS STUNNING WATERFALL. And all three "creek crossings" were dope waterfalls! All highlights of the trip! :)
Besides that, everything was as-advertised. Picked this hike due to recent reports of few bugs - confirmed! Two big blowdowns, both have little paths around them. Trail work is ongoing on some slide rocks that added steps - thank you! So good!
The mental markers from the official description like "this section is about to be straight up and be brutal" were helpful along the way for us. And honestly, after the slog through the forest's STEEP switchbacks, the post-waterfall climbing up was some amazing alpine hiking, those views kept us going (even thought it was pretty exposed and straight up haha).
We didn't even make it up to Foggy Lake! LOL - we chilled at one of the first small lakes we encountered in the basin. Explored the area on social trails (being careful of the gorgeous vegetation and blooming wildflowers) for about 45 minutes before heading back down.
Our timing:
- 7:40AM: Departed Barlow Pass parking lot (about a dozen cars there)
- 9:40AM: Arrived at the first creek crossing/waterfall after the forest switchbacks.
- 11AM: Arrived at the basin, explored, and enjoyed the scenery
- 11:45AM: Started down from the basin
- 12:40PM: First creek crossing / dunked our heads and hats in the waterfall to cool down haha
- 2:10PM: Back to trailhead (lot at capacity with about 40 cars + a dozen on the highway)
Lots of fun groups encountered on the trail throughout the day, about half day hikers and half campers. Shouts to the Chex Mix Girls and Gay Santa (our fav trail encounters of the day <3) - happy hiking!
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