Island Lake - Rainbow Lake, Ira Spring Trail - Mason Lake — Saturday, Aug. 1, 2009

Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass

The road to the trail head is OK for even low clearance passenger cars, with a few bad spots. Hit the trail at 8:30 and it wasn't too hot on the way up. Flowers mostly spent, still some paintbrush, fireweed, yarrow and a few others on the "flowery" part of the trail, which is rather dusty. Lots of people camping at Mason Lake - the bugs were very bad there. Went on to Rainbow Lake, which was much less crowded and many fewer bugs. The trail between Mason and Rainbow Lakes goes through some lovely subalpine meadows, although flowers are scant. From the ridge to Mason Lake it is apparent how bad the air over Puget Sound basin is. Looked like LA on a bad day. Trip down around 2PM was very hot and was surprised to people starting up the hot dusty trail with backpacks.