Pear Lake via Meadow Creek, Fortune Ponds, Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) Section K - Stevens Pass to Rainy Pass & Pear Lake — Friday, Aug. 8, 2014

Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West

Potholed road camouflaged by dappled shade. Can do it in a car – just need to go slow. Some scenery, but mostly about beautiful weather, lakes and solitude (did not see a soul on the hike in or camped at Fortune Pond). Meadow Creek Trail - Tread is excellent. Mostly bright shade with sun spots. Trail ranges from perfect to very brushy to so intensely brushy it can barely be seen. A few damp spots. Two crossings of Meadow Creek easily done on rocks. Several blowdowns. A few ripe blueberries at lower elevations. Lots of different flowers, though no new IDs and not a single yarrow (I thought those were mandated by law?) Favorites include spirea, queens cup, tiger lily, columbine, rosy twisted stalk, small-leaved montia, goat’s beard, penstemon, various monkey flowers, slender bog orchid, yellow willowherb, tall bluebell, monkshood, and azalea. Abundant partridgefoot and pink heather at higher elevations. Few shooting stars remain. Made base camp at charming Fortune Pond. Fed by a waterfall. Visited by dippers. Enough bugs to break out the headnet, but not enough to distress. There is an inadequately signed toilet. Next day, hiked to Pear Lake (which also has a toilet) and north on PCT. Quite a few pika sightings beyond the pond. PCT in excellent shape. Views of Glacier Peak and Monte Cristo mountains. Several through-hikers and a few others. Camper at Pear Lake reported trail to Top Lake closed off due to fire. Noticed increasing haze from the fires on Saturday and could smell smoke on the hike out on Sunday. #1 NY Pizza on Hwy 9 is a good dinner stop on the way back to Seattle and they serve fantastic cannoli.