Lake Ingalls — Saturday, May. 30, 2015

Snoqualmie Region > Salmon La Sac/Teanaway

Shade is at a premium today. Started hiking around 10:30 and it was already quite warm and there was no wind. The first third of the hike is through the forest, but it is really more like 50% sun and 50% shade. Then it is 100% sun as you reach the junction of the Long’s Pass trail. That is what sunscreen is for I guess. At least a nice breeze started to kick in at the elevation so it didn’t feel has hot anymore. A lot more wildflowers out than I expected along the whole trail, but still a week or two away for many species. A good patch of lupine should begin to bloom soon just above the junction of Long’s Pass trail and there was a patch of Shooting Starts starting to bloom just below Ingalls Pass. The basin is still socked in with snow and I chose not to head over to Ingalls Lake today. Why exert myself more when I can just soak in the views and take a nap? What was unusual today was the lack of crowds - below average from what I normally see on this trail. Did not see any mountain goats as well, but I was informed there were some on the other side of the basin. All in all, the good weather and relative solitude made it great day. Last fall, the road to the trailhead was filled with large potholes and washboards so that you had to drive verrrrrry slow. Some angel obviously did a nice job grading the entire road since then and was smooth as silk today.