Tuck and Robin Lakes — Friday, Jul. 24, 2015

Snoqualmie Region > Salmon La Sac/Teanaway

Sadly, whenever I exhibit questionable judgment outdoor, I now refer to it as a "Cheryl Strayed Moment". I apologize to those of you who adored "Wild", but I'm not the only woman who feels it shone a dim light on women in the outdoors. Tuck Lake as a destination wasn't really a Cheryl Strayed Moment. What qualified was bringing my old, heavy gear because my newer, lighter gear is packed for a 3-week Big Trip starting Tuesday. Well, it wasn't probably the brightest idea to launch up a steep, gnarly trail when I'd been sick all week, either. I was slower than molasses, especially on the rocky, rooty final slog to Tuck Lake, and cursing under my breath when the Kelty backpack that was never famous for lateral stability would swing sideways at the wrong moment. I brought my old Clip Flashlight tent, which I have replaced twice over but keep using because of the memories; the overnight rain reminded me why I always regretted the short fly. That rain wasn't heavy- and indeed is welcome in our parched area- and it made the lush meadows smell heavenly of vanilla and spice. But the campsite I grabbed- a single on the right path right by the lake- had one great dry tent site that had been converted to a bathroom, complete with toilet paper (yes, people, I did clean up your biohazards). I had to camp lower, and ended up in a puddle as a result. The left path leads to better sites, but it's really sized for a group, and I was glad I wasn't selfish when one arrived close to dark. The trip was worth the grueling slog, and I enjoyed spaghetti and cocoa by the lake with the last decent light. I was going to spend an extra night and hike up to Robin, but the day dawned rainy and socked in, with a few sucker holes. I pledged to come back with my lighter, better gear when the blueberry leaves turn red, with bluebird skies and pretty frost in the morning. The walk out was soggy but lovely. The jungle jim downhill route was not that bad- I did have my trusty La Sportivas with good stability and bite, and they were like angel wings on my feet through that section. The soil has enough gravel in it to be decent even when wet. There were lots of people having a good time despite the showers, and it was hard not to smile when everyone including the little girl with her Elsa purse was happy. I did take a picture of the sign that shows people how to properly deal with waste (HINT) and habituated goats (please, before the USFS starts shooting them when someone gets poked).