Ashland Lakes — Saturday, May. 18, 2019

I don't think I've ever uttered as many expletives on any other road to the hike then I have on this one. I've also never been as worried about my tires, and realizing I don't have anything to pump them back up if I got a flat. If we're going to have a pothole-filling party: let me be the first one to know. The road into the trail was awful. Pretty sure this is not what my 2010 Toyota Camry Hybrid find up for. Sorry, car. We reached the turn off to Boardman Lakes, Bear Lake, Ashland Lakes at about 6:43am. We finally reached the Ashland Lakes trailhead at 7:16am. The dog had a good time sticking his head out the window during this travel though. There was one or other car already in the lot. Vault toilet was open, but had no toilet paper - come prepared!

The hike was fantastic though. No bugs, just lots and lots and lots of morning cobwebs I destroyed with my face. The tree obstacles only get bad on the way down to the lower lake. One gentleman was camping at the lower lake. Only saw four other groups of people on the way back up to the trailhead. Made it back to the parking lot at 10:30, there were only 6 new cars in the parking lot. Ran into two cars on the way down and two cars at the bottom that weren't able to make it through the potholes. It's really that bad.

The hike was phenomenal--perfect length, not too steep, nicely maintained for the most part, good view payoffs, not really a lot of places to sit without being in the mud however, but still a perfect morning.

* Be cautious of the slippery boards - I am now rocking a gnarly bruise on my shin.