Heather - Maple Pass Loop, Lewis Lake & Wing Lake — Saturday, Aug. 10, 2019

This was my first backpacking trip in the PNW as I just moved here last week, and it was incredible. The hike includes beautiful forests, amazing views of mountains, several sub-alpine lakes, and varied terrain. The Heather-Maple Pass Loop is gorgeous, and you will probably encounter upwards of 10 groups on the loop at a time. Once you take the trail towards Lewis and Wings Lakes, the crowds disappear. The hike up to Lewis Lake crosses a big talus field (which can be treacherous if you're not careful. Anyone sure footed can do it though), and climbs some steep, rocky slopes. Be careful where you place your steps, as the rocks will slide. Both Lewis and Wing Lakes are insanely beautiful. The water is extremely clear and blue, and they both sit below snowy cliffs and peaks. I camped by Wing Lake and had absolute solitude. I was going to scramble up Black Peak in the morning, but it was extremely foggy, so I had to bail. On the way back down from Lewis Lake to the Heather-Maple Pass Loop, I lost the trail in the fog. I would highly recommend bringing a GPS enabled topo map with you (I used the Avenza app, with a map exported from CalTopo). The talus field can also be tricky in dense fog, but just be patient in visually searching for the next cairn.  Overall, this is a good weekend backpacking trip that I would rate 10/10. I am excited to return sometime soon to summit Black Peak.