Chain Lakes Loop — Friday, Aug. 16, 2019

We started from the Artist Point parking lot in the "alternate route" direction noted in the hike info section on Friday.  The weather was cool and misty, with clouds intermittently blowing past on the Table Mountain portion of the hike.  Descending toward Mazama Lake after the junction with the Ptarmigan Ridge trail, lots of pika were seen and heard.  We found a nice spot on a little outcropping on the south side of Hayes Lake, and explored Arbuthnet Lake after pitching our tent.  We met a couple who had a completely suspended tent (not a hammock) at Arbuthnet Lake - nifty!  On the second day of our stay we ventured out to Ptarmigan Ridge, and the clouds were so dense that we doubled back to our Hayes Lake camp after Coleman Peak.  We did see actual ptarmigan, though - what looked like a parent and a few chicks.  Wildflowers were still in bloom, and we heard bees buzzing throughout the day, but not many mosquitos or other bugs at all.  The photo is of Hayes Lake in the morning sunshine on Sunday.