We took the Golden Gate trail to its junction with the Skyline trail. Plenty of flowers but not the best display this year. Marmots on display as usual on the switchbacks up to the junction with the Skyline Trail. South on the Skyline trail there are still snow patches but paths are well trodden, but beware trying to follow the actual trail there, as you may find yourself going through the snow to the hips where it is hollowed out. We branched off onto the Lakes trail and continued south through beautiful meadows of wildflowers with backup views of Mount Rainier.
After a snack at Faraway Rock, we decided to avoid the knee crunching descent to Reflection Lakes and take the High Lakes trail shortcut which goes up and down through forest. The 'high lakes' are mere ponds now, some of them already dried up. Once in the forest we began to pick up mosquitos and biting flies. Above tree line there was a nice breeze, however. One caution about taking this route in a clockwise fashion. The trail reaches an unmarked fork where to the left there appears to be a couple of logs across a dry stream bed. If you continue straight the trail seems unmaintained and eventually you will come to a very sketchy area where the trail has fallen away and crossing is very risky. The correct route is to the left across the logs.
There were many wildflowers on display besides the usual lupine, paintbrush, cinquefoil, valerian, pasqueflower and bistort. Glacier lilies were still to be seen where snow had recently melted, as well as beargrass and phlox. Many of the lousewort varieties gathered in small groups along the way, including bracted parrot's beak, bird's beak, and sickle top (you may have to lift a petal to see the tiny sickle inside). There was also some sporadic marsh marigold and yellow beards tongue. Within a few days many will begin to fade in the heat.
Among wildlife surprises were a grouse in the trail puffing its throat, spreading its tail and scratching a hollow in the dust, and in the U of the road descending from Paradise where the trail ascends to the parking lot, a deer and a young black bear mindlessly munching away.
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