Sheep Lake to Sourdough Gap — Monday, Jul. 3, 2023

Great hike for a hot and sunny day! We really enjoyed it! Because of the high altitude, we were able to escape the heat - even at midday the heat was not a problem. A couple patches of snow by the trail-not bad for July.
Large parking lot. Trail was very well graded - always pleasant. Although the trail followed the road for a ways, it was much higher than the road and there were awe-inspring views of the deep valley to the right which more than compensated. We were glad we were back in hiking shape so that we could complete the charge to the top.
We enjoyed all phases of the trail -- first, dusty with wildflowers including red-orange ones, second, up into some forests with spruces and doug fir, third, the calm and peaceful lake which brought to mind visions of skipping stones, fourth, green meadows surrounded by impressively jagged peaks of the basin + and pretty leaves, fifth, switchbacks up the side where things get more rocky, and finally reaching the gap for an amazing all-directions view.
Bring your bug spray because if you stop to have lunch by a creek, the mosquitos will find you. Remember your sun-screen and water - trail alternates between shaded and not-shaded areas.
We went with our dog who had a great time, towards the upper end of the effort he can handle, but there weren't many rocky sections so his paws were fine.