Sheep Lake to Sourdough Gap — Saturday, Jul. 15, 2023

We arrived at the trailhead parking lot at 8 am, with 2 spots left open. It's a VERY busy trail. Starting early was good on a hot day, but still had to take advantage of the shady spots for reprieve. Wildflowers all along the way: tiger lily, lupine, columbine, pasqueflower, penstemon, and even a bit of bear grass just starting to pop up! We stopped at Sheep Lake to rehydrate and enjoy the views. Folks were already there setting up tents for the night. Took more time to head up the mile to Sourdough Gap where we could see St. Helen's and Adams in a cloudless bluebird sky. Coming down is where things got less fun. Looked as if a literal bus-load of people hiking up to the Gap. Not my favorite thing to encounter...but everyone seemed to exhibit good trail etiquette. Next time I'll do this on a weekday to avoid the massive crowds. Overall, a beautiful hike with vista views for the minimal effort involved.