Lake Ingalls — Friday, Aug. 18, 2023

The parking lot was 3/4 full at 08:45am on a Friday morning, yet we saw few hikers on the way up. Where were they all? The first 1/3 of the trail is effortless, but in the middle section the trail is narrow and dusty and crosses slopes that would be an uncomfortable slide if you put a foot wrong. A hiking pole would have been helpful. The final 1/3 of the trail is a little steeper, and much of it is rocky but not difficult. The view of Mount Stuart was stunning, and we were grateful that smoke from the fires in the North had not made too much haze. We saw pikas and chipmunks but, alas, no goats. The lake was dry, with only a little water flowing through boggy meadows. I took 2L of water, and on this warm summer day it was about right.