Rachel Lake — Saturday, Jun. 13, 1998

Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass

Very pleasant hike up to Rachel Lake. Very clear trail until you reach the roots and rocks section of short switchbacks. Occassional patches of snow until 4500 feet then solid 2 - 3 feet up to the lake. The snow along th lake shore is melting out in the established and hardened sites. No bugs. . .yet. Lake is clear of ice except for a thin patchy layer at the north end. The way to Rachel Lake is not distinct through the snow if you haven't been there before. You need to cut sharply to the left and head up a fairly steep looking slope. With a range of footprints going differnt ways, I contoured up the slope above one of the creeks coming down and ended up on the north bench between Rachel and Lila Lakes. It was an easy walk and slide down to the open campsites along Rachel Lake. Altho I brought (and used) my ice ax, no one else in the 5-7 parties I passed going up or coming down had one. Indian paintbrush near the trailhead, skunk cabbage and Devil's club just starting to put out stalks and leaves up around 3,500 - 4,000 ft. Many lovely sitting spots along the creek. Trail is muddy and wet in places.