Rachel Lake, Rampart Ridge - Rampart Lakes — Saturday, Jul. 1, 2000

Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass

Good trail report from earlier. Expect lots of creek crossings, mud and snow. Watch out for slippery, unstable logs, especially in the largest of the creek crossings. But if you slip (like I did!), the only penalty is wet boots - nothing dangerous. There's still snow about 1/4 mile from Rachel Lake. Unfortunately, that's a really steep area of the trail, so you have to slog up some steep, slippery slopes just before the lake. The lake itself is almost thawed, and there were plenty of dry lunch spots. Beyond the lake we headed up the right side trail to Rampart. There's lots of snow, but head up to the right following the footprints, then when you get to a large, open snow patch head for the trees to the left and you should find the trail. The trail is mostly open, but where it's snow covered it's not too exposed. Rampart Lakes were still frozen over with what looks to be fairly thin ice. There were only patchy areas of thawed ground around the lakes. Looks to be at least another few weeks before they're melted out - maybe even late July.