Forgot to add photos to my last review

Parking lot was almost full around 1 pm on a Tuesday. Started at 1:45 pm, made it to Foggy Lake in about 3 hours 15 min, including about 15 min of breaks. The timing was ideal, since the trail was largely shaded while I was on the steepest portions just below the basin entrance, but the basin and lakes were still in the sun by the time I got there. If you aren't going for a super early morning start or you're doing an overnight, I recommend waiting until afternoon for this reason. 

Of the three water crossings around 3700ft, the first (northernmost) one is more like a mini waterfall and is the best for refilling bottles. Entering the basin, there are white-flagged wands with blue tape marking the trail to Foggy Lake.

Foggy Lake is not even particularly cold, and it is quite inviting after the ascent. Don't forget to bring your goggles, it's clear and deep! Only three or four other groups were camping on a weekday night. A few mosquitoes came out around dusk.

In the morning, I made the 200ft scramble up the ridge south of Gothic Peak, a small add-on which should have a view to the Olympics if the visibility is unrestricted. There is a boot path to follow that minimizes the loose rock and gravel, and poles were very helpful here (as well as for the whole trip and the descents especially).

I started down from the basin around 11 am and reached the trailhead in about 2 and a half hours. I was sweating even on the downhill due to full sun exposure, and I did not envy anyone going up around noon!

Overall this is a hard one, but it made me want to come back again. Seems like week days are the move too if you can swing one!

Beautiful day at Gothic Basin.  Thank you to WTA for improving the trail.

If you were leaving Foggy Lake on Friday August 22nd at around 2pm, and left something behind, please reply to this trip report, and let me know what you left behind, with a way to get in touch with you.

I hiked to Foggy Lake with my teenage son for an overnight trip.  This was a very technical hike and would definitely recommend that you hike with poles, especially if taking a backpack of gear.  The hike was lovely and fun, and very challenging in parts because of the steep steps and climbing necessary up some rocks that loomed like a wall.  It took us about 4.5 hours to get to Foggy Lake, and it took us 4 hours the next day to get down to the trail head.  We went slow because of all the steep steps.  If you do this hike, be prepared to work hard! We camped at Foggy Lake and enjoyed the views of the lake and of the mountains to the east.  Foggy Lake had wind and fog rolling in during the evening and we wore all our layers and climbed into the tent early to stay warm.  Beautiful sunrise the next day.  This hike is something to be very proud of when you finish it.  Beautiful views and it tests your strength and endurance.  

Foggy Lake is named that for a reason.  A friend of mine and I went out for a quick overnight trip and as soon as evening rolled around the fog blew in and didn't relent.  The upside was practically zero bugs and mild temperatures.  Although foggy, it is a beautiful area with tarns, streams, wildflowers and all kinds of interesting rock formations.

.... and the downside...  garbage, defacing of rock faces and a fire pit at every campsite even though fires are banned in this area!  I know this area is too popular for its own good but what is up with some people.  I have friends who can't camp without a campfire, they say it just isn't camping if you aren't burning something.  But guess what?  I don't invite them into the wilderness and if I do I tell them I will not allow campfires, especially in the alpine.

If you need to have a campfire, stay in a car campground and leave the wilderness for those of us who want to see it in all its beauty.  Besides all the campfires I also found a garbage full of empty food packages and a used gas canister.  We also found a swimsuit, shorts, dirty underwear and a belt.  I also found a place where one or more people defecated and left a whole stash of dirty paper that looked like wet wipes or Swiffer pads partially stuffed under some rocks.  I did not want to find this mess or deal with it, but I packed it all out.

If you are going out into the wilderness, please, practice Leave No Trace.  If you are going to a popular area and want to leave it better than you found it pack in a plastic garbage bag and rubber gloves so you can clean up after the people whose parents never taught them better.

Sorry for the rant.  I know 95% of the people who read, use and contribute to this site believe the same things and want nature to be preserved.  For the other 5% please do better, respect nature and your fellow campers and do not have campfires where they are not permitted and please pack out all your trash.  Please!