MOSQUITOES ARE HUNGRY! Normally this hike is absolutely beautiful and for the most part 'bug free'. But I've never seen so many mosquitoes! About 1/2 way to Eunice Lake the bugs increase and by the time you get to the lake you have been swarmed and there were no signs of stopping. We were covered from head to toe in bites, couldn't even concentrate enough to eat. It was the quickets trip to the lake I'd ever had. Next time we go it will be much later after the snow pack has melted. Other than the bugs, it was a beautiful day!

Mowich Lake Road just opened (7/9) and is in great condition. There is some snow and mud from the melt on the trail around Mowich Lake, the final climb from Eunice Lake up to the lookout, and lake Eunice and the trail around it is covered in snow. You can avoid the snow around Mowich Lake by taking the trail head off Mowich Lake Road rather than departing from the campground, but then the walk around Mowich lake is really gorgeous. Even with the bit of snow, the trail is well travelled and easy to follow. Won't be flowers for several more weeks (at least) until Eunice melts out.

this hike today was one of those rare trips that make you remember why you hike in the first place. the trail was in pristine condition and despite a clear and relatively perfect day there were very few hikers on the trail, maybe the fact that we set out after 3PM had something to do with that! the hike itself was not overly challenging although the trail did have a way of taunting us. the majority of your 1200 ft. altitude gain happens over the course of about a 1 and 1/2 mile stretch after climbing a mutlitude of switchbacks up to Eunice lake you look up in all wonder at the lookout sitting atop a 500ft or so cliff. the trail up to the top of tolmie peak from lake eunice is relatively steep but i wasnt paying attention due to an unobstructed perfect view of giant mt rainier tapping me on the right shoulder most of the way. unbelievably majestic! the lookout itself was not open at the time but to have it all to ourselves and see mt. rainier in its twilight amber/orange hue was completely worth it, even though we did over 2 miles of the 3.5 miles back in pitch dark visibility. if you have never been alone in the forest after dark you will never really know what real darkness is like as well as real silence. next time we will definately leave earlier and i will take a headlamp.. there most certainly will be a next time!

I posted this Mountaineers trip as the "Mowich Ramble" -- Mowich Lake to Eunice Lake/Tolmie Peak to Mowich Lake to Spray Falls/Spray Park to Mowich Lake -- and held my breath. I offered this same trip last year and had to cancel when only one person signed up. (An official Mountaineers hike must have at least three people.) I was thrilled to see it fill up with four on the waitlist! The Mowich Lake Road has seen some grading, but it's still full of washboard sections. And plenty dusty. It took us about 90 minutes to drive to the lake from our carpool meeting spot in Federal Way. Two of our group camped at the walk-in campground at Mowich Lake to get an extra hour of sleep. It was sunny and cool when we hiked out of the trees and arrived at Eunice Lake, then made the steep walk up to the Tolmie Peak Lookout. The Carbon River Valley and the view North was completely clouded over, but the scene South was jaw-dropping -- Eunice Lake, Mowich Lake, Mt. Rainier and even Mt. St. Helens! Spray Falls was also stunning, but the clouds had moved in by the time we hit the second and third meadows of Spray Park. Great wildflowers, and the trails were in great shape -- very few muddy sections given the recent rains. Go soon before the summer ends -- if the gentians are any indication, it's not far off now!

The trail starts at the Mowich Lake Campground, a walk-in only campground at the end of the road. A notable amenity is a nice pair of new bathrooms. The hike can also be started by short trails leading down from the road where you park your car, prior to the road end, thereby shortening the hike by a little bit. Mowich Lake is very clear and worthy of a few pictures. Go along the lake for about half a mile and follow the trail as it veers off to the left, rising gently until reaching Ipsut Pass, about a mile and a half from the Mowich Lake Campground. Then the trail descends for a short while before climbing steadily until emerging from under old growth forest into the meadows and Eunice Lake. Eunice Lake is very clear, blue, and pretty. Mosquitos and bees tend to be here, so bring along the bug juice. Tolmie Peak can be seen on top of the ridge across the lake. To reach the lookout, which is about 600 feet higher than the lake, continue for almost another mile, passing by a beautiful meadow with blue lupine flowers. On this semi-cloudy day at the cabin, Mt. Rainier was partially obscured, and you can also see Eunice Lake and Mowich Lake from the lookout.