We drove up to Chinook Pass to hike a short distance on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) to Sheep Lake and Sourdough Gap and then took a side trail into Mt Rainier National Park to the overlook of Upper Crystal Lake (7 miles round trip with 1,200 ft of overall gain. We saw 2 hikers on our way up the trail and less than 20 on our way back. A quiet morning.
There was sitka morning ash lining the trail near the begining of the trail.
Lots of pasqueflower seed heads
view looking northeast along the trail
view back to Naches Peak to the southwest 
There were yummy ripe huckleberries along the trail.
We had some views between Chinook Pass and Sheep Lake.
A large wasp nest on a tree next to the trail
View from Sheep Lake, looking towards Sourdough Gap covered by clouds
view from the other side of Sheep Lake
zoom of a mama grouse perched on a rock
zoom of 3 of her 4 chicks
As we gained elevation above Sheep Lake, we were immersed in the clouds.
View of a rocky cliff above us
The west side of Sourdough Gap was completely fogged in.
We had no views on the west side or hiking down the side trail into Mt Rainier National Park. Here is our view from the overlook of Crystal Lake. It felt like the edge of the earth.We had our lunch break without seeing any movement in the clouds.
Hiking away from the overlook and back to the trail.
When we returned towards the junction with the PCT, we had a view to the north!Pano near the trail junction with the PCT looking north.
some nice fall color covering part of the hillside
Back on the east side of Sourdough Gap, we could look down and see Sheep Lake below.
Reflection in Sheep Lake
view across Sheep Lake to Sourdough Gap
one of the fireweed seen along the trail
View of Naches Peak heading back to Chinook Pass
butterfly on the side of the trailsome of the wildflowers and berries we saw along the trail today:
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