Margaret Lake

We drove to the Mount Margaret/Lake Lillian Trailhead on FR 4934 to hike to Margaret Lake, 5.5 miles roundtrip with 1,900 ft of overall gain. Most of the trail is in the forest, with some views along the way. On the way up the ridge we saw Silver Peak and Tinkham Peak across the valley.

View of Mt Rainier to the south

On the ridge we entered the Alpine Lakes Wilderness before descending down to the lake. Views on the way down the ridge towaeds the lake, Hibox Mountain to the north: Mount Stuart to the northeast

Lake Yvonne

Views of Margaret Lake with Mount Margaret in the distance

Some of the fall color, flowers, berries and fungi we saw along the trail today:

Nisqually Wildlife Refuge

I drove to the Nisqually Wildlife Refuge to walk out to the end of the boardwalk and back. Beautiful day with shorebirds and seals, 4 miles round trip. View of the mile long boardwalk

Some views along the boardwalk

zoom of seals seen from the end of the boardwalk

yellowlegs

seagulls and a yellowleg

sandpippers

Great Blue Herons

Pinnacle Peak Saddle

This morning I drove to Reflection Lakes and hiked up to Pinnacle Saddle and part way along the unmaintained trail to the east behind Pinnacle Saddle, overall 3 miles round trip with 1,200 ft of gain. zoom of Mt Rainier at Reflection Lakes

The trail starts in the forest going up a steep trail through several talus fields. Photos of a couple of the views of Mt Rainier along the trail and some of the talus fields on the side of Pinnacle Peak

The upper portion of the trail is our of the forest with lovely views, here looking towareds Plummer Peak and a small marmot on the side of the trail.

In several of the talus fields, I saw many pika and some small marmot, zoom photos of some of them

Looking back at Mt Rainier from near Pinnacle Saddle

Pano to the south from the trail behind Pinnacle Peak: Goat Rocks, Mt Adams, Mt Hood, Mt St Helens and Plummer Peak

zoom of the Goat Rocks, Mt Adams, Mt Hood and Mt St Helens

View as we returned to Pinnacle Saddle to hike down the trail, there was a grouse on the trail

There were a few wildflowers in bloom, some ripe huclkleberries and fungi along the trail toaday: