Sheep Lake

My second hike this morning was to Sheep Lake, I started at the Pacific Crest Trailhed on the east side of Chinook Pass. My hike was 4.4 miles round trip with 600 ft gain. I started at 9:00 and only saw one hiker heading back towareds Tipsoo Lake as I went north of the PCT to Sheep Lake. There were more hikers heading towards the lake as I was coming back down the trail. The snow was about 4-6" deep and well packed down up to the lake. Going around the lake and up the trail a bit further, I found only one set of tracks in snow that was 6-8' deep. The first mile of the trail is up above highway 410 with very little gain, view to the northeast along this section of the trail.

View looking back down the trail towards Naches and Yakima Peaks

After the first mile, the trail steadily climbs gently up through the forest with some glimpses of nearby peaks

Elk prints by Sheep Lake

Sourdough Gap across Sheep Lake

Chinook Peak across Sheep Lake

Further up the trail, a gap in the trees showed views over to American Ridge

zoom photos, second one has the top of a distant Mt Adams

Heading back down the trail, enjoying the sun filtering through the trees

Moon high above the cliffs

View of Naches and Yakima Peaks as I continue towards the trailhead

In the late morning sun, snow began melting in the rocky areas, I was surprised to find a healthy harebell in bloom

some fall color and icicles along the the trail this morning