What a great hike.
First the Road was in great condition. There was maybe a few washboarded sections.
The restrooms at the trailhead were out of toilet paper both days we used them. We had our own so it wasn't a big deal.
The hike to Rachel Lake is pretty hardcore. Roots, rocks, many large step-ups, it looked like a creek at times, and it was hard to follow in a few places. We got off trail at least 3 times. A couple times the wrong path that we were on led back to the main trail anyway.
Camping at Rampart Lakes - We got there around 1:30 pm on a Friday so there were many spots available. We were surprised that Friday night seemed as busy as Saturday night. But on both nights there were still sites available. There are many campsites there. Almost any flat spot big enough to fit a tent as been camped at before. It takes a significant trek to get to the privy. We called it the pilgrimage to the potty. There's a sign that points uphill, then the trail splits several times. I had to use my GPS to find it the first time. The trail goes uphill, over rocks, up a crevasse, then you follow rock cairns to find the privy. One little slip and you won't need it anymore. Ha! It was windy there almost all afternoon, dying down in the evenings, nights and mornings.
Fishing - my daughter and I each caught a couple Cutthroat Trout in the lakes on dry flies and a casting bubble. They were fairly small at 8 to 10 inches long or so but still fun to catch.
Alta Mtn. - This hike is steep but not as bad as the hike up to Rachel Lake. However, near the top is a scramble up a narrow rock that drops off hundreds of feet on each side. I had to stop there thinking that it would be hard for me to deal with coming down due to my fear of heights.
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