Island Lake - Rainbow Lake, Ira Spring Trail - Mason Lake — Saturday, Jun. 27, 2015

Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass

Decided to try our hand at hiking in 90-degree heat. Verdict: it's hot. No big surprises. The trail to Mason Lake is in great shape and full of people, even in this weather. Mason Lake itself is mobbed, not least by dogs off leash, whose owners debate amongst themselves whether it is OK to raise one's voice to a dog to stop it from walking on other people's food, or whether it would be detrimental to its self-esteem. OK, soapbox off. Once past Mason Lake, though, the crowds thinned out dramatically. In fact, we met nobody on the trail from Mt.Defiance junction to Island Lake! Sir Richard's Pond is a wonderful rest stop, more picturesque than Rainbow Lake, in our opinion. Island Lake itself had some people, but not bad at all for a Saturday night, a wilderness experience. The lake is highly swimmable, and not too cold. The way back is a beautiful ridge walk, with peekaboo views of first Talapus and then Ollalie lakes. The crowds don't return until Ollalie.