Pinnacle Lake, Bathtub Lakes — Sunday, Jun. 30, 2019

this was the only pinpoint weather i could find that had 0% chance of rain or thunderstorms.  2 hrs 50 minutes moving time up to bathtub lakes (plus 20 minutes sugar/break time on a gulch rock). 

Round trip 8.25 miles, total elevation up and down 2800.  

the road to the TH wasnt a joke, only saw high(er) clearance vehicles.  

several blowdowns / muddy from TH to pinnacle lake.  strayed from the path 20 feet only 1x on the way up.  (totally strayed the same wrong way on the way back to the car, more on that later).

hugged pinnacle lake to the left until taking a hard left up the valley of running water / boulders / iodine gulch.  crossed the running water (on rocks) a couple times on the way up.  then followed the cairns (saw 3) through the boulder field.  be careful of loose rock - luckily the rocks were not wet/slipper at all.  saw a lot of 6 inch tall "super mean-looking" thorn bouquets growing through this area.  i give those a week b4.....well, yikes.  

there were definitely times when i straight up stopped, chilled, and ate sugar. and honestly, contemplated quitting.  but the sugar helped, as did the views of glacier peak and others across the way.  but, yeah, it kind of sucked (trailfinding, big boulders, loose rock, avoiding water)....im most glad that none of the thousands of bugs that landed on me - actually bit me.  

Once i reached the top of the "pass" there was a path to the left.  i went straight (very good choice).  i didnt go down to the first tarn because i could see the path up and to the right.  again, good choice.  

now i reached the area i was aiming for. there were 3 dudes leaving the area right as i entered.  

On the way back - i saw all the yellow paint (which i was super thankful for, it led me directly on the path out). 

Also, on my way down to the trailhead i definitely heard low, rhythmic grunting (every 5 - 8 seconds) while i was on one-side of the switchbacks. 

and of course i strayed from the path exactly where i did on the way up.  and 20 feet lower i found 2 other cool hikers who had wondered off-trail as well.  we walked together back to the established trail and followed my gps back.  there was definitely a little hairpin turn we missed.  but looking back at the decision-making point - there were dead sticks piled up trying to tell me not to go the wrong direction.....so keep your eye out for it!  There are ribbons to guide you as well (look up for them).  

hiker dudes also heard the rhythmic noise.  bear?  elk/moose?  

i'll post pictures later......and none of the good ones either.  sorry.  #alien