Rachel Lake — Saturday, Aug. 16, 1997

Snoqualmie Region > Snoqualmie Pass

We camped overnight at Rachel Lake after visiting Rampart Lakes and wandering up the way trail toward Lake Lillian as far as the top of the ridge. The trail is in decent shape though several blowdowns remain. Beautiful scenery and weather were marred only by hordes and hordes of mosquitoes, starting halfway up to Rachel Lake and continuing as high as we went. Our headnets inspired envious comments from other hikers, but we could have used bodynets -- the mosquitoes were drilling through everything short of hiking boots and DEET only slowed them down.