Teeley Creek, Bertha May and Granite Lakes & Cora Lake via Big Creek Trail — Monday, Sep. 18, 2000

Two years ago on a sunny Sunday in mid-September, I made my first visit to Sawtooth Ridge area soutwest of Mt. Rainier park, going to High Rock. This time it was another sunny Sunday in mid-September, but this time I chose a different trail. Only this one had one-fifth as many cars or people -- we met just one other party of three people and dogs each. And while it didn't have the view you get from High Rock, it did provide three good-sized lakes in a 3- to 4- mile round-trip hike. The trail started by skirting a clearcut (but giving views of Mt. Rainier as compensation), rounded lower Bertha May lake (the smallest of the three), and met the Osborne Mountain trail (I think) at about 3/4 mile. Another 1/2 mile with some steep uphill led to the second and larger of the Bertha May lakes. Although this had the roomiest shoreline spot that we encountered, we continued another half-mile or so to check out the third and largest of the trio, Granite Lake, where we encountered the forementioned one other party of the day. Here also the High Rock lookout came into view far above. The shoreline of both upper lakes were swarming with tadpoles. If you are so inclined, you could continue another 3.5 miles on the trail to a fourth lake (Cora Lake). We weren't. The Forest Service report appears to say that we couldn't have made it anyway. One reason for the lack of people might be finding the trailhead. The turnoff to the High Rock turnoff from FR 52 does say ""Teeley Creek trail"" -- but that's as much direction as you get. Luckily I had a map showing we needed to turn on road #8410 after 1.5 miles, but even then I had to double back and look hard to spot the sign saying ""8410"".