Sheep Lake to Sourdough Gap — Thursday, Jul. 31, 2008

Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410

Seeking flowers and sun, we headed to Chinook Pass and the Sourdough Gap trail. We found all the flowers we could have wished for but the weather was a different matter. Accustomed to hiking in hot, sunny August conditions we had thankfully packed appropriate clothing for the misty, foggy trek. In the end, the weather made for a wonderful hike. We enjoyed watching the ebb and flow of the fog. The mist-covered abundant flowers were outstanding. The only time we were uncomfortable was in the middle of Sourdough Gap which acted like a wind tunnel. This trail is accurately billed as a mountain meadow hike. We enjoyed the views down the valley as we paralleled above 410 for the first 1 1/2 miles. Once we turned north the beautiful meadows began. We soon encountered Sheep Lake and the climb up to the gap. The flowers were fresh and colorful for the entire hike. There was one group already camping at the lake with another group coming in for the evening. There was only one other day hiking group; we met up at the top and compared notes on other hiking options beyond the gap. The trail is in great shape and we had no problems with bugs, however, that could change with warmer conditions. If you are looking for flowers, consider this hike soon - 6 miles round trip with about 1000 feet elevation gain.