Casual Hike to Sand Lake

Leech Lake

Ranger and helper on horseback

We drove back east on US 12 to the White Pass Mountain Ski Resort area, about 15 miles from Packwood to a trail head for Sand Lake.  Parked at the serene Leech Lake where we saw kayakers and fishing people out drifting.  Pretty. We chose this hike because it is part of the Pacific Crest Trail that transverses Canada to Mexico and this is the closest to the Mt. Rainier that it comes.  The hike was rated easy, family friendly, elevation gain of 820 feet, and if we made it to Sand Lake which is a alpine lake only reached by hiking or horseback, it was 7 miles round trip.  A bit far for us but wanted to experience the PCT - if it was that easy - maybe we could do it.  Along the hike you come to Deer Lake first, then on to Sand Lake.

Encountered snow pack

The elevation gain we felt was way more than the 820 feet.  By the time we reached the summit of the mountain where you then drop down into a meadow and on to Deer Lake  (I think about 2 miles in), we started to run into snow pack.  Weird sensation - you are sweating from the 84 degrees, mosquitoes biting, birds chirping, smell of pine forest, hear little brooks and streams and falls, and bam - heavy hard snow pack.  We had crossed paths with a ranger and an aide on horseback, coming back from Sand Lake who was making sure the path was clear to Sand Lake and beyond - he said that you cannot go beyond Sand Lake - snow is just impassible.  And he had to find a path in by the 18th because he was bringing in a group of people by horses. They were returning to the parking lot to board up the horses to take them around to another entrance to Sand Lake and try to come in from that side. Yesterday would have been a long day for those horses!

We also passed other hikers coming back from an overnight near Sand Lake, said that snow is way deep and the mosquitoes are as big as horses.  Thank goodness we have bug repellent - we offered the use of the spray to one guy who had run out of it and was getting chewed up.  On our way back we could hear voices coming from behind and we typically stop and wait for whoever to pass. Got a little nervous when it looked like a wolf coming along the path towards us - she was the pet dog of the group of 3 coming back from Deer Lake where they were fishing.

Wolf? 

The path was well worn although a bit rocky in places. Well marked, through old growth forest, the birds chirping, hearing the trees rustle with the wind, the smell of the forest - neat.  Can't say this was a favorite walk since the path was a bit rugged and mud covered from the recent snow melt - had to do a lot of dodging.  The smells and sights and sounds were more pronounced at the Grove of the Patriarchs from the other day.  We are happy that we accomplished a goal for this trip - to walk the Pacific Crest Trail for a bit.

Rimrock Lake

After the walk we stopped at a couple of overlooks of Mt. Rainier and also tried to find Clear Lake, a glacier lake right near US 12 about 10 miles east of here.  Could see the lake but could not find where to pull off to view it better.  Absolutely exhausted when we got back but good day near Mt. Rainier.And - looking out our back window of the RV - Rainier with no clouds!  Amazing.

Mt. Rainier with no clouds!