Photos from Lake Lilian/Rampart Ridge hike w/ Tim
On 9/23/07 Tim and I hiked to the Rampart Lakes and back via the Mt Margaret/Lake Lilian trail just east of Snoqualmie Pass. We set out from the wrong end of the parking lot, wandered up through open woods with huckleberries, then up through some old-growth forest, across a logging road and up a gentle scree slope to a prolific patch of huckleberries. We picked in the fog and wind until our fingers were numb then continued up to the ridge and hit the real trail. Lots of mushrooms including numerous huge but rotting Boletus edulis. The clouds moving over from the west were stingy with the sunbreaks but we caught a few after we passed Lake Lilian and reached Rampart Ridge. On the way back we dropped down to Lake Lilian from a higher pass and circled around the west end of the lake. Nice sunbreaks as the sun dipped below the cloudbank to the west, then cold fog again along the ridge. We descended to the parking lot by the lingering light of sunset augmented by the rising nearly-full moon.
Tim heading into the woods
Photos from Lake Lilian/Rampart Ridge hike w/ Tim
On 9/23/07 Tim and I hiked to the Rampart Lakes and back via the Mt Margaret/Lake Lilian trail just east of Snoqualmie Pass. We set out from the wrong end of the parking lot, wandered up through open woods with huckleberries, then up through some old-growth forest, across a logging road and up a gentle scree slope to a prolific patch of huckleberries. We picked in the fog and wind until our fingers were numb then continued up to the ridge and hit the real trail. Lots of mushrooms including numerous huge but rotting Boletus edulis. The clouds moving over from the west were stingy with the sunbreaks but we caught a few after we passed Lake Lilian and reached Rampart Ridge. On the way back we dropped down to Lake Lilian from a higher pass and circled around the west end of the lake. Nice sunbreaks as the sun dipped below the cloudbank to the west, then cold fog again along the ridge. We descended to the parking lot by the lingering light of sunset augmented by the rising nearly-full moon.
Following an elk trail
Photos from Lake Lilian/Rampart Ridge hike w/ Tim
On 9/23/07 Tim and I hiked to the Rampart Lakes and back via the Mt Margaret/Lake Lilian trail just east of Snoqualmie Pass. We set out from the wrong end of the parking lot, wandered up through open woods with huckleberries, then up through some old-growth forest, across a logging road and up a gentle scree slope to a prolific patch of huckleberries. We picked in the fog and wind until our fingers were numb then continued up to the ridge and hit the real trail. Lots of mushrooms including numerous huge but rotting Boletus edulis. The clouds moving over from the west were stingy with the sunbreaks but we caught a few after we passed Lake Lilian and reached Rampart Ridge. On the way back we dropped down to Lake Lilian from a higher pass and circled around the west end of the lake. Nice sunbreaks as the sun dipped below the cloudbank to the west, then cold fog again along the ridge. We descended to the parking lot by the lingering light of sunset augmented by the rising nearly-full moon.
Vine maple below a talus slope
Photos from Lake Lilian/Rampart Ridge hike w/ Tim
On 9/23/07 Tim and I hiked to the Rampart Lakes and back via the Mt Margaret/Lake Lilian trail just east of Snoqualmie Pass. We set out from the wrong end of the parking lot, wandered up through open woods with huckleberries, then up through some old-growth forest, across a logging road and up a gentle scree slope to a prolific patch of huckleberries. We picked in the fog and wind until our fingers were numb then continued up to the ridge and hit the real trail. Lots of mushrooms including numerous huge but rotting Boletus edulis. The clouds moving over from the west were stingy with the sunbreaks but we caught a few after we passed Lake Lilian and reached Rampart Ridge. On the way back we dropped down to Lake Lilian from a higher pass and circled around the west end of the lake. Nice sunbreaks as the sun dipped below the cloudbank to the west, then cold fog again along the ridge. We descended to the parking lot by the lingering light of sunset augmented by the rising nearly-full moon.
Tim picking huckleberries
Photos from Lake Lilian/Rampart Ridge hike w/ Tim
On 9/23/07 Tim and I hiked to the Rampart Lakes and back via the Mt Margaret/Lake Lilian trail just east of Snoqualmie Pass. We set out from the wrong end of the parking lot, wandered up through open woods with huckleberries, then up through some old-growth forest, across a logging road and up a gentle scree slope to a prolific patch of huckleberries. We picked in the fog and wind until our fingers were numb then continued up to the ridge and hit the real trail. Lots of mushrooms including numerous huge but rotting Boletus edulis. The clouds moving over from the west were stingy with the sunbreaks but we caught a few after we passed Lake Lilian and reached Rampart Ridge. On the way back we dropped down to Lake Lilian from a higher pass and circled around the west end of the lake. Nice sunbreaks as the sun dipped below the cloudbank to the west, then cold fog again along the ridge. We descended to the parking lot by the lingering light of sunset augmented by the rising nearly-full moon.
The object of our desire. The berries varied from dark red and dark blue to black. Some bushes were sweeter than others but they were all good.
Photos from Lake Lilian/Rampart Ridge hike w/ Tim
On 9/23/07 Tim and I hiked to the Rampart Lakes and back via the Mt Margaret/Lake Lilian trail just east of Snoqualmie Pass. We set out from the wrong end of the parking lot, wandered up through open woods with huckleberries, then up through some old-growth forest, across a logging road and up a gentle scree slope to a prolific patch of huckleberries. We picked in the fog and wind until our fingers were numb then continued up to the ridge and hit the real trail. Lots of mushrooms including numerous huge but rotting Boletus edulis. The clouds moving over from the west were stingy with the sunbreaks but we caught a few after we passed Lake Lilian and reached Rampart Ridge. On the way back we dropped down to Lake Lilian from a higher pass and circled around the west end of the lake. Nice sunbreaks as the sun dipped below the cloudbank to the west, then cold fog again along the ridge. We descended to the parking lot by the lingering light of sunset augmented by the rising nearly-full moon.
Lots of large sweet huckleberries. Usually you have to pick them one by one but the leaves had fallen from some of the bushes so we could rake the berries off with our fingers.
Photos from Lake Lilian/Rampart Ridge hike w/ Tim
On 9/23/07 Tim and I hiked to the Rampart Lakes and back via the Mt Margaret/Lake Lilian trail just east of Snoqualmie Pass. We set out from the wrong end of the parking lot, wandered up through open woods with huckleberries, then up through some old-growth forest, across a logging road and up a gentle scree slope to a prolific patch of huckleberries. We picked in the fog and wind until our fingers were numb then continued up to the ridge and hit the real trail. Lots of mushrooms including numerous huge but rotting Boletus edulis. The clouds moving over from the west were stingy with the sunbreaks but we caught a few after we passed Lake Lilian and reached Rampart Ridge. On the way back we dropped down to Lake Lilian from a higher pass and circled around the west end of the lake. Nice sunbreaks as the sun dipped below the cloudbank to the west, then cold fog again along the ridge. We descended to the parking lot by the lingering light of sunset augmented by the rising nearly-full moon.
Open old-growth forest below the ridge
Photos from Lake Lilian/Rampart Ridge hike w/ Tim
On 9/23/07 Tim and I hiked to the Rampart Lakes and back via the Mt Margaret/Lake Lilian trail just east of Snoqualmie Pass. We set out from the wrong end of the parking lot, wandered up through open woods with huckleberries, then up through some old-growth forest, across a logging road and up a gentle scree slope to a prolific patch of huckleberries. We picked in the fog and wind until our fingers were numb then continued up to the ridge and hit the real trail. Lots of mushrooms including numerous huge but rotting Boletus edulis. The clouds moving over from the west were stingy with the sunbreaks but we caught a few after we passed Lake Lilian and reached Rampart Ridge. On the way back we dropped down to Lake Lilian from a higher pass and circled around the west end of the lake. Nice sunbreaks as the sun dipped below the cloudbank to the west, then cold fog again along the ridge. We descended to the parking lot by the lingering light of sunset augmented by the rising nearly-full moon.
Tim hiking up towards the ridge. Until we hit the trail we didn't know exactly where we were.
Photos from Lake Lilian/Rampart Ridge hike w/ Tim
On 9/23/07 Tim and I hiked to the Rampart Lakes and back via the Mt Margaret/Lake Lilian trail just east of Snoqualmie Pass. We set out from the wrong end of the parking lot, wandered up through open woods with huckleberries, then up through some old-growth forest, across a logging road and up a gentle scree slope to a prolific patch of huckleberries. We picked in the fog and wind until our fingers were numb then continued up to the ridge and hit the real trail. Lots of mushrooms including numerous huge but rotting Boletus edulis. The clouds moving over from the west were stingy with the sunbreaks but we caught a few after we passed Lake Lilian and reached Rampart Ridge. On the way back we dropped down to Lake Lilian from a higher pass and circled around the west end of the lake. Nice sunbreaks as the sun dipped below the cloudbank to the west, then cold fog again along the ridge. We descended to the parking lot by the lingering light of sunset augmented by the rising nearly-full moon.
A pika. It had just finished eating a leaf. This was as close as I could get before it disappeared under a rock. My imitations of it's "eeehnk" calls failed to entice it back out again.
Photos from Lake Lilian/Rampart Ridge hike w/ Tim
On 9/23/07 Tim and I hiked to the Rampart Lakes and back via the Mt Margaret/Lake Lilian trail just east of Snoqualmie Pass. We set out from the wrong end of the parking lot, wandered up through open woods with huckleberries, then up through some old-growth forest, across a logging road and up a gentle scree slope to a prolific patch of huckleberries. We picked in the fog and wind until our fingers were numb then continued up to the ridge and hit the real trail. Lots of mushrooms including numerous huge but rotting Boletus edulis. The clouds moving over from the west were stingy with the sunbreaks but we caught a few after we passed Lake Lilian and reached Rampart Ridge. On the way back we dropped down to Lake Lilian from a higher pass and circled around the west end of the lake. Nice sunbreaks as the sun dipped below the cloudbank to the west, then cold fog again along the ridge. We descended to the parking lot by the lingering light of sunset augmented by the rising nearly-full moon.
Boletus edulis. When fresh, these are very fine edible mushrooms. We saw enough of them along the trail to fill a 30-gallon trash barrel, but all of them were gone by and many were rotting. Some of the caps were a foot across.
Photos from Lake Lilian/Rampart Ridge hike w/ Tim
On 9/23/07 Tim and I hiked to the Rampart Lakes and back via the Mt Margaret/Lake Lilian trail just east of Snoqualmie Pass. We set out from the wrong end of the parking lot, wandered up through open woods with huckleberries, then up through some old-growth forest, across a logging road and up a gentle scree slope to a prolific patch of huckleberries. We picked in the fog and wind until our fingers were numb then continued up to the ridge and hit the real trail. Lots of mushrooms including numerous huge but rotting Boletus edulis. The clouds moving over from the west were stingy with the sunbreaks but we caught a few after we passed Lake Lilian and reached Rampart Ridge. On the way back we dropped down to Lake Lilian from a higher pass and circled around the west end of the lake. Nice sunbreaks as the sun dipped below the cloudbank to the west, then cold fog again along the ridge. We descended to the parking lot by the lingering light of sunset augmented by the rising nearly-full moon.
Large coral mushroom, about 6" tall
Photos from Lake Lilian/Rampart Ridge hike w/ Tim
On 9/23/07 Tim and I hiked to the Rampart Lakes and back via the Mt Margaret/Lake Lilian trail just east of Snoqualmie Pass. We set out from the wrong end of the parking lot, wandered up through open woods with huckleberries, then up through some old-growth forest, across a logging road and up a gentle scree slope to a prolific patch of huckleberries. We picked in the fog and wind until our fingers were numb then continued up to the ridge and hit the real trail. Lots of mushrooms including numerous huge but rotting Boletus edulis. The clouds moving over from the west were stingy with the sunbreaks but we caught a few after we passed Lake Lilian and reached Rampart Ridge. On the way back we dropped down to Lake Lilian from a higher pass and circled around the west end of the lake. Nice sunbreaks as the sun dipped below the cloudbank to the west, then cold fog again along the ridge. We descended to the parking lot by the lingering light of sunset augmented by the rising nearly-full moon.
A very good-looking Amanita muscaria
Photos from Lake Lilian/Rampart Ridge hike w/ Tim
On 9/23/07 Tim and I hiked to the Rampart Lakes and back via the Mt Margaret/Lake Lilian trail just east of Snoqualmie Pass. We set out from the wrong end of the parking lot, wandered up through open woods with huckleberries, then up through some old-growth forest, across a logging road and up a gentle scree slope to a prolific patch of huckleberries. We picked in the fog and wind until our fingers were numb then continued up to the ridge and hit the real trail. Lots of mushrooms including numerous huge but rotting Boletus edulis. The clouds moving over from the west were stingy with the sunbreaks but we caught a few after we passed Lake Lilian and reached Rampart Ridge. On the way back we dropped down to Lake Lilian from a higher pass and circled around the west end of the lake. Nice sunbreaks as the sun dipped below the cloudbank to the west, then cold fog again along the ridge. We descended to the parking lot by the lingering light of sunset augmented by the rising nearly-full moon.
Mushroom cap.
Photos from Lake Lilian/Rampart Ridge hike w/ Tim
On 9/23/07 Tim and I hiked to the Rampart Lakes and back via the Mt Margaret/Lake Lilian trail just east of Snoqualmie Pass. We set out from the wrong end of the parking lot, wandered up through open woods with huckleberries, then up through some old-growth forest, across a logging road and up a gentle scree slope to a prolific patch of huckleberries. We picked in the fog and wind until our fingers were numb then continued up to the ridge and hit the real trail. Lots of mushrooms including numerous huge but rotting Boletus edulis. The clouds moving over from the west were stingy with the sunbreaks but we caught a few after we passed Lake Lilian and reached Rampart Ridge. On the way back we dropped down to Lake Lilian from a higher pass and circled around the west end of the lake. Nice sunbreaks as the sun dipped below the cloudbank to the west, then cold fog again along the ridge. We descended to the parking lot by the lingering light of sunset augmented by the rising nearly-full moon.
I think these are berries of Solomon's Seal
Photos from Lake Lilian/Rampart Ridge hike w/ Tim
On 9/23/07 Tim and I hiked to the Rampart Lakes and back via the Mt Margaret/Lake Lilian trail just east of Snoqualmie Pass. We set out from the wrong end of the parking lot, wandered up through open woods with huckleberries, then up through some old-growth forest, across a logging road and up a gentle scree slope to a prolific patch of huckleberries. We picked in the fog and wind until our fingers were numb then continued up to the ridge and hit the real trail. Lots of mushrooms including numerous huge but rotting Boletus edulis. The clouds moving over from the west were stingy with the sunbreaks but we caught a few after we passed Lake Lilian and reached Rampart Ridge. On the way back we dropped down to Lake Lilian from a higher pass and circled around the west end of the lake. Nice sunbreaks as the sun dipped below the cloudbank to the west, then cold fog again along the ridge. We descended to the parking lot by the lingering light of sunset augmented by the rising nearly-full moon.
Red crossbill foraging
Photos from Lake Lilian/Rampart Ridge hike w/ Tim
On 9/23/07 Tim and I hiked to the Rampart Lakes and back via the Mt Margaret/Lake Lilian trail just east of Snoqualmie Pass. We set out from the wrong end of the parking lot, wandered up through open woods with huckleberries, then up through some old-growth forest, across a logging road and up a gentle scree slope to a prolific patch of huckleberries. We picked in the fog and wind until our fingers were numb then continued up to the ridge and hit the real trail. Lots of mushrooms including numerous huge but rotting Boletus edulis. The clouds moving over from the west were stingy with the sunbreaks but we caught a few after we passed Lake Lilian and reached Rampart Ridge. On the way back we dropped down to Lake Lilian from a higher pass and circled around the west end of the lake. Nice sunbreaks as the sun dipped below the cloudbank to the west, then cold fog again along the ridge. We descended to the parking lot by the lingering light of sunset augmented by the rising nearly-full moon.
Twin Lakes
Photos from Lake Lilian/Rampart Ridge hike w/ Tim
On 9/23/07 Tim and I hiked to the Rampart Lakes and back via the Mt Margaret/Lake Lilian trail just east of Snoqualmie Pass. We set out from the wrong end of the parking lot, wandered up through open woods with huckleberries, then up through some old-growth forest, across a logging road and up a gentle scree slope to a prolific patch of huckleberries. We picked in the fog and wind until our fingers were numb then continued up to the ridge and hit the real trail. Lots of mushrooms including numerous huge but rotting Boletus edulis. The clouds moving over from the west were stingy with the sunbreaks but we caught a few after we passed Lake Lilian and reached Rampart Ridge. On the way back we dropped down to Lake Lilian from a higher pass and circled around the west end of the lake. Nice sunbreaks as the sun dipped below the cloudbank to the west, then cold fog again along the ridge. We descended to the parking lot by the lingering light of sunset augmented by the rising nearly-full moon.
A dipper was singing from a rock on the far side of the second lake as we passed, an improvisational sequence of musical and not-so-musical notes, with each note repeated several times.
Photos from Lake Lilian/Rampart Ridge hike w/ Tim
On 9/23/07 Tim and I hiked to the Rampart Lakes and back via the Mt Margaret/Lake Lilian trail just east of Snoqualmie Pass. We set out from the wrong end of the parking lot, wandered up through open woods with huckleberries, then up through some old-growth forest, across a logging road and up a gentle scree slope to a prolific patch of huckleberries. We picked in the fog and wind until our fingers were numb then continued up to the ridge and hit the real trail. Lots of mushrooms including numerous huge but rotting Boletus edulis. The clouds moving over from the west were stingy with the sunbreaks but we caught a few after we passed Lake Lilian and reached Rampart Ridge. On the way back we dropped down to Lake Lilian from a higher pass and circled around the west end of the lake. Nice sunbreaks as the sun dipped below the cloudbank to the west, then cold fog again along the ridge. We descended to the parking lot by the lingering light of sunset augmented by the rising nearly-full moon.
Talus along trail to Lake Lilian
Photos from Lake Lilian/Rampart Ridge hike w/ Tim
On 9/23/07 Tim and I hiked to the Rampart Lakes and back via the Mt Margaret/Lake Lilian trail just east of Snoqualmie Pass. We set out from the wrong end of the parking lot, wandered up through open woods with huckleberries, then up through some old-growth forest, across a logging road and up a gentle scree slope to a prolific patch of huckleberries. We picked in the fog and wind until our fingers were numb then continued up to the ridge and hit the real trail. Lots of mushrooms including numerous huge but rotting Boletus edulis. The clouds moving over from the west were stingy with the sunbreaks but we caught a few after we passed Lake Lilian and reached Rampart Ridge. On the way back we dropped down to Lake Lilian from a higher pass and circled around the west end of the lake. Nice sunbreaks as the sun dipped below the cloudbank to the west, then cold fog again along the ridge. We descended to the parking lot by the lingering light of sunset augmented by the rising nearly-full moon.
Lake Lilian from the ledge where we ate lunch. I saw a couple of rises out on the lake while we were sitting there, but not enough to tempt me to rig my flyrod. The breeze was cold, maybe 45, so we didn't linger long over lunch.
Photos from Lake Lilian/Rampart Ridge hike w/ Tim
On 9/23/07 Tim and I hiked to the Rampart Lakes and back via the Mt Margaret/Lake Lilian trail just east of Snoqualmie Pass. We set out from the wrong end of the parking lot, wandered up through open woods with huckleberries, then up through some old-growth forest, across a logging road and up a gentle scree slope to a prolific patch of huckleberries. We picked in the fog and wind until our fingers were numb then continued up to the ridge and hit the real trail. Lots of mushrooms including numerous huge but rotting Boletus edulis. The clouds moving over from the west were stingy with the sunbreaks but we caught a few after we passed Lake Lilian and reached Rampart Ridge. On the way back we dropped down to Lake Lilian from a higher pass and circled around the west end of the lake. Nice sunbreaks as the sun dipped below the cloudbank to the west, then cold fog again along the ridge. We descended to the parking lot by the lingering light of sunset augmented by the rising nearly-full moon.
Our first sunbreak
Photos from Lake Lilian/Rampart Ridge hike w/ Tim
On 9/23/07 Tim and I hiked to the Rampart Lakes and back via the Mt Margaret/Lake Lilian trail just east of Snoqualmie Pass. We set out from the wrong end of the parking lot, wandered up through open woods with huckleberries, then up through some old-growth forest, across a logging road and up a gentle scree slope to a prolific patch of huckleberries. We picked in the fog and wind until our fingers were numb then continued up to the ridge and hit the real trail. Lots of mushrooms including numerous huge but rotting Boletus edulis. The clouds moving over from the west were stingy with the sunbreaks but we caught a few after we passed Lake Lilian and reached Rampart Ridge. On the way back we dropped down to Lake Lilian from a higher pass and circled around the west end of the lake. Nice sunbreaks as the sun dipped below the cloudbank to the west, then cold fog again along the ridge. We descended to the parking lot by the lingering light of sunset augmented by the rising nearly-full moon.
Huckleberry (red), mountain ash (yellow-green) and mountain heath (gray-green) on Rampart Ridge
Photos from Lake Lilian/Rampart Ridge hike w/ Tim
On 9/23/07 Tim and I hiked to the Rampart Lakes and back via the Mt Margaret/Lake Lilian trail just east of Snoqualmie Pass. We set out from the wrong end of the parking lot, wandered up through open woods with huckleberries, then up through some old-growth forest, across a logging road and up a gentle scree slope to a prolific patch of huckleberries. We picked in the fog and wind until our fingers were numb then continued up to the ridge and hit the real trail. Lots of mushrooms including numerous huge but rotting Boletus edulis. The clouds moving over from the west were stingy with the sunbreaks but we caught a few after we passed Lake Lilian and reached Rampart Ridge. On the way back we dropped down to Lake Lilian from a higher pass and circled around the west end of the lake. Nice sunbreaks as the sun dipped below the cloudbank to the west, then cold fog again along the ridge. We descended to the parking lot by the lingering light of sunset augmented by the rising nearly-full moon.
Chasing another sunbreak
Photos from Lake Lilian/Rampart Ridge hike w/ Tim
On 9/23/07 Tim and I hiked to the Rampart Lakes and back via the Mt Margaret/Lake Lilian trail just east of Snoqualmie Pass. We set out from the wrong end of the parking lot, wandered up through open woods with huckleberries, then up through some old-growth forest, across a logging road and up a gentle scree slope to a prolific patch of huckleberries. We picked in the fog and wind until our fingers were numb then continued up to the ridge and hit the real trail. Lots of mushrooms including numerous huge but rotting Boletus edulis. The clouds moving over from the west were stingy with the sunbreaks but we caught a few after we passed Lake Lilian and reached Rampart Ridge. On the way back we dropped down to Lake Lilian from a higher pass and circled around the west end of the lake. Nice sunbreaks as the sun dipped below the cloudbank to the west, then cold fog again along the ridge. We descended to the parking lot by the lingering light of sunset augmented by the rising nearly-full moon.
All afternoon clouds kept moving in from the west and breaking up a mile or two beyond us to the east.
Photos from Lake Lilian/Rampart Ridge hike w/ Tim
On 9/23/07 Tim and I hiked to the Rampart Lakes and back via the Mt Margaret/Lake Lilian trail just east of Snoqualmie Pass. We set out from the wrong end of the parking lot, wandered up through open woods with huckleberries, then up through some old-growth forest, across a logging road and up a gentle scree slope to a prolific patch of huckleberries. We picked in the fog and wind until our fingers were numb then continued up to the ridge and hit the real trail. Lots of mushrooms including numerous huge but rotting Boletus edulis. The clouds moving over from the west were stingy with the sunbreaks but we caught a few after we passed Lake Lilian and reached Rampart Ridge. On the way back we dropped down to Lake Lilian from a higher pass and circled around the west end of the lake. Nice sunbreaks as the sun dipped below the cloudbank to the west, then cold fog again along the ridge. We descended to the parking lot by the lingering light of sunset augmented by the rising nearly-full moon.
Interplay of clouds and sun on Rampart Ridge
Photos from Lake Lilian/Rampart Ridge hike w/ Tim
On 9/23/07 Tim and I hiked to the Rampart Lakes and back via the Mt Margaret/Lake Lilian trail just east of Snoqualmie Pass. We set out from the wrong end of the parking lot, wandered up through open woods with huckleberries, then up through some old-growth forest, across a logging road and up a gentle scree slope to a prolific patch of huckleberries. We picked in the fog and wind until our fingers were numb then continued up to the ridge and hit the real trail. Lots of mushrooms including numerous huge but rotting Boletus edulis. The clouds moving over from the west were stingy with the sunbreaks but we caught a few after we passed Lake Lilian and reached Rampart Ridge. On the way back we dropped down to Lake Lilian from a higher pass and circled around the west end of the lake. Nice sunbreaks as the sun dipped below the cloudbank to the west, then cold fog again along the ridge. We descended to the parking lot by the lingering light of sunset augmented by the rising nearly-full moon.
Tarn
Photos from Lake Lilian/Rampart Ridge hike w/ Tim
On 9/23/07 Tim and I hiked to the Rampart Lakes and back via the Mt Margaret/Lake Lilian trail just east of Snoqualmie Pass. We set out from the wrong end of the parking lot, wandered up through open woods with huckleberries, then up through some old-growth forest, across a logging road and up a gentle scree slope to a prolific patch of huckleberries. We picked in the fog and wind until our fingers were numb then continued up to the ridge and hit the real trail. Lots of mushrooms including numerous huge but rotting Boletus edulis. The clouds moving over from the west were stingy with the sunbreaks but we caught a few after we passed Lake Lilian and reached Rampart Ridge. On the way back we dropped down to Lake Lilian from a higher pass and circled around the west end of the lake. Nice sunbreaks as the sun dipped below the cloudbank to the west, then cold fog again along the ridge. We descended to the parking lot by the lingering light of sunset augmented by the rising nearly-full moon.
Rampart Lakes
Photos from Lake Lilian/Rampart Ridge hike w/ Tim
On 9/23/07 Tim and I hiked to the Rampart Lakes and back via the Mt Margaret/Lake Lilian trail just east of Snoqualmie Pass. We set out from the wrong end of the parking lot, wandered up through open woods with huckleberries, then up through some old-growth forest, across a logging road and up a gentle scree slope to a prolific patch of huckleberries. We picked in the fog and wind until our fingers were numb then continued up to the ridge and hit the real trail. Lots of mushrooms including numerous huge but rotting Boletus edulis. The clouds moving over from the west were stingy with the sunbreaks but we caught a few after we passed Lake Lilian and reached Rampart Ridge. On the way back we dropped down to Lake Lilian from a higher pass and circled around the west end of the lake. Nice sunbreaks as the sun dipped below the cloudbank to the west, then cold fog again along the ridge. We descended to the parking lot by the lingering light of sunset augmented by the rising nearly-full moon.
The southernmost of the Rampart Lakes
Photos from Lake Lilian/Rampart Ridge hike w/ Tim
On 9/23/07 Tim and I hiked to the Rampart Lakes and back via the Mt Margaret/Lake Lilian trail just east of Snoqualmie Pass. We set out from the wrong end of the parking lot, wandered up through open woods with huckleberries, then up through some old-growth forest, across a logging road and up a gentle scree slope to a prolific patch of huckleberries. We picked in the fog and wind until our fingers were numb then continued up to the ridge and hit the real trail. Lots of mushrooms including numerous huge but rotting Boletus edulis. The clouds moving over from the west were stingy with the sunbreaks but we caught a few after we passed Lake Lilian and reached Rampart Ridge. On the way back we dropped down to Lake Lilian from a higher pass and circled around the west end of the lake. Nice sunbreaks as the sun dipped below the cloudbank to the west, then cold fog again along the ridge. We descended to the parking lot by the lingering light of sunset augmented by the rising nearly-full moon.
These lakes used to have trout in them but I didn't see any this day
Photos from Lake Lilian/Rampart Ridge hike w/ Tim
On 9/23/07 Tim and I hiked to the Rampart Lakes and back via the Mt Margaret/Lake Lilian trail just east of Snoqualmie Pass. We set out from the wrong end of the parking lot, wandered up through open woods with huckleberries, then up through some old-growth forest, across a logging road and up a gentle scree slope to a prolific patch of huckleberries. We picked in the fog and wind until our fingers were numb then continued up to the ridge and hit the real trail. Lots of mushrooms including numerous huge but rotting Boletus edulis. The clouds moving over from the west were stingy with the sunbreaks but we caught a few after we passed Lake Lilian and reached Rampart Ridge. On the way back we dropped down to Lake Lilian from a higher pass and circled around the west end of the lake. Nice sunbreaks as the sun dipped below the cloudbank to the west, then cold fog again along the ridge. We descended to the parking lot by the lingering light of sunset augmented by the rising nearly-full moon.
Ledge islands
Photos from Lake Lilian/Rampart Ridge hike w/ Tim
On 9/23/07 Tim and I hiked to the Rampart Lakes and back via the Mt Margaret/Lake Lilian trail just east of Snoqualmie Pass. We set out from the wrong end of the parking lot, wandered up through open woods with huckleberries, then up through some old-growth forest, across a logging road and up a gentle scree slope to a prolific patch of huckleberries. We picked in the fog and wind until our fingers were numb then continued up to the ridge and hit the real trail. Lots of mushrooms including numerous huge but rotting Boletus edulis. The clouds moving over from the west were stingy with the sunbreaks but we caught a few after we passed Lake Lilian and reached Rampart Ridge. On the way back we dropped down to Lake Lilian from a higher pass and circled around the west end of the lake. Nice sunbreaks as the sun dipped below the cloudbank to the west, then cold fog again along the ridge. We descended to the parking lot by the lingering light of sunset augmented by the rising nearly-full moon.
Heading back home, about to drop down to Lake Lilian. On the way out we came up a different gully, out of sight to the left.
Photos from Lake Lilian/Rampart Ridge hike w/ Tim
On 9/23/07 Tim and I hiked to the Rampart Lakes and back via the Mt Margaret/Lake Lilian trail just east of Snoqualmie Pass. We set out from the wrong end of the parking lot, wandered up through open woods with huckleberries, then up through some old-growth forest, across a logging road and up a gentle scree slope to a prolific patch of huckleberries. We picked in the fog and wind until our fingers were numb then continued up to the ridge and hit the real trail. Lots of mushrooms including numerous huge but rotting Boletus edulis. The clouds moving over from the west were stingy with the sunbreaks but we caught a few after we passed Lake Lilian and reached Rampart Ridge. On the way back we dropped down to Lake Lilian from a higher pass and circled around the west end of the lake. Nice sunbreaks as the sun dipped below the cloudbank to the west, then cold fog again along the ridge. We descended to the parking lot by the lingering light of sunset augmented by the rising nearly-full moon.
Saxifrage flower. More ornate than your average wildflower.
Photos from Lake Lilian/Rampart Ridge hike w/ Tim
On 9/23/07 Tim and I hiked to the Rampart Lakes and back via the Mt Margaret/Lake Lilian trail just east of Snoqualmie Pass. We set out from the wrong end of the parking lot, wandered up through open woods with huckleberries, then up through some old-growth forest, across a logging road and up a gentle scree slope to a prolific patch of huckleberries. We picked in the fog and wind until our fingers were numb then continued up to the ridge and hit the real trail. Lots of mushrooms including numerous huge but rotting Boletus edulis. The clouds moving over from the west were stingy with the sunbreaks but we caught a few after we passed Lake Lilian and reached Rampart Ridge. On the way back we dropped down to Lake Lilian from a higher pass and circled around the west end of the lake. Nice sunbreaks as the sun dipped below the cloudbank to the west, then cold fog again along the ridge. We descended to the parking lot by the lingering light of sunset augmented by the rising nearly-full moon.
Blue gentians
Photos from Lake Lilian/Rampart Ridge hike w/ Tim
On 9/23/07 Tim and I hiked to the Rampart Lakes and back via the Mt Margaret/Lake Lilian trail just east of Snoqualmie Pass. We set out from the wrong end of the parking lot, wandered up through open woods with huckleberries, then up through some old-growth forest, across a logging road and up a gentle scree slope to a prolific patch of huckleberries. We picked in the fog and wind until our fingers were numb then continued up to the ridge and hit the real trail. Lots of mushrooms including numerous huge but rotting Boletus edulis. The clouds moving over from the west were stingy with the sunbreaks but we caught a few after we passed Lake Lilian and reached Rampart Ridge. On the way back we dropped down to Lake Lilian from a higher pass and circled around the west end of the lake. Nice sunbreaks as the sun dipped below the cloudbank to the west, then cold fog again along the ridge. We descended to the parking lot by the lingering light of sunset augmented by the rising nearly-full moon.
Blue gentians, one of my favorite flowers. The buds only open up when the sun is shining.
Photos from Lake Lilian/Rampart Ridge hike w/ Tim
On 9/23/07 Tim and I hiked to the Rampart Lakes and back via the Mt Margaret/Lake Lilian trail just east of Snoqualmie Pass. We set out from the wrong end of the parking lot, wandered up through open woods with huckleberries, then up through some old-growth forest, across a logging road and up a gentle scree slope to a prolific patch of huckleberries. We picked in the fog and wind until our fingers were numb then continued up to the ridge and hit the real trail. Lots of mushrooms including numerous huge but rotting Boletus edulis. The clouds moving over from the west were stingy with the sunbreaks but we caught a few after we passed Lake Lilian and reached Rampart Ridge. On the way back we dropped down to Lake Lilian from a higher pass and circled around the west end of the lake. Nice sunbreaks as the sun dipped below the cloudbank to the west, then cold fog again along the ridge. We descended to the parking lot by the lingering light of sunset augmented by the rising nearly-full moon.
Lake Lilian
Photos from Lake Lilian/Rampart Ridge hike w/ Tim
On 9/23/07 Tim and I hiked to the Rampart Lakes and back via the Mt Margaret/Lake Lilian trail just east of Snoqualmie Pass. We set out from the wrong end of the parking lot, wandered up through open woods with huckleberries, then up through some old-growth forest, across a logging road and up a gentle scree slope to a prolific patch of huckleberries. We picked in the fog and wind until our fingers were numb then continued up to the ridge and hit the real trail. Lots of mushrooms including numerous huge but rotting Boletus edulis. The clouds moving over from the west were stingy with the sunbreaks but we caught a few after we passed Lake Lilian and reached Rampart Ridge. On the way back we dropped down to Lake Lilian from a higher pass and circled around the west end of the lake. Nice sunbreaks as the sun dipped below the cloudbank to the west, then cold fog again along the ridge. We descended to the parking lot by the lingering light of sunset augmented by the rising nearly-full moon.
Mountain ash along the north shore of Lake Lilian
Photos from Lake Lilian/Rampart Ridge hike w/ Tim
On 9/23/07 Tim and I hiked to the Rampart Lakes and back via the Mt Margaret/Lake Lilian trail just east of Snoqualmie Pass. We set out from the wrong end of the parking lot, wandered up through open woods with huckleberries, then up through some old-growth forest, across a logging road and up a gentle scree slope to a prolific patch of huckleberries. We picked in the fog and wind until our fingers were numb then continued up to the ridge and hit the real trail. Lots of mushrooms including numerous huge but rotting Boletus edulis. The clouds moving over from the west were stingy with the sunbreaks but we caught a few after we passed Lake Lilian and reached Rampart Ridge. On the way back we dropped down to Lake Lilian from a higher pass and circled around the west end of the lake. Nice sunbreaks as the sun dipped below the cloudbank to the west, then cold fog again along the ridge. We descended to the parking lot by the lingering light of sunset augmented by the rising nearly-full moon.
The sun broke through briefly as we negotiated the south shore of Lake Lilian and headed back along the ridge.
Photos from Lake Lilian/Rampart Ridge hike w/ Tim
On 9/23/07 Tim and I hiked to the Rampart Lakes and back via the Mt Margaret/Lake Lilian trail just east of Snoqualmie Pass. We set out from the wrong end of the parking lot, wandered up through open woods with huckleberries, then up through some old-growth forest, across a logging road and up a gentle scree slope to a prolific patch of huckleberries. We picked in the fog and wind until our fingers were numb then continued up to the ridge and hit the real trail. Lots of mushrooms including numerous huge but rotting Boletus edulis. The clouds moving over from the west were stingy with the sunbreaks but we caught a few after we passed Lake Lilian and reached Rampart Ridge. On the way back we dropped down to Lake Lilian from a higher pass and circled around the west end of the lake. Nice sunbreaks as the sun dipped below the cloudbank to the west, then cold fog again along the ridge. We descended to the parking lot by the lingering light of sunset augmented by the rising nearly-full moon.
Late afternoon sunlight illuminates the forest below Lake Lilian.
Photos from Lake Lilian/Rampart Ridge hike w/ Tim
On 9/23/07 Tim and I hiked to the Rampart Lakes and back via the Mt Margaret/Lake Lilian trail just east of Snoqualmie Pass. We set out from the wrong end of the parking lot, wandered up through open woods with huckleberries, then up through some old-growth forest, across a logging road and up a gentle scree slope to a prolific patch of huckleberries. We picked in the fog and wind until our fingers were numb then continued up to the ridge and hit the real trail. Lots of mushrooms including numerous huge but rotting Boletus edulis. The clouds moving over from the west were stingy with the sunbreaks but we caught a few after we passed Lake Lilian and reached Rampart Ridge. On the way back we dropped down to Lake Lilian from a higher pass and circled around the west end of the lake. Nice sunbreaks as the sun dipped below the cloudbank to the west, then cold fog again along the ridge. We descended to the parking lot by the lingering light of sunset augmented by the rising nearly-full moon.
Fog in the forest farther along the ridge. By the time we began to descend from the ridge, it was getting dark.
Photos from Lake Lilian/Rampart Ridge hike w/ Tim
On 9/23/07 Tim and I hiked to the Rampart Lakes and back via the Mt Margaret/Lake Lilian trail just east of Snoqualmie Pass. We set out from the wrong end of the parking lot, wandered up through open woods with huckleberries, then up through some old-growth forest, across a logging road and up a gentle scree slope to a prolific patch of huckleberries. We picked in the fog and wind until our fingers were numb then continued up to the ridge and hit the real trail. Lots of mushrooms including numerous huge but rotting Boletus edulis. The clouds moving over from the west were stingy with the sunbreaks but we caught a few after we passed Lake Lilian and reached Rampart Ridge. On the way back we dropped down to Lake Lilian from a higher pass and circled around the west end of the lake. Nice sunbreaks as the sun dipped below the cloudbank to the west, then cold fog again along the ridge. We descended to the parking lot by the lingering light of sunset augmented by the rising nearly-full moon.
Windows between the clouds allowed enough light through from the evening sky that we were able to find our way down to the road without using our headlamps.

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