Weekend Wandering: More WA Photos

Last weekend I shared pictures from a 24-hour backpacking trip to Island Lake. Today, I have a few from a dayhike and another overnight near the same area. Next week, look for a few teasers from a week of kayaking in the Broughtons (Canada, near the north end of Vancouver Island).

In late June I took a friend out for a hike to Mason Lake, which actually is very close to Island Lake (the trail is one of the options for reaching it). 

You spend a long time climbing through the forest.

 

Bear grass along the trail.

 

Eventually the trail breaks out into a clear area as you approach the ridgeline--and Mt. Rainier begins to appear over the hills!

Columbine near the lake.

 

Mason Lake. Even on a weekday this one is busy, with people swimming and having a good time. I was kind of sorry I hadn't come prepared to swim (I mean, I am always prepared to swim, but there were too many people around to make skinny-dipping a good option).

 

About a month later, I loaded my pack again for another quick overnight, this time to Thompson Lake, which is in the same area, but on the back side of the mountains that line I90's north side. No Rainier views on this one.

Once again I got on the road about 1 p.m., this time from my Mom's house. The drive was about the same, maybe a hair longer because I started from farther away. I hit the trail at 2:10, then had to turn back 3 minutes later to put the proper pass in my window for parking. 

 

Obligatory mountain stream photo.

This trip had two primary features: unlike the one a couple of weeks earlier, there were definitely mosquitoes. Not horrible, but I managed to forget my bug juice, so they had an impact. The other feature was positive: Berries! There were delicious, bright thimbleberries near the start of the hike, and blueberries at camp! Snacking my way along the trail is always a bonus.

Harmless garter snake along the trail. One thing I love about western WA--no venomous snakes or other nasties.

Columbine.

About 6 miles later, I reached Thompson Lake. The trail is great, right up until it isn't--for the last mile to the lake, which involves some steep side-hill travel, and a rough and steep drop of some 550' to the lake.

Thompson Lake. Those are blueberry bushes in the foreground.

To my surprise, someone else had ventured out here on this Wednesday afternoon, so I hunted a bit for a campsite well away from them. I also tried to find one exposed to whatever breezes were blowing, to rid me of the mozzies. I can't say that exactly worked.

Panorama of the lake

 

Bugs or not, once I'd set my camp, I went back to the lake, stripped off, and jumped in. It was a warm and muggy day and I do like getting clean (or "clean") after a hike.

 

Amazingly, I got some rain in the night, though not enough to get things particularly wet. 

I'm sorry to say I didn't take any camp photos, nor any of the wonderful berries. My plan had been to do some early morning photos around the lake, take my time, and hike out just before lunch. Because I forgot both bug juice and head net, instead once I woke (crazy early), I had breakfast and hit the trail.

Early morning reflections.

Sunrise over the lake as I hiked out. I started as soon as I'd eaten--on the trail a few minutes after 6. 

For the most part, I just hammered down the trail (after that first 550' steeply climbing back up). I paused for a few things: berries, and a giant toad!

This guy was as big as my hand--not something I expected to see!

Thanks to my early start, I was almost back at the car by our usual 9 a.m. Accountability check-in! And I was home--well, at the local coffee shop--in time for the 10:30 call. So this one was less than 24 hours, not quite as peaceful as Island Lake, but still a good break, and an excellent fitness check.

 

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 ©Rebecca M. Douglass, 2026 

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