Last weekend I went on a short backpacking trip up to Lake Ingalls. Lake Ingalls is located north of Cle Elum. About 3 to 4 hours from Seattle. Its not the most strenuous hike so its a great place to back pack for fun.
What the WTA told us (and they were right)
To get to Lake Ingalls you hike for about two hours or so (4.5 miles and 2,500ft gain). From there you take another 20 minute hike to the lake. Before you go there though, you can drop your gear right in front of Mt.Stuart and setup camp.
The view is majestic!
So, here’s what the WTA told us about Ingalls Lake:
There's no question why Ingalls Lake is one of the most popular destinations in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. It is a stunning blue lake, set high in a basin beneath rocky peaks, showcasing striking Mount Stuart as its backdrop.
The important part here is the word Popular. There were so many folks up there it was like car camping. Does it make the experience worse? Not necessarily. But it was definitely not what I was expecting.
Whatever the case, Mount Stuart made it worth it.
We setup camp in a relatively quiet spot. Trying to be away from the trail, but not quite far enough. We were not the only ones trying to keep private either.
One group in particular was full of ill equipped middle-aged men (mostly cotton clothing and sleeping bags) who were in for a very cold night.
Another group was full of children, maybe 4 of them? The parents were in for an adventure more than the kids were for sure.
We made some quick dinner as the lights started to dim.
One of the things you never think about cooking at home is running water, and instantly available fire. Had I been tasked with cooking outdoors, it would have been less successful.
Soon after dinner, we went to bed. The haze had covered the skies and things were starting to get dark quickly.
I kept snug in my sleeping bag as it was starting to get quite cold outside.
This isn't how the night ends
Due to nature’s calling I awoke abruptly around 2AM to find this…
I don’t want to give away all the star pictures, so I’ll stop there. I’ll do a post dedicated to the star photos soon.
The morning was just as awesome. The haze did come back though over the mountains.
It wasn’t really an issue as it presented a photographic opportunity.
In the end, we get to Lake Ingalls
So, we got there.
All I gotta say is, it was cold.
BONUS: Before we left
We found a friend!
