Elevation Gain: Approximately 3400 feet
Time: 10:15 am - 4:00 pm
Weather: Light rain, foggy, and cloudy.
It is hard to write this entry almost a week late. I remember it taking a while to get up to Mason Lake, but I remember enjoying the uphill and moving at a steady pace. I got to the lake in about an hour and a half. I met a ranger who busted me for not filling out a permit for the hike. She was nice about it, but I was told that one reason they have people take permits even for day use is to have a paper record of use, therefore they can document the nessesity for more funding. I was sold and will always fill out permits in the future.
I got a little side tracked trying to get up to the summit of Mt. Defiance. Once I knew I was not on the main trail, I turned around, went back to Mason Lake, and found the correct path. The hike up to the summit was a brutal climb. It was steep, but I did not stop to take breaks. It took about an hour and a half to make it up to the top.
I, unfortunately, could still hear the roar of I-90 below, which was only occassionally broken up by the louder roar of airplanes up above. I did get a view glimpses of blue sky and the surrounding ridges as the clouds would lift occassionally. I believe I saw the tip of Rainier above the clouds out to the south. I had lunch on the summit. Packed up and began walking down around 1:45 pm. I was back at the car before 4 pm. Overall, it was a great solo trip.
Orchid: The views of the lake on my decent.
Onion: My boots are no longer waterproof, and my feet were soaked most of the hike.
Picture:
Google Map
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