The Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area is a +400k acre region in WA specially protected by the US Congress (they used to do things back in the '70's apparently) and managed by the US Forest Service. This area was expanded by 22k acres last year because it was bundled with other public lands bills and attached to a National Defense Authorization Act. Apparently we can get a lot of good done in this country as long as we associate it with guns somehow.

This area has easily become my favorite place to hike. The terrain just takes my breath away (literally and figuratively). We can thank the advancing and retreating glacier currently living in Canada for scouring out over 700 large and small lakes dotting the area. Last year I made it to Lake Lillian, but ran out of light so I never made it to Rampart Ridge where the lakes live. Yesterday I chose the back route coming from the east to Lake Rachel and then up to the Rampart Lakes. The trail is quintessential NW with beautiful lowland forest, streams, large boulders, large waterfalls, meadows, steep cliff walls, and of course, Alpine lakes.

Most of the hike is flat and peaceful and follows a beautiful creek. Once the ascent begins it is brutal because you are cramming in most of that 2,700 ft elevation into a couple of miles. I reached Rachel Lake and had lunch in the sun on a large boulder, enjoying the rest and wishing I had a canoe.

Across Rachel Lake you can see Rampart Ridge where I was heading next

This is typical terrain on the trail at this point. I got turned around several times and headed out on false trails. Follow the cairns (rock piles) for way-finding.

At the top of the Ridge looking back to Lake Rachel

The Rampart Lakes are a cluster of small, clear lakes randomly scraped out of the stone. They exist side-by-side at varying heights so one flows into the next. It's jaw droppingly beautiful to me. The trails meander in and around the lakes with unique views everywhere you turn.