Sunday. Sunny, dry. Ingalls Way is quite popular. Started hiking ~noon. The half moon was still up, very clear against the blue sky. Thin dry forest. Not steep, but dusty. Some of the zigzags here are quite silly. Huckleberry leaves are red, but no berries. Saw some Scarlet Trumpet flowers. The view of the river valley and the steep granite across is nice. As you gain elevation, you can see Mt Adams, and later Mt Rainier. But the view isn't grand.
In less than 2 hours (~3 miles?), reached the top of the pass. There, you enter a larch filled basin with views to the north. Straight at your face is Ingalls Peak. Watch your steps: very rocky. Camping sites in lower basin. Most larches are already golden, shiny against the sun. Walk downhill passing more larches, some meadow with springs. Eventually the trail goes up again through rocks. Cannot go fast. ~45 minutes later, that's the lake.One deer on Teanaway Rd on the way in, saw a group in one of those fields next Hwy 97 on the way back.
Direction: I-90 exit 85 for Hwy 97. 6.6 miles (just short of mile marker 7) turn left on Teanaway (River) Rd.~23 miles till the end of Forest Road 9737. The first 13 miles are paved. The gravel isn't too bad. Lots of camping spots along the road next to the river.
