We left Seattle ~8:45am in mist for Rampart Ridge Backdoor trailhead. ~2 miles in washboard, then ~1 mile in very narrow scratching forest road with large potholes (now filled with brown water). We were the 5th car parked at the road bend. Start hiking shortly after 10am, in full sun.
The trail starts narrow and overgrown. Soon, it goes up on steep forested slope. Faint, at times.
We overtook one couple.
~1 mile later, at ~4600', a large cairn (we didn't understand its existance until our way down).
Here, snow started in earnest, as the grade eases.
Met one guy coming down. Inquired about snow conditions, as his pant legs were wet at the bottom.
Reached Lake Lillian ~10:50.
It wasn't clear how to get around the cliff to the right (east) of the lake.
The trail on my GPS map is by the shore.
We followed some snowshoe track up the hill, getting to a bit too steep for the powdery slope.
Bushwacked down through trees and snow (knee deep sometimes) to find the trail by the shore.
I had to stop to shake off snow from my boots. Forgot to bring gaiters.
On the way back, we were able to more of less get over the rock more easily.
Looking back, great view of Rainier beyond the blue pool.
Put on micro-spikes, just in case.
Getting out of the lake basin is also steep.
But more rocks below the snow on this stretch.
Digging my hands into the fluffy snow doesn't offer more traction, except for some stability.
My gloves were so wet, that I had to sqeeze water out of them multiple times.
Once over the ridge, it's a winter wonderland.
Many small, frosen tarns. Still blue Rampart Lakes, Rachel Lake.
Met one young guy in snowshoe going out. Better prepared than us.
Decided not to go to Rampart Ridge itself, as I don't see tracks going there.
I don't want to sink more into the snow than necessary. My boots were already squishy wet.
We followed some snowshoe track (we sank more, but not too bad) to a butte in the middle at about 5600'.
Great 360° view here.
Not cold, not much wind. It was getting more cloudy.
On the way back, met a middle-aged couple in shorts and running shoes. We missed the turn in the forest. Followed the more obvious track on snow. Even though the terrain looked different from our memory, I could see that we were on track (but the wrong track, it was going to Mt. Margaret). It didn't dawn on me, until we saw Silver Lake (frozen). Back tracked, looked for our turn, carefully now. There, we found this cairn. The trail going down to the backdoor trailhead is in steep forested slope, no snow yet, so not obvious. We made a small detour (by mistake) to see Lake Laura: much smaller and wooded. The rest is uneventful. Back to the TH, now just one car. Almost 4pm now, 1 hour later than I expected.
Stopped for some mushroom hunt. I didn't see anything. Too dark in the forest at this hour.
