71. Pickle Jar Lakes

Distance: 9 km
Elevation gain: 442 m

Tuesday, July 31, we got up early and drove to a day use area near the trailhead. There, in the sunshine, beside a creek we had a leisurely breakfast and start to the day. It was much warmer than in our wooded campsite. We had done this hike before but needed to refresh our memories. Since fishing was now catch and release and since I had given up fishing from my bucket list, we just hiked up for a look.
The flowers on the slopes were perfect, especially the fleabane.

Much of the climbing trail was on the side of open slopes.

We remembered an extremely steep section but now found that switchbacks replaced it. Still steep, but they brought us to the first lake where several people were fishing.

A short distance further was the second lake.

Then we continued to the third lake.

We had to walk around it along the scree and through clouds of fleas to get to the fourth lake.

Here we ate our lunch and took the picture.