Island Lake Backpacking

First father/daughter backpacking trip to Island and Rainbow Lakes was a a great trip with perfect weather.
img_2212 All loaded up and making sure we can carry everything we need for our relatively short trip.
All loaded up and making sure we can carry everything we need for our relatively short trip.
img_2216 Zoe showing of the ridiculously wide trail near the Talapus Lake trailhead. Thankfully the trail didn't stay like this for very long.
Zoe showing of the ridiculously wide trail near the Talapus Lake trailhead. Thankfully the trail didn't stay like this for very long.
img_2305 Wow! Checkout the work woodpeckers have done on this dead tree.
Wow! Checkout the work woodpeckers have done on this dead tree.
img_2218 Making our way up to Talapus Lake was mostly under tree cover other than this one switchback.
Making our way up to Talapus Lake was mostly under tree cover other than this one switchback.
img_2223 Talapus Lake, our first very brief snack stop. There are campsites on both sides of this lake, but it's far too close to the trailhead so it's a busy area. Our...
Talapus Lake, our first very brief snack stop. There are campsites on both sides of this lake, but it's far too close to the trailhead so it's a busy area. …
img_2226 Continuing uphill to our next destination, Olallie Lake. We ran into way more hikers than expected in this section.
Continuing uphill to our next destination, Olallie Lake. We ran into way more hikers than expected in this section.
img_2231 Olallie Lake lunch spot looking up towards West Granite Mountain, which is also called Tusk O'Granite, to the left and Granite Mountain to the right.
Olallie Lake lunch spot looking up towards West Granite Mountain, which is also called Tusk O'Granite, to the left and Granite Mountain to the right.
img_2234 We had a little lunchtime friend.
We had a little lunchtime friend.
img_2235 Zoe starting up the bootpath at the north end of Olallie Lake.
Zoe starting up the bootpath at the north end of Olallie Lake.
img_2238 Peek-a-boo Mt. Rainier.
Peek-a-boo Mt. Rainier.
img_2241 Back on the main trail that leads to our campsite at Island Lake as well as Pratt Lake and other destinations.
Back on the main trail that leads to our campsite at Island Lake as well as Pratt Lake and other destinations.
img_2243 The toilet on the ridge above Island Lake. It was pretty nice.
The toilet on the ridge above Island Lake. It was pretty nice.
img_2244 The view from the toilet. Yes, it was a bit crazy. Talapus Lake is below and Granite Mountain is to the left.
The view from the toilet. Yes, it was a bit crazy. Talapus Lake is below and Granite Mountain is to the left.
img_2250 Zoe setting up camp on a ridge overlooking Island Lake.
Zoe setting up camp on a ridge overlooking Island Lake.
img_2251 Our dining area.
Our dining area.
img_2252 Zoe chilling out and enjoying the amazing view.
Zoe chilling out and enjoying the amazing view.
img_2253 It's a bit hard to see, but the entire hillside between our campsite and the lake was covered in blueberries.
It's a bit hard to see, but the entire hillside between our campsite and the lake was covered in blueberries.
img_2257 Making our way down from out campsite to the lake. Unfortunately the access point wasn't anything like a beach, just a small rock surrounded by bushes.
Making our way down from out campsite to the lake. Unfortunately the access point wasn't anything like a beach, just a small rock surrounded by bushes.
img_2258 The view across Island Lake to Bandera Mountain.
The view across Island Lake to Bandera Mountain.
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