Rainy Lake Hike

Wow! This hike was more of an ass kicker than we'd expected. Starts out easy enough, but seems to get steeper and steeper as it progresses. The hike's destination, Rainy Lake, sits in a pretty granite cirque. We went the entire day without seeing another hiker once we turned up off the Pratt Connector trail.
img_1918 The lowland forest near the Middle Fork of the Snoqualmie made for nice sun-dappled strolling on what was the hottest day of the year so far.
The lowland forest near the Middle Fork of the Snoqualmie made for nice sun-dappled strolling on what was the hottest day of the year so far.
img_1919 Less than 1,000' up we came upon some loaded huckleberry bushes. On a more popular trail they'd have been picked clean, but these were right on the trail.
Less than 1,000' up we came upon some loaded huckleberry bushes. On a more popular trail they'd have been picked clean, but these were right on the trail.
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img_1922 Rainy Creek peeking through the woods. The trail, which is really just an informal path for fisherman to reach Rainy Lake, parallels the creek for about ⅔ of...
Rainy Creek peeking through the woods. The trail, which is really just an informal path for fisherman to reach Rainy Lake, parallels the creek for about ⅔ of…
img_1924 One of the few peek-a-boo views we had of Mt. Garfield.
One of the few peek-a-boo views we had of Mt. Garfield.
img_1925 Martin staring up dumbfounded at the tall trees.
Martin staring up dumbfounded at the tall trees.
img_1926 Can you find the frog?
Can you find the frog?
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img_1936 Rainy Lake! The moon made a cameo appearance. Not sure what peak is peeking out at just left of center.
Rainy Lake! The moon made a cameo appearance. Not sure what peak is peeking out at just left of center.
img_1938 Snack time in the boulder field.
Snack time in the boulder field.
img_1943 Zilly is not at all sure what to make of the gigantic rocks so needed to be carried through the trickier bits.
Zilly is not at all sure what to make of the gigantic rocks so needed to be carried through the trickier bits.
img_1945 Looking across Rainy Lake from our lunch (well...more like dinner since it was 5pm) spot. Somewhere straight ahead and 1,400' up lies Upper Rainy Lake and then...
Looking across Rainy Lake from our lunch (well...more like dinner since it was 5pm) spot. Somewhere straight ahead and 1,400' up lies Upper Rainy Lake and then…
img_1956 Family selfie on the trail's "summit" after we've climbed back up out of the lake's basin.
Family selfie on the trail's "summit" after we've climbed back up out of the lake's basin.
img_1958 Cool groundcover.
Cool groundcover.
img_1959 Mt. Garfield glowing in the golden hour.
Mt. Garfield glowing in the golden hour.