Hiking Tonga Ridge - Mount Sawyer
July 9, 2005
Together with Jill's sister, Lara, we set out for a leisurely day hike. The Tonga Ridge Trail leaves from Forest Service roads about 10 miles above Skykomish. The trail is an easy undulating walk with decent views to the south, though they were often obscured by persistently overcast and gloomy weather. We hiked as far as the saddle below Mount Sawyer and decided not to push on to Fisher or Ptarmigan Lakes as the way was extremely muddy and difficult to follow because of numerous branchings. We ate lunch there and then retraced our steps to find an unmaintained but very good trail that leads up 700 feet to the summit of Mount Sawyer. This was the highlight of the hike, offering 360 views that were only dampened by a day that felt less like July than November.
Jill and Lara making their way along Tonga Ridge amidst the ferns.
The saddle. This is the logical turn-around because the way becomes quite muddy and branching. In the fall, however, it would be berry heaven.
Each of these plants captures a single rain- or dew-drop in their center. Thousands of them were glistening along the trail.
Jill pauses along the trail up to the summit of Mount Sawyer.
Lara, on the trail up Mount Sawyer.
Looking south to Mount Daniel from Mount Sawyer. It was easy to imagine Frankenstein roaming the mountains on a dark and stormy night.
Fat pollen-coated bumblebees worked the many thistles along the trail.
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