Tatoosh Lakes 2012

 Back to Tatoosh for a second Man Camping trip!!! The wild flowers were once again AMAZING in the Tatoosh Wilderness area.

Jon Gabe and I ventured back to the high mountain lakes near Mt Rainier for out annual Man Camping trip. We enjoyed fields of avalanch lilies, lupine, paintbrush, daises, tiger lilies, blueberries, alpine bells and something we called a "Truffula Tree", seen just above as recorded by Gabe, our botanical photographer. The colors were beyond description. We even discovered two different colored Indian Paintbrush flowers, one the traditional red with yellow base and a second solid dark magenta.

Tatoosh Lake was covered with snow last year and was not accessible. I think that is why the fishing was so good this year, lots of cutthroat trout and big ones at that. The wildflowers ins the Tatoosh Wilderness area were once again AMAZING, as you can see. We made the ridge in a couple hours and set up camp in a sandy area with a couple nearby snowfields for water. We had just a few hours to fish the first night and made the most of it whetting our appetites for the next day. Early up and to the lake.....Here are a few of the catches of the day. All wonderful cuts with incredible markings. We kept four for dinner and we were glad we did, they were delicious. Above you can see gabe's fish in mid air, jumping out of his hand and the boys playing under a snowfield at the edge of the lake and the "Mudpuppy" salamanders we found at the lake's edge. We camped by ourselves thursday and friday nights enjoying a small campfire and sitting under the stars.

All in all another very successful adventure in Man Camping. We had just enough food and not enough desserts, not to surprising. Day three we decided to hike out instead of fish due to a weather change, but that allowed us to stop in at Bruno's restaurant in Eatonville for a late lunch of meat and fried goodness with french fries. A fitting caloric intake after a great hike.

Tony

P.S. Gabe was the most successful fisherman this trip catching not only the most fish but the biggest at 18". Way to go G-Man!