[boot up]

No peak bagging. Us mere mortals were just happy to make it to Foggy lake. That was enough scrambling for me.

This seemed like a tough hike to me, even if it was only 10.7 miles and 3576 feet elevation gain. But the throngs of people, matching anything I have seen, on par with Ingalls lake during Larch season, tells me that I was maybe the only one that thinks this is a tough trail. Note 3000 feet of that elevation gain takes place in a rocky 3 miles. I must be getting old.

Big single step in trail. This is a very challenging trail. Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

Typical trail tough spot vege Belay. Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

john and typical trail Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

Heather. Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

John on typical trail. Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

Morning pan. Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

The trail is the thing. Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

Trail up is steep and uneventful. I would not want to do this trail on a wet or icey day, but what do I know? Views start breaking out before the basin, and you can see if you can spot the image of King Kong in the falls of the same name on the way up.

King Kong is behind the falls. Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

Can you see King Kong in King Kong falls? Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

Maybe part of the reason for the crowds is that the flat road Monte Cristo trail it feeds off of is closed, catching people by surprise and they are just looking for alternatives?

7:30am already busy trailhead. Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

Weeden with wrong spelling. Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

Weeden with correct spelling. Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

Monte Cristo log crossing. Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

Leopard lily. Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

3576 feet elevation gain. 5223 feet max elevation 2190 feet parking lot 10h 22min with a long lunch Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

10.7 miles RT 3576 feet elevation gain. 5223 feet max elevation 2190 feet parking lot 10h 22min with a long lunch Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

Basin detail Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

A bit hazy in the morning.

Morning trail at easy spot. Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

John cresting the basin. Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

After a quick couple of miles....or an interminable climb up a rocky rough steep trail, depending on your perspective and/or age, you hit the basin, and if its a clear day, it was all worthwhile. The first lake as you crest the basin, is not Foggy Lake, although I am guessing many people decide they have reached "The Lake". Its a nice spot anyway.

Basin first view. Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

Basin first view. Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

basin first view. Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

Weeden fork Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

First lake. Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

First lake. Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

basin pan Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

Foggy Lake.trail Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

You will know it when you reach foggy lake, up a very faint trail to the left of the main gully. Some route finding skills are handy, although you know you are trying to reach the top of that gully. Foggy lake would probably be pretty disappointing in the fog. We were lucky. We decided just to watch the other groups go for the surrounding peaks. You can spot some of them in the photos.

Foggy Lake. PAN Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

Foggy Lake.left Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

john at Foggy Lake. Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

Foggy Lake. Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

Foggy Lake. Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

Foggy Lake. Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

Foggy Lake. Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

Foggy Lake. Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

Foggy Lake. Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

boot shot at lunch spot. Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

Group bagging gothic peak. Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

Gothic peak with peeps. Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

Camel herd. Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

Foggy gap with minimal snow. Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

That is very clear, very green water. Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

Foggy lake on an ironically clear day. Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

Del campo peak route. Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

Perfect Weather. Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

Del Campo and Gothic Peak. Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

Foggy lake back view. Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

Top view back. Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

Foggy lake upper trail. Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

Foggy lake outlet. Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

John at Foggy Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

Distant view. Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

Alas, after setting up a few time lapses, eating lunch, lounging on my backpack barca lounger, eventually we had to head back down. We decided to take an alternate route and make a loop of it. Actually, I thought John wanted to make a loop. John thought we were headed back the way we came. Whatever...its all good. Plus we bagged another lake and saw first lake from the backside.

Alternate route back. Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

Alternate route back. Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

Alt Lake HDR Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

John on the Loop. Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

First lake from less traveled far side. Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

First lake, not Foggy lake Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

Main route to Foggy lake. Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

Gully to Foggy lake. Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

First lake. Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

First lake is not Foggy lake. Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

Toward Weeden Lake Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

Heather Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

Weeden lake is out that way. Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

Then it was time to plunge back over the edge of the basin and vegee belay our way back down, which was not as difficult as I thought it would be. We were both pretty beat by the time we got back. I am feeling my age these days.

Back over the edge, into reality. Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

John on the brink of heading back Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

Heading down. Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

John on easy part of trail. Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

Nice afternoon. Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

afternoon PAN Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

Heading down. Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

about to plunge back into the forest. Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

Final View before plunging back into the trees. Gothic Basin, WA 06/20/15

An awesome hike, but may not be on my repeat list . Tough enough to make me think twice, but add that to a shocking popularity and resulting constant stream of people, I am likely to head for other options.

[crazyhiker]

Wow, that many people? I was there a few years ago on a really nice day and don't remember hardly any crowds. We need to start telling people to stay home or to go to Spokane. But seriously, it seems like every year there are more and more hikers out there.

[tigermn]

I never in a million years expected this many people. I mean it was Ingalls Lake like for sure. At least there is room to spread out/around and at least some of them had higher more lofty goals of Del Campo or Gothic Peaks. Of the two Gothic looked at least somewhat more doable. Nothing looked fun about trying to get up to Del Campo, at least the people I saw heading up. The thing about doing this one again is it is highly unlikely to luck out and time this good of a day and anything else would be a letdown... Hey maybe this weekend, but you'd better like extreme heat, although I bet it would feel nice at Foggy Lake with the air conditioning effect. Might not want to ever leave.