Fordyce Trail to Lake Spaulding inlet

Although there were 4 of us hiking, three of us felt compromised due to a table falling on a toe, a back hurting, and viral symptoms continuing for a few days.  We figured we would turn around if any one person felt worse. 

I might have started the problem early in the morning when I figured on leaving my pack rain cover at home.  Having been threatened by cloudiness without rain numerous times, we didn't think twice about the accumulating clouds as we drove up to the trailhead. We felt especially confident after talking to some backpackers who had been camping for a few days and had experienced very little rain.

Or even later when at 11:30 it started thundering. No it wasn't the hovering helicopter practicing firefighting moves with a hanging bucket.

It was thunder and it was getting more insistent. With the weather cooling and the breeze picking up we decided to cut the intended hike shorter and then shorter again. Let's eat down where we first hear the water. We cross-countried straight down to a place on Fordyce Creek where we could see the lake.   Then we felt the first raindrops. We ate under some trees staying miraculously dry while watching heavier rain falling on the lake. Beyond the lake the sky was blue so we were deciding whether to hike to the falls or head back. (Picture at top)

One of the compromised hikers settled it fast. Back. And that's when the skies opened up. And the lightning and the thunder. We were surprised that we were in heavy rain and hail all the way back to the car. The trails were quickly filling with water.  Although three of us had rain parkas, two of them proved no match to this storm. The third person was quite comfy in a borrowed garbage bag. My "quick dry" pants never did dry. So much for polyester. We tried to warm up and dry off in the car but the poor car will be drying out for days. 

We had hiked 6 miles. This trail has detours and intersects the Pioneer Trail from Langs Crossing. Due to our hasty return we ignored the detours and went the old way.  The wild flowers were abundant: alpine campion, harlequin lupine, snowflower, phlox, penstemon. 

Fashion statement.

Where's Stan?

Warm at last.