Backpack - Pothole, Bertha May & Granite Lakes

We had three families with a total of 6 kids -- ages 6, 8, 9, 11, 12, and 13.  We met at Whittaker's Bunkhouse in Ashford then caravaned up to the Teeley Creek trailhead.  After going over the game plan and ground rules for our backpack, we set off on the trail at 11:45.  After a couple of obstructed views of Mt. Rainier, we first came to Pothole Lake.  We continued around the lake and started the ascent up to the intersection with the Osborne Mountain trail.  We made a sharp turn left and continued up the Teeley Creek trail.  The switchbacks were sometimes steep and the kids were huffing and puffing, but alas, we crested the top of the hill to find Bertha May Lake in front of us.  There was one group camping at the main campsite and another family off to another campsite on the west side of the lake. 

Having scoped out the lakes a few days prior, I knew that we would have better options at Granite Lake which was about 1/4 mile beyond.  So our group continued to Granite Lake and sure enough, there were two good campsites on the northeast side of the lake.  We arrived around 1:30pm.   We set up camp and then had time for the kids to run around, play games, and go back to explore some of the floating logs in Bertha May Lake, and play a little in the water.   We had an enjoyable dinner and then off to bed.  The next morning, we had a leisurely breakfast and packed up camp and returned the way we came, arriving back at the cars at 12:15pm.

I was worried that on a weekend there might not be campsites, but we were able to find some good ones.  It's just under 2 miles and 600 feet of elevation gain so it's a perfect beginner backpacking trip for any age.  My one regret is I wish we had spent two nights there instead of one.