August Hikes: 4 miles to 7 miles, 600 to 2,000 feet gain - Greenwater, Echo & Lost Lakes

My Goals and Expectations and My Hiking Style for this hike are as follows

• Stay safe.
• Have an enjoyable time as a group in a beautiful place.
• We’ll aim for a 1.5-2 mph pace and adjust as needed so everyone is comfortable. Please note that my priority is to be inclusive, and that we will slow down if needed for everyone to participate comfortably and safely.  Also, I personally am slow on uphills and downhills.  If you are looking for a fast-paced hike, this may not be the best fit for you.
• I like to do a mindfulness period of about 10 minutes during my hikes. This is usually after the main snack break, so the group will have ample chances to chat and socialize prior to the mindfulness period.  During this time, I will ask for everyone to be silent and focus on the environment around them, using all 5 senses for maximum enjoyment.  I’ll let the group know when this will start and end.  I’ll ask afterwards if anyone has anything they want to share; that’s totally voluntary, up to you. 

We will be meeting at the Greenwater Lakes Trailhead at 0845 am, ready to hike at 0900.   Here is the Google Maps link for the location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/zCFc2DCrwdgPTNgD7.   The trailhead is about 1 1/2 hours east of Tacoma.   There is a parking lot that requires a NW Forest Service or America the Beautiful pass.   We might consider a carpool from Enumclaw.   Details to follow in the Hello Hiker email.