CHS 2 Hike - Rampart Lakes

Description of the hike: 
In total, the hike will be close to 10 miles and about 3,000’ of elevation gain. We will start from where we parked at the Ira Spring Trailhead and hike through the trees and switchbacks until coming above the tree line at ~2.9 miles, where we will take a left at the junction with the Bandera Mountain Trail. We’ll reach the high point of the hike to Mason Lake at 4,320 feet and then descend to the lake, where we will take a snack break before the last leg to Rainbow & Island lakes for lunch.

Please see the WTA Hiking Guide for the trail description and recent trip reports: 

https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/ira-spring-memorial for Mason Lake description

https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/rainbow-lake-1 for Rainbow/Island lakes (please note: this report is coming from the Pratt Lake trail, but we will be using the Mason Lake approach).  

Carpooling:

Carpooling, if possible, would be great! For those who are carpooling, let’s plan to meet at the Mercer Island P&R at 7:30am. For those who want to drive to the Ira Springs trailhead, please meet us there at 8:30am. 

You will need a Northwest Forest Pass for this trailhead, and there is a toilet at the trailhead. 

Weather:

Here’s the link to the NOAA forecast – so far, it’s partly cloudy with a chance of showers and a high of 59 (although there’s still time for things to change – please check this again the night before we go!). 

https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?textField1=47.4257166667&textField2=-121.584283333

Re-route to Mason Lake trail with Rainbow/Island Lakes. Plan will be to meet at either the Mercer Island P&R at 7:30am, or at the Ira Springs trailhead at 8:30am.