Tuck & Robin Lakes backpacking trip

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Left all the heavy climbing gear and ski gear behind and opted for a nice mellow backpacking trip this weekend.   About eight miles from the Deception Pass TH up the Cle Elum valley brought us to Robin Lakes.   Nice views all up and down the Cascades and some wonderful scenery of exposed granite, subalpine trees, and clear water.
I guess we've been spending more time than we realized in National Parks (camping limitations and no puppies on trail) this summer because we were a little taken aback at the number of hikers with dogs and there were certainly quite a few campers up at the lakes, but most folks were quiet and were in search of their own little chunk of solitude.
Sunday morning we hiked up near the top of Granite Mountain to get some more nice views north to Glacier Peak and east to Mt.Stuart, then we packed up camp and headed on down.   Sure is nice to just carry the backpacking gear sometimes and leave the heavy stuff back at home.

where did the summer go?....Mt.Hinman climb

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A rather brief backpacking season this summer with travel, wedding plans, and a lingering snowpack in the Cascades, but Becky and I knocked off Mt.Hinman a few weeks before the wedding.  The approach was longish, not particularly scenic, and once at treeline the mosquitoes were incredibly thick.  We kept climbing and climbing, hoping to eventually get above the bugs. Once above treeline the views opened up and the scenery was amazing...but the skeeters were still biting any exposed flesh.
Finally, just a few hundred vertical below the summit we found a small spot amongst the rocks to set up the tent that was above bug territory.
The evening was quiet, warm, and with a full moon it was a good opportunity to try some night photography.
Sunday morning we took the quick walk to the summit of Hinman and then reentered the buggy realm of the forest for the hike back out.