Weekend Escape - Thousand Lakes Wilderness (pic heavy)

**dgswen** · 07-12-2013, 23:44

I have to be thankful that my wife lets me squeeze in these quick little weekend trips close to home. With my 12 hour workdays, our 2 kids and jammed full weekends, she'd be well within her wifeular rights to say no. But she doesn't and that's why I married her!

Late June.. the height of mosquito season.. my buddy Keith and I packed up and clocked out right on the number! We headed only about an hour and a half East, still within our county and in our backyard to Thousand Lakes Wilderness. Nestled at the southern end of the Cascades, and tiny by wilderness standards, this glacier formed valley displays all four types of volcanic activity and a multitude of semi-alpine lakes. We headed to the biggest, Lake Eiler.

The drive in is not too bad, and well signed.

Lake Eiler. The trail continues on along the southern edge of the lake, but we bushwacked around the northern side. We're staying here.

The walk along the northern side, takes us through a small marsh area, some boulder hopping and through some thick Aspen groves.

Once we found a spot, we rebathed in DEET and set up. I really need to get my ridgeline inside my bugnet... Also merchant shout outs to JRB, Hammock Gear, and BCUSA Tarps.

Keith is a new Hammocker and is still in his initial stages of experimentation. However, he still rocked it.

After setting up and a nap, Keith got to fishing. Abundant trout...disgustingly abundant! They were jumping and biting until nearly 3pm.

Shoe-Flys?

We ate good!

Sunday morning, we lollygaged, packed up and headed out. Ive known Keith for a couple years now, and this will be our 4th trip together. He's a good friend and good hiking buddy. I wont show the boozing pictures!

Keith

Me

Crater Peak

Thanks for looking.

**Ta2edSailor** · 07-12-2013, 23:51

Looks like a great time! Hammocks are the best!

**nothermark** · 07-13-2013, 03:54

Looked like a fun trip and happy camp. Like the lake! Thanks for sharing!

**Trail Runner** · 07-13-2013, 05:18

I bet that trout was tasty. Good photos, thanks for sharing.

**Redoleary** · 07-13-2013, 06:42

Beautiful area! I like that little mosquito tent around the hammock, that looks pretty cool. Thanks for sharing.

BTW,having recently made a hammock that looks similar to yours there's nothing to putting the RL inside the net. Just undo the end and lay it flat to find the center of the hammock. Then probably and inch from where the net meets the hammock melt a small hole for your RL to pass thru... done You can sorta see HERE where my RL enters the net.

**Geck0** · 07-13-2013, 09:14

Wow, what a beautiful, place. Thanks for taking us along.

**dgswen** · 07-13-2013, 11:40

Yep, That was/is the plan Red, just haven't gotten around to it. I'm a little scared about trying to sew a tab onto the new, was thinking glue grosgrain then hole. But if you just holed straight through the net, and have experienced no rippage... maybe /shrug