Surprise backpacking weather in Washington Cascades

This is a short sequence of the variable weather my son Ryan and I experienced during our 4-day backpacking trip to Silver Lake in Henry Jackson Wilderness. This is mid July, and we were totally surrounded by snow, except for this tiny island of clearing where we set our tent.

Our original destination, Ice Lake in Glacier Peak Wilderness, was totally snowed out. Then we aimed for Silica Lake high in Glacier Peak and found the 7-mile road to the starting point was totally washed out. We were too lazy to do the 14 extra miles on a dangerous road where we would have to forge two major rivers where the bridges were washed out.

Silver Lake turned out to be great. We will return some day.