"I would definitely recommend this trip to a friend."
Hike to Rampart Ridge, Rachel and Lila Lakes Mid July 2002 It's an easy drive (east across I 90). Near the Kachess Lake Campground.
I strapped my Day Pack on, and took a stick. Decided to leave my light jacket in the truck as it was pretty warm and didn’t want to carry it around making me warm all day. A Backpack would have been a better idea. I started Hiking at about 11am.
Some beautiful waterfalls in the lush forest are close to the path, and I would think that they'd be there all year round since the source is more or less Rachel Lake. The path itself is fairly flat and the trees are your canopy for four miles.
As it winds through the forest, there were a few weed/flower meadows (which are an incentive for a Spring/Fall hike) saw only a few mosquitoes, some wasps, and plenty of butterflies and birds.
After the four miles, I stopped for a break, because the next mile was a 1300’ gain, or a 32 degreeincline! So I rested for a bit, had a snack and then went upward and onward.
The ascent wasn’t too bad. So I didn’t have too bad of a time. Along this part of the hike I saw one of the mountains on the map called Hi Box Mountain (good view from ridge view ofLila Lake, of Hi Box Mtn).
By the time I was done with the hard part, climbing over tree roots, and remnants of streams that now made small muddy hiking trails, I came to Rachel Lake. What a sight! A Cirque where snow and glacier had accumulated and fed into this high elevation lake.
I went to the shore and had my lunch there. It was pretty windy and after awhile I was getting cold. Wished I had my jacket, it was pretty windy at the lakes edge, and I started to get cold after awhile. The clouds were racing by over top, but it was warm and sunny when the wind wasn’t there. I walked around the lake going east to north, and took a trail up over Rachel Lake.
I then came to a crossroads and went right to Lila Lake (s), which was a fairly easy hike but an uphill hike of another mile.
Along the trail I saw a marmot (on they way back there were three (a mix of hoary and yellow bellies)).
One in particular was sunning on a rock watching, about 300” away or so. Was able to look back and see Rachel Lake in it’s setting. Beautiful! Can see why it’s windy down there.
What was happening, was as the wind came over the mountain ridge, it was forced by the terrain to go straight down into the lake.
Once it did that it was stopped by the water and went in all directions, like ripples from a stone thrown in the water – except the ripples were waves Absolutely amazing to see. I hiked up some more and came to a bunch of small lakes; named Lake Lila – again beautiful, by now walking on the last remnants of glacier Ice, before it all melts.
It wasn’t as crowded at the Rampart Lakes were (from hiker reports), and was a very pleasant and serene walk on the ridge above them.
So that was about it. A good 3hr hike (arrived at Rachel lake at 1pm, after lunch and up to Lila - another hour) a decent workout and plenty of views to feast your eyes on.
Note: This is backcountry wilderness travel. You are responsible for informing yourself of the hazards and taking the necessary precautions.