It was a beautiful day for a hike up to Three Lakes valley above Chester Lake. Fifteen Ramblers thought so and met at the parking lot at 8;30.When we arrived at the Chester Lake trailhead, we discovered that about 30 cars of other hikers thought so also! After an easy one hour hike up the trail we arrived at Chester Lake,


Chester Lake

where we had a brief water( in and out) stop before proceeding up past Elephant Rocks to the first lake. The group decided to press on to one of the other lakes before lunch, and half of the group stopped at the second lake while the others walked onto some rocks overlooking the third lake.


Upper Three Lakes valley

All of the lakes showed signs of the lack of snow last year and the minimal rain fall over the summer. The first lake was half full, the second contained just a bit of water and the third was just a muddy patch.


Upper tarns, Three Lakes valley

The flower season was definately past, with only some flowers still covering the meadows. We saw two marmots on theslopes above the second lake and their shrill whistling echoed over the valley as they ran for cover. On the way back,


Lower lake, Three Lakes valley

Alastair took us around the south and east portions of the first lake to see the impressive formations of fossilized coral.This area was not always a dry, rocky slope above treeline.


Horn coral, Three Lakes Valley

After a leisurley walk back we arrived a tht e cars about 4:30 PM. Some of the group opted for dining out before heading home.Participants: Emily,S.L., Brian, June, Andy, Lupita,Linda, Robert,Madeleine,Valerie, Paul, Eva, David, Darlene, and our coodinator Alastair.

Scribe Brian, photographer, Andy