Bailey Range Traverse,  Olympic National Park,  Jul 26, 2007 - Aug 1, 2007     page 46 / 97

After our meal, we continued, encountering an area with several snowfields. Comparing our GPS location with waypoints I had programmed into the unit at home was a considerable aid. We were easily able to make our way through the thickening fog, and over the snow and rock. We continued to see footprints, as well, but no other hikers. We found an unusual snow-filled draw with thirty foot vertical walls on each side. Though the fog obscured just what was at the end of the little canyon, we hiked upward nonetheless. We gained perhaps 150 feet climbing up this line of snow. No sooner had we topped out, and we could see a lake. The ranger had marked our permit with “Ferry Basin/ Cream Lake (Upper).” While the map had not named this lake, it was one of the largest in the area, so I surmised that it must be Upper Cream Lake. We found a beautiful spot to pitch our tent, near the lakeshore.