May rains mean amazing June flowers

.....and deep lakes.

Our hike to Thomas Lakes was fantastic because of the wealth of wildflowers on the trail.  Then we reached the eastern lake and found it holding more water than I had ever seen.  Just a couple of years ago, it was about five feet lower.

This was the first time I remember seeing all-white columbines.

High Water in the High Country

The heavy precipitation in May recharged the snowpack and has the streams, creeks, and rivers running very high.

This past weekend's trip up Avalanche Creek -- normally just an early season hike, but one we opted to do after encountering much snow on an attempt to reach Savage Lakes -- showed us just how much water was rushing downhill now.  Both Hell Roaring and Avalanche Creeks were flowing at rates I've never seen before.

Hell Roaring Creek

Avalanche Creek

plenty of snow in the high country

The middle elevations (5000-8000 feet) received a lot of rain in May.  The higher elevations got a lot of snow.  After a relatively dry winter, things changed completely, and now the snowpack is much greater than average.

We took a hike up to Savage Lakes this past weekend.  Well, we tried to, anyway.  About three-quarters of the way up the trail, we were forced to turn back due to so much deep snow.