A pleasing, if not barn burner, forest hike on Mt. Hood. These twin lakes are not identical and are distinguished as Lower and Upper. They could have been called Bigger and Littler. Or Closest and Farthest. Or as we encountered them - Ducks and Noducks.

For views of Mt. Hood this hike is not the best. If these siblings are as competitive as some of their human counterparts can be it is the Farthest Twin that has the Upper hand for offering hikers a Mt. Hood view. But as it is the merest 'peek' this twin can't get too Uppity for all that.

For all we know this may well have been a more pleasing hike earlier in the year. Most wildflowers, our hike passion, in mid August at this elevation have passed their prime. There was still a payoff for us in the end. NO BUGS!! The swarms of mosquitos that we encountered on our early spring hikes last year have come and gone. Our 8 miles of steps and 2268' elevation gain on this hike were mellow and cozy by comparison.

The hike was a better workout for us through circumnavigating both lakes. The Twins are well established with campsites available around the whole of the lakes. Lower Twin in particular was extremely popular with families. Kids whooping across the water kept us company as we walked the well established trail around Lower, enjoying their splashing as they tried to outswim one another.

We may never return to this part of Mt. Hood and that's ok. All in all, it was a good day on the trail.

#nvrstphiking