Today we left from the Buffalo Run hotel and drove east on Route 20 into the Cascades. We stopped at an overlook above Diablo Lake and then proceeded to Washington Pass Overlook. The views were dramatic but hazy from the forest fire smoke that we could see and smell. The challenge of the day was the 4.4 mile hike to Blue Lake which included a 1,100 foot ascent. We stopped for a picnic at Rainy Lake to give our legs a rest then hiked the Ross Dam trail. It was longer and steeper than we thought. The dam was nice but the hike left us exhausted. One last hike on Gorge Falls trail finished us for the day. We dined at Mondos in Marblemount. It was recommended by the man who ran the general store and who owns the only two gas stations in town. His brother-in-law owns Mondos.