John Guilford's Hikes

Date: 2026-08-18

Location: Tonga Ridge, Lake Fisher, Mt. Sawyer

People: (including myself): Happy Hikers

			  	Alt.	Miles
Trailhead:		8:30	4300	0
Top of knoll:		10:45	5200	4
Lake Fisher:		11:10	4770	4.8
Leave:			12:00	
Mt. Sawyer Trail:	1:50	4770	7.7
Mt. Sawyer:		2:30	5500	8.4
Leave:			3:00
Tonga Ridge:		3:45	4770	9.2
Trailhead:		4:45	4300	11.3	

The trail initially climbs a couple hundred feet to the ridge where it is relatively flat with some ups and downs.  A couple miles from the trailhead you pass a side trail to Mt. Sawyer. 

The trail continues along the ridge to some meadows before suddenly and steeply climbing 400 feet on a somewhat rougher trail up and over a knoll (5200') before descending 400 feet to Fisher Lake. 

We had split our group in half with separate start times to keep the group size no more than 12.  I was in the earlier group. 

At the end of lunch, our second group showed up.  We did a bit of exploration further along the trail, looking for Fisher Creek that supposedly drained the lake into Lower Fisher Lake.  We never found the creek nor saw where it might have been. 

We talked a bit about trying to continue on to Ptramigan Lakes, but that seemed to involve some bushwacking, and we opted not to try. 

On the way back, we decided to take a side trip up Mt. Sawyer, adding 2 hours, 1-1/2 miles, and 800' of climbing. 

When we got back to the trailhead we found that our car had died.  Fortunately about 45 minutes later another hiking group came out and they gave us a jump start (Thank you!) so the only problem had been a dead battery, and we able to drive out without further incident. 

Fisher Lake from lunch spot

View from trail to Mt. Sawyer

Mt. Daniel from Mt. Sawyer