We decided to go for something quick and easy last week. I'd only been up here in the winter before, and that's a whole 'nother thing. My expectations were actually somewhat low; too many people and not enough awesome country. In the end, there were definitely lots of people (and dogs- lots of dogs!), but it was a fun trip. This one should be easy enough to figure out; just google "most popular hike in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness."
You can see these peaks from I-90.
The trail in is super-engineered which is good, because it ascends a steep hillside and carries lots of traffic. I was happy to see so many non outdoorsy people on the trail. And dogs!
Over the ridge and drop down to this big lake.
Another 800' up to the smaller lake where we camped.
After settling in and enjoying a cup of tea, I headed over a small ridge to the outlet where I suspected I might find fish. I actually had no idea what to expect, and was pleased to see some occasional good looking rises.
It was slow; only after 30-40 minutes of sitting and watching did I get to target an active fish. It liked my caddis, took the fly, and after a brief, dramatic tussle, broke me off. That was it, and after a while I decided it was time to wash the trail dust off my legs and head back to camp for dinner. As I sat on a rock with my feet in the water, another trout, in the 14" class, cruised by me. I think it gave me the finger, and took off.
I popped over the ridge above camp I saw a bear grazing in a swale about 100' from our tent. I called to my wife, who was sitting in the tent. "Look!"
"What?" And with that the bear decided to go somewhere else.
Just before sunset, we watched clouds form on the ridge tops then stack up below.
And just as quickly dissipate as night settled in. Lying in my sleeping bag I could hear I-90 rumbling in the distance, less that 4 miles away.
The next day for some mild adventure and sightseeing we worked our way around the non-trail side of the lake. This place had the tamest Pikas I'd ever encountered,
deadly Amanita pantera,
curious vermiform trails on rocks in the shallows (caddis grazing?),
and amphibians.
We then scrambled [hiked up] the little peaklet towering 500' above the lake. The views were actually pretty spectacular; we have such cool stuff right in our backyard! I counted 19 summits I've stood upon.
By the time we got back to camp, the place was filling up. It was a Friday afternoon, and the weekend crowds were arriving. Lots of doggies too! Time to go.
You can see these peaks from I-90.
The trail in is super-engineered which is good, because it ascends a steep hillside and carries lots of traffic. I was happy to see so many non outdoorsy people on the trail. And dogs!
Over the ridge and drop down to this big lake.
Another 800' up to the smaller lake where we camped.
After settling in and enjoying a cup of tea, I headed over a small ridge to the outlet where I suspected I might find fish. I actually had no idea what to expect, and was pleased to see some occasional good looking rises.
It was slow; only after 30-40 minutes of sitting and watching did I get to target an active fish. It liked my caddis, took the fly, and after a brief, dramatic tussle, broke me off. That was it, and after a while I decided it was time to wash the trail dust off my legs and head back to camp for dinner. As I sat on a rock with my feet in the water, another trout, in the 14" class, cruised by me. I think it gave me the finger, and took off.
I popped over the ridge above camp I saw a bear grazing in a swale about 100' from our tent. I called to my wife, who was sitting in the tent. "Look!"
"What?" And with that the bear decided to go somewhere else.
Just before sunset, we watched clouds form on the ridge tops then stack up below.
And just as quickly dissipate as night settled in. Lying in my sleeping bag I could hear I-90 rumbling in the distance, less that 4 miles away.
The next day for some mild adventure and sightseeing we worked our way around the non-trail side of the lake. This place had the tamest Pikas I'd ever encountered,
deadly Amanita pantera,
curious vermiform trails on rocks in the shallows (caddis grazing?),
and amphibians.
We then scrambled [hiked up] the little peaklet towering 500' above the lake. The views were actually pretty spectacular; we have such cool stuff right in our backyard! I counted 19 summits I've stood upon.
By the time we got back to camp, the place was filling up. It was a Friday afternoon, and the weekend crowds were arriving. Lots of doggies too! Time to go.
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