Trinity Alps, Smith Lake, 8/17
Posted: August 14th, 2017, 9:12 pm
Some friends and I hit the Trinity Alps last week. We were planning to go to the Wallowas, but smoke (and bugs) led us to the Golden State instead. Conditions were superb and the granite was stunning.
I've done several trips to this area, but I've never hiked out of the most popular TH, Canyon Creek. This area is a bit more of a drive from Portland, but we went here because it had great off-trail options.
The first several miles hike up the Canyon Creek drainage, which is dominated by a beautiful river that carves through granite.
Our main goals were Smith and Morris Lakes. According to Lewon, these off-trial lakes are typically approached from the east on a brushy trail and off-trail route through Alpine Lake. We decided to approach from the west, which has two ways (both very tough) up to this basin.
We ascended through Stonehouse Gulch, which has more elevation but less brush.
Unfortunately, T-storms were a constant problem on each day of the trip and we had to hide under a snow bridge during our ascent (I'm still not sure if this was the best place to hide, but there wasn't much cover).
The T-storms lasted so long that we had to retreat back down to Canyon Creek without reaching Smith Lake.
The next day, we headed back up the gulch and discovered that our snow bridge was no longer a bridge. What a difference a day makes!
Eventually we made it up to Smith and Morris Lake. We camped at the upper lake and didn't see a soul.
The sunset and stars were amazing.
Details: Smoke was a non-issue half the trip and somewhat moderate on the other half of the trip. Bugs were not a problem. We descended to Canyon Creek on the other route described (vaguely) by Lewon that leaves Smith Lake to the SW. Even though this trip does not involve a ton of miles, it is very challenging, with a lot of granite, navigation, brush, and loose rock.
I've done several trips to this area, but I've never hiked out of the most popular TH, Canyon Creek. This area is a bit more of a drive from Portland, but we went here because it had great off-trail options.
The first several miles hike up the Canyon Creek drainage, which is dominated by a beautiful river that carves through granite.
Our main goals were Smith and Morris Lakes. According to Lewon, these off-trial lakes are typically approached from the east on a brushy trail and off-trail route through Alpine Lake. We decided to approach from the west, which has two ways (both very tough) up to this basin.
We ascended through Stonehouse Gulch, which has more elevation but less brush.
Unfortunately, T-storms were a constant problem on each day of the trip and we had to hide under a snow bridge during our ascent (I'm still not sure if this was the best place to hide, but there wasn't much cover).
The T-storms lasted so long that we had to retreat back down to Canyon Creek without reaching Smith Lake.
The next day, we headed back up the gulch and discovered that our snow bridge was no longer a bridge. What a difference a day makes!
Eventually we made it up to Smith and Morris Lake. We camped at the upper lake and didn't see a soul.
The sunset and stars were amazing.
Details: Smoke was a non-issue half the trip and somewhat moderate on the other half of the trip. Bugs were not a problem. We descended to Canyon Creek on the other route described (vaguely) by Lewon that leaves Smith Lake to the SW. Even though this trip does not involve a ton of miles, it is very challenging, with a lot of granite, navigation, brush, and loose rock.