Badger Creek to badger Lake

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drm
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Badger Creek to badger Lake

Post by drm » May 23rd, 2018, 5:01 am

Okay, so I'm officially overdoing it on Badger Creek with yet another trip report, yet this trip worked out just perfectly, so just gotta report it.

I hiked up to Badger Lake Monday, back Tuesday. Trail was snowless and was logged out about 2/3 the way. The rest of the way had quite a few logs, but usually straight trunks lying flat on the ground, so not bad. Weather was warm but with some clouds to cool it off. Flowers were as good as I've ever seen on Badger Creek. It got down to mid 40s overnight, cooler than I expected.

The MHFS website says the road is not open yet but I'm not sure I believe it. I saw nobody the entire trip, but it was a Mon/Tues trip. Looking up at Badger Butte, I saw barely a speck of snow on the slope way above. If the road is not open yet, I expect it will be soon. Don't expect my serene experience to be repeated Memorial Day weekend.

Badger Creek from the road bridge at the trailhead
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Evergreen new growth
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Yipee! They have started clearing logs
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It was a bit brushy in places
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Cairn on trail indicates side trail to . . .
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. . . this waterfall that I haven't seen before
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trilliums are out! - last couple of miles to the lake
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not sure what this is
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gotta respect the leaves too!
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Oh well, the entire trail is not clear yet
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Ahhh - first view of Badger Lake
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I walked across the spillway to get to the camping area I wanted
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Camp on the east side of the lake
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In the morning my camp was in the shade, so I moved to the sun on the dam
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drm
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Re: Badger Creek to badger Lake

Post by drm » May 23rd, 2018, 6:16 am

Forgot to mention that there still were a couple of snowbanks on the downside of the dam. Perfect for refrigerating one's favorite beverage if you were so motivated as to carry it up there, as I was.

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retired jerry
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Re: Badger Creek to badger Lake

Post by retired jerry » May 23rd, 2018, 6:18 am

nice report, thanks

I like going to the same place several times. See out it changes with season

Thuja
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Re: Badger Creek to badger Lake

Post by Thuja » May 23rd, 2018, 2:26 pm

.
Last edited by Thuja on March 8th, 2019, 7:22 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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drm
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Re: Badger Creek to badger Lake

Post by drm » May 23rd, 2018, 3:07 pm

There were annoying flies, but they weren't biting. That could change in a couple of weeks though.

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xrp
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Re: Badger Creek to badger Lake

Post by xrp » May 23rd, 2018, 5:15 pm

Thank you for the report and the pictures.

I had called Hood River Ranger Station just yesterday and asked about access to High Prairie Trail Head and hiking along the ridge to Lookout Mountain.

The ranger said it was still snowed in.

Now I think maybe it just hasn't been checked in awhile. Especially if you are saying you couldn't see much of anything on Badger Butte.

I had been thinking about going there this Memorial Day weekend.

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retired jerry
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Re: Badger Creek to badger Lake

Post by retired jerry » May 23rd, 2018, 5:48 pm

http://adamschneider.net/hiking/snow_depth.html

say 100 inches of snow on Lookout Mt

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xrp
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Re: Badger Creek to badger Lake

Post by xrp » May 23rd, 2018, 6:47 pm

retired jerry wrote:
May 23rd, 2018, 5:48 pm
http://adamschneider.net/hiking/snow_depth.html

say 100 inches of snow on Lookout Mt
How accurate is that? :(

Looks like we'll go to Trapper Creek or Twin Lakes/Barlow Pass.

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retired jerry
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Re: Badger Creek to badger Lake

Post by retired jerry » May 23rd, 2018, 6:59 pm

In my experience fairly accurate

One thing is, they give inches of snow for an area about 1/2 mile x 1/2 mile. You could have a narrow ridge with quite a bit of snow on it, but over a 1/2 mile, the average could be very little.

I might still go there, but plan on turning around if there was too much snow. Hike up Badger Creek, up to Lookout if possible. Maybe Flag Point. Maybe Gumjuwac Saddle...

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drm
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Re: Badger Creek to badger Lake

Post by drm » May 24th, 2018, 6:34 am

My guess from experience is that this time of year, a place like Lookout Mtn will totally depend on exposure. Open south-facing slopes are probably melted out while sheltered areas, or places that collect windblown snow, could still have a lot of snow.

Note that the first part of Memorial Day weekend is supposed to be windy.

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