three days looking for Lost Lake
Posted: May 23rd, 2020, 7:15 pm
Never been to Lost lake. Thought it might be nice to visit when it's abandoned (partly due to season, partly due to pandemic).
Day one: Plan was to drive as far as possible up Lolo Pass Road, then continue to pass on foot, then PCT north, then drop to Lost Lake on Huckleberry Mountain Trail 617. I didn't get far. PCT passed across a cliffy section east of Hiyu Mtn. I had no equipment other than treking poles. Slowly inched my way across, but gave up, turned back, climbed up and over cliffy section. In doing so, I reached a beautiful open ridge. I remembered PCT followed a ridge around here, so I took a chance on it. It leveled off, got a little brushy, ended at a high point over a lake. I was expecting the lake, from memory (close to Lost Lake). Followed rim clockwise around lake a bit. Fun. Dawned on me it had to be Bull Run. Oops! Not supposed to be here. Retraced my steps, but lost my ridge when it forked at a brushy spot. As failures go, it was a fun little hike.
Day two: Earlier start, better equipped. Lost PCT a few times, but that's okay, I like trail hunting. Pretty much complied with the Bull Run restrictions, but I know I lost the trail a couple times. Ran into a phone line and insulators near a peak, followed line up in hopes of lookout remnants. Nothing. And went in search of a pond that's curiously right next to a ridgecrest. I didn't feel too guilty about that second one, as the PCT was really a head scratcher in that stretch. Funny, there are periodic signs reminding us to stay on trail, but the trail isn't well marked (I'm sure they'd say if I can't be sure I'm on the trail, then I should turn back, but realistically that's not gonna happen). At the Huckleberry junction, I decided I was having too much fun on PCT, so continued almost to Buck Peak (was in sight from my high point).
Day three: Even earlier start this time, went well, making amazing time, until some random wandering in search of trail. Way more new snow than expected. Distracted by previous party's footprints. Finally back on track in virgin snow (yay). It had been drizzling all day, and my feet were wet, and my feet ached from the firm planting on snowy traverses. I hesitated to make the commitment, but finally dropped towards Lost Lake. Snow got deeper, trail was hard to follow. Got sidetracked by a sawcut log poking through snow, thought that must be trail, lost time on a reroute. Snow finally ended fairly abruptly, and it was clear sailing, making good time again. Lake was fairly quiet, but not as desolate as I had hoped. There were workers getting things ready for summer, and a few parties who had parked at the gate and walked in. I had planned to dawdle on the loop, but it was just slightly too damp and chilly to relax, so kept moving. Pretty much retraced my steps on the way back to Lolo, but did a better job of finding the trails, which was rewarding. (Funny, I don't prefer trail hiking, but I do enjoy searching for trails in the snow.) Encountered three parties northbound as I was returning south, and also saw evidence of some who had followed me, but apparently turned back when they realized my route to the lake was too meandering, obvious I didn't know what I was doing. This was a miserable day: woefully unprepared for weather and new snow, and it was quite a bit of walking for a day with no good rest opportunities. A little over 15 miles, a little less than 12 hours. Considering the snow travel and routefinding challenges, I actually guessed no more than 1mph.
Day one: Plan was to drive as far as possible up Lolo Pass Road, then continue to pass on foot, then PCT north, then drop to Lost Lake on Huckleberry Mountain Trail 617. I didn't get far. PCT passed across a cliffy section east of Hiyu Mtn. I had no equipment other than treking poles. Slowly inched my way across, but gave up, turned back, climbed up and over cliffy section. In doing so, I reached a beautiful open ridge. I remembered PCT followed a ridge around here, so I took a chance on it. It leveled off, got a little brushy, ended at a high point over a lake. I was expecting the lake, from memory (close to Lost Lake). Followed rim clockwise around lake a bit. Fun. Dawned on me it had to be Bull Run. Oops! Not supposed to be here. Retraced my steps, but lost my ridge when it forked at a brushy spot. As failures go, it was a fun little hike.
Day two: Earlier start, better equipped. Lost PCT a few times, but that's okay, I like trail hunting. Pretty much complied with the Bull Run restrictions, but I know I lost the trail a couple times. Ran into a phone line and insulators near a peak, followed line up in hopes of lookout remnants. Nothing. And went in search of a pond that's curiously right next to a ridgecrest. I didn't feel too guilty about that second one, as the PCT was really a head scratcher in that stretch. Funny, there are periodic signs reminding us to stay on trail, but the trail isn't well marked (I'm sure they'd say if I can't be sure I'm on the trail, then I should turn back, but realistically that's not gonna happen). At the Huckleberry junction, I decided I was having too much fun on PCT, so continued almost to Buck Peak (was in sight from my high point).
Day three: Even earlier start this time, went well, making amazing time, until some random wandering in search of trail. Way more new snow than expected. Distracted by previous party's footprints. Finally back on track in virgin snow (yay). It had been drizzling all day, and my feet were wet, and my feet ached from the firm planting on snowy traverses. I hesitated to make the commitment, but finally dropped towards Lost Lake. Snow got deeper, trail was hard to follow. Got sidetracked by a sawcut log poking through snow, thought that must be trail, lost time on a reroute. Snow finally ended fairly abruptly, and it was clear sailing, making good time again. Lake was fairly quiet, but not as desolate as I had hoped. There were workers getting things ready for summer, and a few parties who had parked at the gate and walked in. I had planned to dawdle on the loop, but it was just slightly too damp and chilly to relax, so kept moving. Pretty much retraced my steps on the way back to Lolo, but did a better job of finding the trails, which was rewarding. (Funny, I don't prefer trail hiking, but I do enjoy searching for trails in the snow.) Encountered three parties northbound as I was returning south, and also saw evidence of some who had followed me, but apparently turned back when they realized my route to the lake was too meandering, obvious I didn't know what I was doing. This was a miserable day: woefully unprepared for weather and new snow, and it was quite a bit of walking for a day with no good rest opportunities. A little over 15 miles, a little less than 12 hours. Considering the snow travel and routefinding challenges, I actually guessed no more than 1mph.
