6/26/19 - Lake Legore, Wallowa Mountains

This forum is used to share your experiences out on the trails.
daver
Posts: 27
Joined: March 3rd, 2012, 10:06 am

6/26/19 - Lake Legore, Wallowa Mountains

Post by daver » July 1st, 2019, 5:59 pm

Went up Lake Legore in the Wallowa Mountains this weekend. It takes off from the Hurricane Creek trail, and ascends about 4000 ft. in 4 miles to the highest true lake in Oregon (at least that is what I have read). 3 miles of steady snow free ascent followed by a chute that is either a rock garden or snowfield depending on time of year. This year mostly snow fields. Lots of digging into soft snow and scree because the trail is still buried, and still feeling it a couple days later, but it was nice to have it to myself, and great glissading back down.
0629190907a.jpg
Falls Creek Falls
0629190959.jpg
Still deserty veg
0629191245.jpg
Stop at the wildflowers for a breather
0629191058b_HDR.jpg
Getting some altitude
0629191205b.jpg
Heading up the rock chute
0629191152_Pano (1).jpg
Lake Legore looking out to Hurricane Creek canyon and Seven Devils and Hells Canyon off in the distance.

User avatar
retired jerry
Posts: 14398
Joined: May 28th, 2008, 10:03 pm

Re: 6/26/19 - Lake Legore, Wallowa Mountains

Post by retired jerry » July 1st, 2019, 8:43 pm

what altitude did snow start?

I'm thinking about doing west fork wallowa/east fork loop. I think maybe the worst snow would be in Lake basin even though that's not the highest altitude. I wonder if there's a lot of snow there or elsewhere on loop

User avatar
Bosterson
Posts: 2317
Joined: May 18th, 2009, 3:17 pm
Location: Portland

Re: 6/26/19 - Lake Legore, Wallowa Mountains

Post by Bosterson » July 1st, 2019, 9:32 pm

retired jerry wrote:
July 1st, 2019, 8:43 pm
what altitude did snow start?
Ditto - I am also headed to the Wallowas this weekend. :)

That's great that you got out to Legore already. It's been on my to-do list for years but other things out there have gotten priority. I did Echo Lake (farther down Hurricane Creek) at this time of year a few years ago and there was basically no snow out there, so looks like this year has a bit more substantial of a snowpack.
#pnw #bestlife #bitingflies #favoriteyellowcap #neverdispleased

User avatar
retired jerry
Posts: 14398
Joined: May 28th, 2008, 10:03 pm

Re: 6/26/19 - Lake Legore, Wallowa Mountains

Post by retired jerry » July 2nd, 2019, 5:07 am

I'm probably going July 6. I'll be curious to see any reports.

According to NOHRSC snow model, there'll only be snow in Lakes Basin. I'll probably go regardless, I don't mind a little snow and I know where the trail goes as if there won't be tracks to follow.

pcg
Posts: 372
Joined: May 31st, 2011, 7:46 pm
Location: Chehalem Mountain

Re: 6/26/19 - Lake Legore, Wallowa Mountains

Post by pcg » July 2nd, 2019, 6:13 am

retired jerry wrote:
July 1st, 2019, 8:43 pm
what altitude did snow start?
Last week Lostine River Valley...snow patches were on the trail at 6100', a real nuisance by 6700'. The valley bottom itself, at 7040', was about 10% melted out, the remainder was 1'to 3' most of the way up to base of Eagle Cap.
retired jerry wrote:
July 2nd, 2019, 5:07 am
I'm probably going July 6. I'll be curious to see any reports.
According to NOHRSC snow model, there'll only be snow in Lakes Basin. I'll probably go regardless, I don't mind a little snow and I know where the trail goes as if there won't be tracks to follow.
I can't imagine this will all be gone by July 6, but it should be considerable less. Lakes will still be frozen and snow-covered I would think. Pic taken on June 24.
Lostine River valley-1.JPG
Last edited by pcg on July 2nd, 2019, 6:25 am, edited 6 times in total.

User avatar
retired jerry
Posts: 14398
Joined: May 28th, 2008, 10:03 pm

Re: 6/26/19 - Lake Legore, Wallowa Mountains

Post by retired jerry » July 2nd, 2019, 6:19 am

thanks, I don't mind a little snow

maybe I'll do the east fork/west fork loop clockwise so I go through the Lakes Basin a few days later

User avatar
drm
Posts: 6133
Joined: May 28th, 2008, 10:03 pm
Location: The Dalles, OR
Contact:

Re: 6/26/19 - Lake Legore, Wallowa Mountains

Post by drm » July 2nd, 2019, 7:20 am

Jerry - You talking about descending Polaris Pass to the west fork? That huge slope can be scary if it's still got snow on it and I would expect at least a little, if not more. The Aneroid Lake snotel still has a bit of snow, will melt out in the next few days. But you would be going a lot higher than that.

User avatar
teachpdx
Posts: 395
Joined: January 21st, 2014, 4:45 pm
Location: Hillsboro, OR

Re: 6/26/19 - Lake Legore, Wallowa Mountains

Post by teachpdx » July 2nd, 2019, 7:39 am

Thankfully Polaris doesn't seem to hold snow as long as Hawkins or Horton or Carper, so hopefully it'll be well on its way to melted out. The other ones aren't as scary in the snow. Best of luck with the loop, Jerry.

I know a lot of us are itching for a broad conditions update (I'm one of them, doing a 65 mile loop at the end of this month) so any statuses would be greatly appreciated.
instagram: @remyodyssey

User avatar
retired jerry
Posts: 14398
Joined: May 28th, 2008, 10:03 pm

Re: 6/26/19 - Lake Legore, Wallowa Mountains

Post by retired jerry » July 2nd, 2019, 8:33 am

The Polaris Pass slope is west facing so tends not to accumulate snow so much. The NOHRSC snow model has said it's snow free for weeks.

East facing slopes are worse, because they're on the lee side of the prevailing winds so snow tends to get dropped there more - like the Lakes Basin.

Doesn't matter that much, when I get there if I don't like it I'll go a different way.

User avatar
sparklehorse
Posts: 827
Joined: May 28th, 2008, 10:03 pm
Location: over the hill
Contact:

Re: 6/26/19 - Lake Legore, Wallowa Mountains

Post by sparklehorse » July 2nd, 2019, 10:49 am

drm wrote:
July 2nd, 2019, 7:20 am
Jerry - You talking about descending Polaris Pass to the west fork? That huge slope can be scary if it's still got snow on it and I would expect at least a little, if not more.
I'm thinking of doing an East Fork - West Fork loop in August. How is that decent from Polaris Pass down to the West Fork when there is no snow? I've read some varying opinions on it. Some say the first few hundred feet down from the saddle are a bit sketchy. What say you folks that have done it?
Thanks!
.
You have to milk the cow a lot to make a bit of cheese.
~Henri Cartier-Bresson

Smugmug / Facebook

Post Reply