Did something a little different today – was after scenery more so than mileage or gain. So I drove to the Rainy Lake TH – 10 miles of pretty good gravel/dirt road out of Hood River. After the road becomes dirt, signage is non-existent – just turn left at the only real T-junction and look for two huge logs on either side of a spur road – that spur goes to the Rainy Lake TH. Once at the TH, it was a very short hike on Tr 423A to the lake, with Green Point Mountain as a backdrop,
and some great reflections in the wonderfully clear water.
I then took Tr 423 over to North Lake, which I had last seen in March. Things were different now.
Another nice little lake with clear waters and interesting reflections.
From North, I followed Tr 411 almost back to the road but then took Tr 413 toward Mt. Defiance. In less than ½ mile, Tr 413C (no sign) branches off to Bear Lake. I’d seen this lake more than a few times from the Mt. Defiance trail,
but this is the first time I made an effort to actually visit it. Another nice little pocket lake,
with a view up a seemingly endless scree/boulder slope toward Mt. Defiance.
I backtracked from Bear Lake and headed up to Defiance for lunch with a view. Once again, the view was all about Mt. Hood.
From Defiance, I head back to the car at Rainy Lake. This was a short hike – 7.8 mi and about 1800’ gain – but getting to visit all three of these beautiful little lakes and Mt. Defiance more than compensated for distance & gain. It was breezy most of the day and temperatures seemed mild (at ~4000’), but I could tell by the amount of water I was gulping that it was warmer than it seemed. This became evident when I dropped down to Hood River and the thermometer went into the high 90’s.
Rainy/North/Bear Lakes + Mt. Defiance 07-July-2010
Re: Rainy/North/Bear Lakes + Mt. Defiance 07-July-2010
I was considering heading that way this weekend to camp. Any horrible mosquitos at North Lake? (Don't mind a few bugs but don't feel like donning a head net.) ; )
Thanks!
Thanks!
- AlexanderSupertramp
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Re: Rainy/North/Bear Lakes + Mt. Defiance 07-July-2010
What a great loop, I haven't been to any of those lakes. It certainly looks like a trip worth doing when the weather is just a touch cooler
- Splintercat
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Re: Rainy/North/Bear Lakes + Mt. Defiance 07-July-2010
I came pretty close to running into you up there, Van! I supposedly had the entire day for a hike, and was going to do the Rainy/North/Green Point loop (for the Field Guide, actually), but didn't get out of the house until nearly 1:30 -- so I did a short hike from Top Spur. Same question from me: how were the bugs? I was thinking the wind would be a blessing for that very reason, but it was surprisingly still in many areas around Lolo Pass, howling in others. Weird weather... and too damned hot!
Tom
Tom
- Splintercat
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Re: Rainy/North/Bear Lakes + Mt. Defiance 07-July-2010
...oh, and very nice lake photos, by the way!
Re: Rainy/North/Bear Lakes + Mt. Defiance 07-July-2010
Crazy! I ran into someone near Tunnel falls coming from camping at Rainy lake on 7/5/10....Man i really need to find these lakes
Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for sharing.
Shoe Shine Boy Has Left The Building!
Re: Rainy/North/Bear Lakes + Mt. Defiance 07-July-2010
Surprisingly, there seemed to be very few mosquitos at any of the lakes - at least I wasn't swarmed by many when I stopped for photos.cjwillson wrote:I was considering heading that way this weekend to camp. Any horrible mosquitos at North Lake? (Don't mind a few bugs but don't feel like donning a head net.) ; )
Thanks!
Re: Rainy/North/Bear Lakes + Mt. Defiance 07-July-2010
Surprisingly few flying bugs and not many (if any) mosquitoes - nothing like it was 2 weeks ago along the Moffett Trail. Even down in the trees and around the lakes I wasn't troubled at all by bugs. There was a good breeze blowing along the ridge up to Defiance (and on top) which kept all the bugs away & cooled things down a lot. Still it was a hot day & I ran through what I thought was a generous water supply pretty quickly.Splintercat wrote:I came pretty close to running into you up there, Van! I supposedly had the entire day for a hike, and was going to do the Rainy/North/Green Point loop (for the Field Guide, actually), but didn't get out of the house until nearly 1:30 -- so I did a short hike from Top Spur. Same question from me: how were the bugs? I was thinking the wind would be a blessing for that very reason, but it was surprisingly still in many areas around Lolo Pass, howling in others. Weird weather... and too damned hot!
Tom
- Don Nelsen
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Re: Rainy/North/Bear Lakes + Mt. Defiance 07-July-2010
Wow, this area has suddenly become much more popular! I was up there six times in the past month logging GPS data - thanks to mayhem's question about a route from Defiance to Wahtum (thank you very much for the incentive, mayhem).
Great pics and report, VanMarmot!
BTW, in six hikes and over seventy miles I never saw even one mosquito and I circled Bear, North and Rainy as far as I could. Lucky me!
Don
Great pics and report, VanMarmot!
BTW, in six hikes and over seventy miles I never saw even one mosquito and I circled Bear, North and Rainy as far as I could. Lucky me!
Don
"Everything works in the planning stage" - Kelly
"If you don't do it this year, you will be one year older when you do" - Warren Miller
"If you don't do it this year, you will be one year older when you do" - Warren Miller
Re: Rainy/North/Bear Lakes + Mt. Defiance 07-July-2010
Nice! This is usually a JUne hike for me, what crazy snow levels!
Never been to Bear lake, are there any campsites there?
Never been to Bear lake, are there any campsites there?
"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went."
- Will Rogers
- Will Rogers