Forum Index > Trip Reports > Mallard-Larkins Pioneer Area (Clearwater Mtns, Idaho) 9/28-10/2, 2018
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RichP
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RichP
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PostWed Oct 03, 2018 8:47 am 
The Mallard-Larkins is a relatively small area (30,500 acres) located in North Idaho and managed as wilderness but never given that official designation. It is more like the western slopes of the Cascades or Olympics with similar vegetation and climate than other areas in this part of the state. http://www.friendsoftheclearwater.org/mallard-larkins-roadless-area/ My old compadre Rufus T Firefly, Andrea and myself spent the first night of the trip at the Aquarius Campground located in a ceder grove on the beautiful North Fork Clearwater River. There are 9 spacious sites here and a pretty beach to enjoy. We watched an otter splashing about and spotted some introduced Kokanee salmon headed upriver to complete their life cycle.
North Fork Clearwater River at Aquarius Campground.
North Fork Clearwater River at Aquarius Campground.
Aquarius Campground.
Aquarius Campground.
Rufus had spent many a summer working trails and tree planting in the area as a younger man and is a wealth of knowledge in the local flor and fauna. I was surprised to see many plants that I recognized from hikes in western Washington. The Clearwater in fact is home of some coastal disjunct rainforest, one of the furthest examples of such in the world from the ocean based on what I have read. Alder, western red ceder, devil's club, sword fern and many other examples are evident. http://www.friendsoftheclearwater.org/coastal-disjunct-2/ In the morning we drove up nearby Rd 700 to the Smith Ridge Trail and started the hike. Soon we entered dense hemlock forest and enjoyed the blazing red of the huckleberry and mountain ash. Many logging roads criss cross the surrounding areas and it's possible to drive up to over 5000' in places which makes access relatively easy.
One of the entryways into The Mallard-Larkins.
One of the entryways into The Mallard-Larkins.
Mallard Peak in the distance from Goat Ridge.
Mallard Peak in the distance from Goat Ridge.
Inspecting ruins of Goat (Grassy) Ridge Lookout on the highpoint of Goat Ridge, 6372.'
Inspecting ruins of Goat (Grassy) Ridge Lookout on the highpoint of Goat Ridge, 6372.'
Snow Peak Lookout.
Snow Peak Lookout.
Fall color and Rufus T. Firefly.
Fall color and Rufus T. Firefly.
Ascending Larkins Peak.
Ascending Larkins Peak.
Larkins Peak summit, 6661.'
Larkins Peak summit, 6661.'
After the 8-mile approach hike, we set up camp at the largest of the lakes in The Mallard-Larkins, Heart Lake. I set off for a little peakbagging while Rufus and Andrea relaxed a bit. This is the only place we saw other folks. Though we expected hunters on the ridges, we saw none.
Crag Peak above Heart Lake. We spent 3 nights camped here.
Crag Peak above Heart Lake. We spent 3 nights camped here.
Heart Lake from Heart Peak, 6870.'
Heart Lake from Heart Peak, 6870.'
In the morning we set off for Mallard Peak, some 6 miles away which the site of a lookout that has been placed on the National Historic Lookout Register and has received some restoration in recent years. http://nhlr.org/lookouts/us/id/mallard-peak-lookout/ Rufus had been here somewhere between 9 and 12 times over the years so it was like visiting an old friend for him. He read some of his entries in the log book dating back to 1977 and signed in once again.
Looking across to The Nub, East Sister and Black Mtn from near Mallard Peak. These are the highest peaks in the area.
Looking across to The Nub, East Sister and Black Mtn from near Mallard Peak. These are the highest peaks in the area.
Looking north from saddle below Mallard Pk summit.
Looking north from saddle below Mallard Pk summit.
Mallard Peak Lookout, 6870.'
Mallard Peak Lookout, 6870.'
Rufus has been here many times since 1977 and signs in the log book.
Rufus has been here many times since 1977 and signs in the log book.
View from the lookout.
View from the lookout.
Skyland Lake below.
Skyland Lake below.
Slopes of Mallard Peak.
Slopes of Mallard Peak.
The next day we hiked up to Crag Peak which is an easy walk up from Heart Pass, and visited Crag Lake below the ridge. Numerous trails drop down off the 10-mile main ridge that joins Mallard and Larkins Peaks for easy access to these bodies of water. Fishing is said to be decent in many of them though I only saw some small brook trout.
Rufus on Crag Peak, 6879.'
Rufus on Crag Peak, 6879.'
Crag Lake.
Crag Lake.
Crag Lake.
Crag Lake.
After returning to camp we settled in and it began to rain most of the night and during the hike out in the morning. We got back to the car at the lonesome trailhead and were all thoroughly soaked though content to have squeezed in this one prior to the soon coming snows in the high country.

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olderthanIusedtobe
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olderthanIusedtobe
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PostWed Oct 03, 2018 11:36 am 
RichP wrote:
Fall color and Rufus T. Firefly.
Fall color and Rufus T. Firefly.
Wow, what a shot! There are brilliant fall colors appearing in TRs all over the place. Is it my imagination or are the color a bit brighter than normal this year?

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RichP
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PostWed Oct 03, 2018 9:15 pm 
olderthanIusedtobe wrote:
Is it my imagination or are the color a bit brighter than normal this year?
I think they are exceptional this year, even without going to the mountains.

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Nancyann
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PostWed Oct 03, 2018 9:34 pm 
That looks like some beautiful country, Rich and the colors are amazing! Not too many hikers up that way, no?

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RichP
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RichP
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PostWed Oct 03, 2018 9:51 pm 
Nancyann wrote:
Not too many hikers up that way, no?
The ML is said to have moderate to high use in the summer months but we only saw 6 other people in the 4 days we were there. All were camped at Heart Lake on Saturday night. After that we may have been the only people in there until we walked out on Tuesday.

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RichP
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RichP
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PostMon Oct 29, 2018 7:20 am 
Straight Arrow wrote:
our small group of 4 backpackers did Fawn Lake and the Mallard Peak lookout over Labor Day Weekend. Only saw about 7 or 8 people that weekend too. We would definitely go back there again someday.
"Heavy use" in Idaho definitely has a different meaning than in western Wash. A group of 4 young guys we ran into at Heart Lake had come up via Fawn Lake and said it was spectacular.

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Brushbuffalo
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Brushbuffalo
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PostMon Oct 29, 2018 10:46 am 
Lookouts and former lookout sites galore.....and spectacular fall colors. Very nice, Rich!

Passing rocks and trees like they were standing still
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Pyrites
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PostWed Oct 31, 2018 6:03 pm 
Rich Great area. Snow Peak is an easy walk from the N. Current L.O. building was built ca 1972, long after trend was to tear burn them. Middle Sister L.O. is a drive up. Still staffed in 1977. Nub to Round Top were core grounds for the Ridge Runner. He was a petty criminal who escaped and lived in the woods for a decade or two. Best. Pyrites.

Keep Calm and Carry On? Heck No. Stay Excited and Get Outside!
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zephyr
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zephyr
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PostWed Oct 31, 2018 7:24 pm 
RichP wrote:
Crag Lake.
Crag Lake.
Great perspective and lighting. This is beautiful. Must have been majestic in person. ~z

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Forum Index > Trip Reports > Mallard-Larkins Pioneer Area (Clearwater Mtns, Idaho) 9/28-10/2, 2018
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