Forum Index > Trip Reports > Rampart Lakes, Lila Lakes, Alta Mtn, 11/7-8/2020
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Matt
Tea, Earl Grey, Hot



Joined: 30 Jan 2007
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Matt
Tea, Earl Grey, Hot
PostSun Nov 15, 2020 11:48 am 
Dates: November 7-8, 2020 Destination: Rampart Lakes, Lila Lakes, Alta Mtn, via backdoor route from Rocky Run Creek Party: Matt, Carla (Dicey) I like hiking past networks of tarns and lakes, and this trip includes dozens of them. I especially like this transitional time of year when the tarns are a mix of open water, silvery new ice, fresh snow, and kaleidoscopic patterns of them mixing all together. Short Version: It snowed all day on Saturday while hiking in and setting up camp. Overnight, Lila Lake changed from open water to fresh ice across the entire lake. Sunday morning was sunny for a hike through fresh powder up Alta Mountain. Clouds and winter returned as we hiked out.
Freshly frozen Lila Lakes
Freshly frozen Lila Lakes
Upper Lila tarns and Lila Lake from Alta Ridge
Upper Lila tarns and Lila Lake from Alta Ridge
Highest Rampart Lake freezing over
Highest Rampart Lake freezing over
GPS Track, yellow line is this trip
GPS Track, yellow line is this trip
Saturday Rocky Run to Rampart Lakes to Lila Lakes (10:20am - 3:40pm) It was snowy hiking past Lake Lillian and up to Rampart Lakes. There was one set of tracks ahead of us for most of the way, but no one at the lakes. The larger Rampart Lakes were still open water, with a breeze making choppy waves across the surface. I mostly enjoyed the ice and snow patters on the smaller tarns.
Carla hiking above snowy Lake Lillian
Carla hiking above snowy Lake Lillian
Drifting snow on ice.
Drifting snow on ice.
My favorite Rampart tarn with its island and snow patterns
My favorite Rampart tarn with its island and snow patterns
Evening at Lila Lake Camp With cloudy darkness closing in, I neglected to take any photos at camp. We set up our tent on snow near the tarn above Lila Lakes. Down below, the main lake was all open water, except for on small patch of ice near the island. Our main challenge was keeping occupied during the long, cold, snowy evening. For dinner, we found a sheltered alcove under trees where we could escape the snow while cooking lots of hot food and beverages. I discovered that I had forgotten my spare gloves, so had to sleep wearing the damp gloves to dry them out. Dry hands are a welcome luxury for camp. Still too early to sleep, so we listened to podcasts on Carla's phone in the tent. Dozed for awhile. Woke up after a couple hours to eat snacks and listen to another podcast. Later on, the tent became warmer. Why? Because falling snow was covering it. Periodically we slapped the walls to knock it down. But then it piled up at the bottom edges and wanted to fall inward on our gear. When I went outside, I wanted to move the snow but not get my hands wet again, so I used a spare map to sweep away the light powder. Carla laughed at me for using the map as a shovel. Sometime after midnight the skies cleared and a bright moon lit up the scene. Wish I'd taken a photo, but it was cold and a bit breezy. Feels like I'm becoming less resistant to cold camping.
Me accumulating a bit of snow
Me accumulating a bit of snow
Camp the next morning, after digging gear out of the drifted powder.
Camp the next morning, after digging gear out of the drifted powder.
Sunday Morning at Lila Lakes Camp The morning came up clear. Clouds blocked the sunrise, but hints of color lured me out of the tent to take photos. Overnight, the entire surface of Lila Lake had turned to ice, which gleamed like a mirror in the morning twilight.
Lila Lake frozen in the dawn light.
Lila Lake frozen in the dawn light.
My shadow standing on a frozen tarn near camp.
My shadow standing on a frozen tarn near camp.
Alta Mountain (8:20am – noon) Hiking up Alta, we found fresh snow running calf-deep to sometimes knee-deep. We were surprised to find the indented trace of recent tracks on the lower half of the crest. The light powder was easy to walk through, but required caution for the hidden ground underneath, because you couldn't see whether the next step would find firm soil, lumpy brush, or ice-slick rock. Carla went partway up wearing micro-spikes, and I finished to the summit wearing regular crampons. Along the way, I enjoyed the patterns of the upper Lila tarns in the basin below, and was surprised to see a line of fresh tracks running all the way along them.
Something has been out and traveling before us
Something has been out and traveling before us
Kicking steps upward to the ridge crest
Kicking steps upward to the ridge crest
Ridge running on the crest
Ridge running on the crest
Upper Lila tarns (with some fresh tracks nearby)
Upper Lila tarns (with some fresh tracks nearby)
Still further to the summit, and one narrow spot
Still further to the summit, and one narrow spot
Alta summit views:
Looking north from Alta summit
Looking north from Alta summit
Looking south from Alta summit
Looking south from Alta summit
Mt. Thompson & Alaska Lake
Mt. Thompson & Alaska Lake
You can still see the line of the PCT cutting across the face of Chikamin (above the red x's)
You can still see the line of the PCT cutting across the face of Chikamin (above the red x's)
Distant view of Rampart Lakes
Distant view of Rampart Lakes
Hiking back down:
tracks past a steeper part
tracks past a steeper part
Sunshine, icicles, and powder
Sunshine, icicles, and powder
Lila Lake.  The small lighter patch near the island was the only part frozen yesterday.  The darker lines I think are freezing cracks rather than tracks.
Lila Lake. The small lighter patch near the island was the only part frozen yesterday. The darker lines I think are freezing cracks rather than tracks.
Lila Camp to Rocky Run Trailhead (12:45-5:00pm) Clouds returned as we hiked out. We would have made it out just before dark, but accidentally followed tracks onto the Margaret Lake trail, a common error on this route. Hint to self – go downhill, not up.
Looking down at Rachel Lake
Looking down at Rachel Lake
Ice forming dendrite patterns on the tarns, what will they think about all winter long under the snow?
Ice forming dendrite patterns on the tarns, what will they think about all winter long under the snow?
My favorite tarn with more snow on it now
My favorite tarn with more snow on it now
Trees reflecting on ice
Trees reflecting on ice
Last light through the trees
Last light through the trees
Fresh snow on my car at the trailhead
Fresh snow on my car at the trailhead
Stats: 12 miles, 4020 cumulative gain Historical Footnote Lila Lake had the first mountain island that I ever swam to, in late July 1990. Alta Mountain was the 10th peak I summited in the Cascades. Hiking up the ridge in midsummer, it felt like ascending a knee-high ramp of flowers into the sky. The Joys of Sleeping at Home after Snow Camping Sunday night, I recognized yet another advantage of sleeping at home compared to a tent in winter. Of course there are routine comforts of warm blankets, soft sheets, supportive mattress, and an actual pillow. But there's also the unexpected pleasure of being able to simply roll over, without the extra effort to turn around in a narrow space while wearing multiple layers of clothes, avoid twisting the sleeping bag, and rearrange the several water bottles, spare gloves, and other hardware that are all sharing the bag with me.

“As beacons mountains burned at evening.” J.R.R. Tolkien
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Matt
Tea, Earl Grey, Hot



Joined: 30 Jan 2007
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Matt
Tea, Earl Grey, Hot
PostSun Nov 15, 2020 10:14 pm 
The slab was coated with ice. But there's an alternate route. Just before you arrive at the lake, there's a trail leading rightward that takes you up about 50 feet, then around and back down beyond the slab.

“As beacons mountains burned at evening.” J.R.R. Tolkien
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geyer
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geyer
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PostMon Nov 16, 2020 2:14 pm 
Nice little trip Matt! Kyle and I were up there a few weeks prior in a complete whiteout and saw absolutely nothing. Maybe we should have stayed a second day like you for the good weather.

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Nancyann
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PostMon Nov 16, 2020 4:00 pm 
Beautiful photos from a challenging trip. That takes quite a bit of fortitude to spend that much time in such cold conditions. I could really relate to your comments about returning home after such an outing and enjoying the comforts of home. Sometimes when I’m on a long trip, a good night’s sleep is hard to come by. My motto is “I didn’t come here to sleep, I am here to adventure in the wilderness!” But when I finally do get home and have a good nights sleep, it’s awfully nice! agree.gif

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Brushbuffalo
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PostMon Nov 16, 2020 5:14 pm 
Matt wrote:
Feels like I'm becoming less resistant to cold camping.
I agree with Nancy, only more. In all my zillion nights sleeping out, there aren't many I have slept really well! redface.gif I agree with you....the home bed is awfully nice! Wait 'til you reach 'middle age, stage two' , Matt! It gets worse. agree.gif Don't suppose you did a ( very) quick dip on this trip! Water seems colder as I ( we?) pile on the years.

Passing rocks and trees like they were standing still
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puzzlr
Mid Fork Rocks



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puzzlr
Mid Fork Rocks
PostMon Nov 16, 2020 6:56 pm 
Matt wrote:
Carla hiking above snowy Lake Lillian
Carla hiking above snowy Lake Lillian
I really like this photo, partly because the cold wintry look is so different from most of my trips past Lake Lillian. The snow flakes came out great. I enjoyed your other panoramas and labeled photos as well. Nice trip!

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Damian
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Damian
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PostMon Nov 16, 2020 7:14 pm 
Great stuff Matt.

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timberghost
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timberghost
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PostTue Nov 17, 2020 6:52 am 
great fall hike

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Roald
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Roald
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PostFri Nov 20, 2020 11:59 pm 
Beautiful! Nice to hear from you two.

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Hiker Mama
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Hiker Mama
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PostSun Dec 06, 2020 12:04 am 
Sweet trip, you guys! up.gif up.gif

My hiking w/ kids site: www.thehikermama.com
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General ****
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General ****
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PostSun Dec 06, 2020 10:03 am 
Matt and Carla, I'm totally impressed! Your report was just what I needed to start my morning.... fantastic photos, and narratives. Thank you for sharing. Rick

The General primarily backpacks solo.
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jrmacd2
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PostTue Dec 22, 2020 2:36 pm 
Beautiful pictures. I'd love to go up there in the winter, but I should probably attempt the backdoor route in summer before trying it in winter. Haven't tried it yet because I worry about scratching up the paint on my Zipcar.

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BarbE
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PostTue Dec 22, 2020 7:06 pm 
Matt, I missed you by a couple of hours coming up to the ridge from Rachel Lake the day you hiked out. How serendipitous it would have been to meet up with you and Carla.

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Matt
Tea, Earl Grey, Hot



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Matt
Tea, Earl Grey, Hot
PostSat Dec 26, 2020 12:04 am 
Barb, That would have been really cool.

“As beacons mountains burned at evening.” J.R.R. Tolkien
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