Forum Index > Trip Reports > Hidden Lake Lookout & West Triad Arm (10/11 - 10/12/06)
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Tom
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Tom
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PostMon Oct 16, 2006 5:52 pm 
After visiting Hidden Lake Peak (Point 7088) last year I've always wanted to return and stay in the lookout. With the days growing shorter and the nights longer and colder, it seemed an ideal time for a visit. I left Seattle around 9 AM and reached the trailhead by noon, surprised to find 6 cars at the parking area. I had brought a tent, but decided to gamble and leave it in the car, hoping not all would be staying at the lookout that night. After checking the sign in register I was relieved to note all indicated they would be returning that day. After signing in, I saw someone on their way down and struck up a conversation. As it turned out, it was fishonjoe. up.gif He had stayed in the lookout the previous night with 3 other guys and had the fortune of viewing one of the most stunning sunset ever, which I only had the pleasure of viewing from town. doh.gif He also knew the area well and offered up some good beta for the next day when I planned to head down to the lake... I was surprised to make pretty quick work of the trail and by 2:30 PM was almost to the pass near the lookout. There had been no water along the trail so I decided to stop at a snowfield and collect drips of snowmelt in a gallon size ziploc bag. After a half hour I had collected enough snowmelt to top off my 2 quarts and noted another hiker coming up. Daniel also planned to stay in the lookout and we joked about racing up to get first dibs on the bed, but instead opted to enjoy good conversation and a liesurely ascent. After reaching the pass, we got a bit off route, but eventually made it to the lookout, noting the proper route follows the ridge up from the pass, then sidehills just before the top. Daniel was gracious enough to offer me the bed and take one of the two extra floor mattresses. An hour or so later a friend of his joined us up top. We all had a great time, scoping out the 360 degree views, indentifying the myriad of peaks and glaciers, exploring the lookout, taking pictures, firing up the lantern after sunset, cooking dinner, swapping stories, star gazing, and reading a book before drifting off to the most comfortable bed and night I've ever spent in the backcountry... The next morning we awoke to a fabulous sunrise. After an extended picture taking session and a hearty breakfast I was packed up and ready to head down to the lake. The route down to the lake was pretty straight forward (thanks to fishonjoe's beta). I scrambled down talus to a band of trees above the northwest corner of the lake, then down more talus to the lake where I inflated my raft for a liesurely paddle to the inlet. I was a little surprised to find relatively little sign of prior visitation for a lake in the 100 hikes book, but I suppose a 1000' drop on talus has a way of weeding out the crowds. After deflating the raft and taking a few pictures I continued on to the upper lake, then ascended to approx 6200' where I traversed to the pass just west of Sibley Pass. Here I noted a well defined bootpath which ascended over the bump to Sibley Pass, and then continued up the west arm of The Triad. It was still early in the day and my legs were still fresh so I decided to follow this path as far as I could in my tennis shoes making it all the way to the base of The Triad. To continue on from here would have required traversing a steep glacier to get around a spire (or what looked to be a significant descent on the other side) so I stopped for a late lunch, soaked in the fabulous views, and took a few more pictures before heading home. As always, lots of pictures...
Point 6490' and Sibley Pass
Point 6490' and Sibley Pass
Baker to Little Devil
Baker to Little Devil
Pickets Coming Into View
Pickets Coming Into View
Baker and Bacon Peak
Baker and Bacon Peak
Looking up To Lookout
Looking up To Lookout
Boston Peak, Cascade Pass Trail, Johannesburg, and Hidden Lake
Boston Peak, Cascade Pass Trail, Johannesburg, and Hidden Lake
Boston, Johannesburg, Spider, and Formidable from Lookout
Boston, Johannesburg, Spider, and Formidable from Lookout
Shuksan to Pickets from Lookout
Shuksan to Pickets from Lookout
Daniel and Friend at Lookout
Daniel and Friend at Lookout
Ptarmigan Traverse from Lookout
Ptarmigan Traverse from Lookout
LeConte to Glacier Peak from Lookout
LeConte to Glacier Peak from Lookout
Alpenglow on Boston Peak and Quien Sabe Glacier
Alpenglow on Boston Peak and Quien Sabe Glacier
LeConte, South Cascade Glacier, and Dome from Lookout
LeConte, South Cascade Glacier, and Dome from Lookout
Sunset at Lookout
Sunset at Lookout
Dorado Needle from Lookout
Dorado Needle from Lookout
Dorado Needle, Hidden Lake Peak (7088), and Eldorado
Dorado Needle, Hidden Lake Peak (7088), and Eldorado
Hidden Lake at Sunset
Hidden Lake at Sunset
San Juans from Hidden Lake Lookout
San Juans from Hidden Lake Lookout
Snowking at Sunrise
Snowking at Sunrise
Shuksan at Sunrise
Shuksan at Sunrise
Sloan, Rainier, and Snowqueen at Sunrise
Sloan, Rainier, and Snowqueen at Sunrise
Hidden Lake at Sunrise
Hidden Lake at Sunrise
Looking Down to Hidden Lake
Looking Down to Hidden Lake
Looking Back to Lookout
Looking Back to Lookout
Approaching Hidden Lake
Approaching Hidden Lake
Hidden Lake from Raft
Hidden Lake from Raft
Hidden Lake from Outlet
Hidden Lake from Outlet
Hidden Lake Peak (7088) Reflected in Hidden Lake
Hidden Lake Peak (7088) Reflected in Hidden Lake
Forbidden and Boston from Hidden Lake Outlet
Forbidden and Boston from Hidden Lake Outlet
Hidden Lake Outlet
Hidden Lake Outlet
Leaving Hidden Lake
Leaving Hidden Lake
Triad and Eldorado from Approach to Upper Hidden Lake
Triad and Eldorado from Approach to Upper Hidden Lake
Point 6490' and West Triad Arm from Upper Hidden Lake
Point 6490' and West Triad Arm from Upper Hidden Lake
The Triad and Upper Hidden Lake
The Triad and Upper Hidden Lake
Forbidden, Boston, Cascade Pass, and Johannesburg from Above Upper Hidden Lake
Forbidden, Boston, Cascade Pass, and Johannesburg from Above Upper Hidden Lake
Little Devil and Teebone Ridge from Point 6490'
Little Devil and Teebone Ridge from Point 6490'
The Triad, Forbidden, and Boston from Point 6490'
The Triad, Forbidden, and Boston from Point 6490'
The Triad from West Triad Arm Turnaround Point
The Triad from West Triad Arm Turnaround Point
Forbidden, Boston, Cascade Pass, Johannesburg, and Middle Cascade Glacier form West Triad Arm
Forbidden, Boston, Cascade Pass, Johannesburg, and Middle Cascade Glacier form West Triad Arm
360 Panorama from West Triad Arm
360 Panorama from West Triad Arm
East Fork Sibley Fall Color from Trail
East Fork Sibley Fall Color from Trail

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dicey
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dicey
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PostMon Oct 16, 2006 6:28 pm 
Nice pics! I especially like 'hidden lake at sunrise' up.gif

I'm not always sure I like being older but being less stupid has advantages. http://www.flickr.com/photos/32121172@N00/sets/
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ActionBetty
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ActionBetty
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PostMon Oct 16, 2006 6:39 pm 
Hot damn, those are some mighty fine pics there..what a beautiful day it was! biggrin.gif

"If you're not living good, you gotta travel wide"...Bob Marley
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Dayhike Mike
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PostMon Oct 16, 2006 6:50 pm 
Very nice, Tom! up.gif up.gif

"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke "Ignorance is natural. Stupidity takes commitment." -Solomon Short
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Magellan
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Magellan
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PostMon Oct 16, 2006 8:01 pm 
Stunning pictures, Tom! Good for you taking the scenic route out. What an amazing area, and you nailed the best days!

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Backpacker Joe
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Backpacker Joe
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PostMon Oct 16, 2006 11:14 pm 
Great job as usual. up.gif

"If destruction be our lot we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen we must live through all time or die by suicide." — Abraham Lincoln
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l
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l
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PostMon Oct 16, 2006 11:35 pm 
Hidden Lake outlet up.gif up.gif up.gif and of course, the sunrise.

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fishonjoe
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fishonjoe
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PostMon Oct 16, 2006 11:37 pm 
Very Nice Tom, love the shots!! Great to meet up with you on my way out and glad the route worked out ok. Here's a few amateur shots from my camera fishonjoe wink.gif
Hidden Lake Peak Lookout at Sunset
Hidden Lake Peak Lookout at Sunset
Sunset Hidden lake Peak
Sunset Hidden lake Peak
Boston Peak
Boston Peak
Sunset On hidden Lake Peak 2
Sunset On hidden Lake Peak 2
CIMG1888
CIMG1888
Hidden lake Boston Peak and Sahale Mtn
Hidden lake Boston Peak and Sahale Mtn
Joe at Top of Hidden Lake Peak
Joe at Top of Hidden Lake Peak
AirBorne- timing is everything!
AirBorne- timing is everything!
Sunset from Hidden lake Peak
Sunset from Hidden lake Peak
Golden Sunset from Hidden Lake Peak
Golden Sunset from Hidden Lake Peak
Lookout and Red Sky
Lookout and Red Sky
Rainbow Sunset
Rainbow Sunset
On Way In Looking Toward El Dorado/Morning
On Way In Looking Toward El Dorado/Morning

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Brian Curtis
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Brian Curtis
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PostTue Oct 17, 2006 11:11 am 
Wow, beautiful shots all around. FWIW, the little lake is generally called Hidden Lake Tarn.

that elitist from silverdale wanted to tell me that all carnes are bad--Studebaker Hoch
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marek
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PostTue Oct 17, 2006 1:23 pm 
Wow! Great shots guys! Looks like a perfect place to take my kids to. Where does the trail start? Marek

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Dayhike Mike
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Dayhike Mike
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PostTue Oct 17, 2006 1:24 pm 
marek wrote:
Where does the trail start?
At the trailhead, of course! hockeygrin.gif How old are your kids? Might be a bit to ask of 'em depending on their ages.

"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke "Ignorance is natural. Stupidity takes commitment." -Solomon Short
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3fngrs
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PostTue Oct 17, 2006 1:32 pm 
Stunning photos guys!! That's certainly a beautiful place.

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marek
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PostTue Oct 17, 2006 1:40 pm 
Day Hike Mike? aka smarty panty! Here we go for anyone needing directions: Getting there: Drive Highway 20 to Marblemount, then go 10 miles east on the Cascade River Road. Then go 5 miles to the end of the Sibley Creek logging road. Trail starts at the sign. Stats: 4 hard miles one way, 3500' elevation gain. High point (the lookout) 6890'. There is usually water 350' below the lookout. Marek

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fishonjoe
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PostTue Oct 17, 2006 3:13 pm 
Hidden Lake Peak
The water hole below the Lookout is Dry and depending on the time of day and temp there may be a little dripping off the Snow patch below the lookout (before saddle) But it will probably be a slow drip as the location is mostly shaded this time of year. I would fill up at the main creek crossing or 3/4 way up the meadows. I've never seen the water hole below the lookout dry! What's left of the water jug in the lookout is for the Volunteers only. In fact, It could use a refill somewhat if anyone wants to contribute. Thanks Fishonjoe

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Sabahsboy
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PostTue Oct 17, 2006 5:56 pm 
HiddenLake Lookout and Triad
I am kicking myself for not back packing up there. All those many trips and I did not do this? Shame on me! I managed to get up on Hidden Lake Peak a number of times...just loved the hike. Wish I made a detour up toward Triad. The photos, ALL the photos contributed to this thread, are just OTW, outtathisworld! I have seen few sunsets to equal the one displayed above. I am an old hand at sunset viewing and photo taking, since kid-hood of Lake Erie sunsets through Tetons and beyond. What a wonderful finale to 2006 season. As an added note, so were/are photos of Goat Rocks just posted. Be sure to see the TR and photos. Tom, you are a genious with a camera! And, all the entries in these pages are just sublime tours into our mountains mighty. Thanks to all!

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