[Mount Logan]

Taking full advantage of the MLK holiday, sunshine and relatively mild temperatures, my friend Justin and I took our dogs on a snow tromp up FS 7810 and an overgrown 4WD trail to Surprise Lake. Ordinarily about 2 miles in, this trek ended up being a little over 5 miles from the car to the lake due to the substantial landslide blocking the road about 1/2 mile up from the Carbon River bridge.

FS 7810 landslide

A couple ATVs had made it over the slide and we had an easy time walking up the road in their tracks. About 3 miles up FS 7810 we turned left onto the old 4WD trail.

One stretch of the old 4WD trail has become part of the creek

Ice

Soon we came upon the ATVs' turnaround point, donned our snowshoes, and forged ahead through untouched snow as the trail switchbacked up the slope.

Morty and Lexie

After one last switchback we made a final crossing of Kennedy Creek and got our first unrestricted view of Mt. Rainier.

Frost

Rainier

From there we followed the track northeast as it traversed the slope, climbing gently. A lot of small trees and brush had been weighed down by the snow into the track and we had to do a little creative bushwacking here and there--a bit of a challenge while wearing snowshoes.

Lexie, Justin and Sasha

Morty and Lexie with Bearhead Mountain in the background

We had the lake to ourselves, kicked back and enjoyed the view of Rainier across the frozen lake.

Fading daylight at Surprise Lake

Just over 5 miles with 2500 ft. of easy elevation gain and great views made for a fun day out with the dogs.

Route map

[Red Squatch]

Nice TR, ML! Wish Allie & Dante could've joined the pups... Would definitely be fun to see the lake in Wintertime. Was the ice thick enough to venture out on?

[Mount Logan]

We weren't about to test the ice. Even the dogs stayed close to the shoreline and only ventured out over areas shallower than knee-deep.

[Red Squatch]

Yeah, after that incident at Martha Lake, it reminds you that - here in the Pac NW, it's typically not a good idea at all (especially at lower elevations!) Thanks for the TR - I wonder when (if) they will repair the road to make the Summit Lake TH accessible once again.