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Schmidt Altitude Whippet Entourage
Joined: 28 Mar 2007 Posts: 803 | TRs | Pics Location: The Quah |
For the purpose of this trip report we will refer to our destination as Secret Lake 5922. PM MtnWkr or us if you must know the name - please don't post it on this thread.
On the way up the 2900 feet of elevation gain in less than two miles from the river to the lake, we remembered why we swore we would never visit this lake with a full overnight pack. It was hot, steep, and buggy - the stinging nettle was just an added bonus. We had to keep repeating the mantra "it can't last forever, it can't last forever . . ." We reached the lake about 8:20 - about 20 minutes after MtnWkr decided we weren't coming. We set up camp, cooked dinner, and watched the stars listening to MtnWkr's iPod before heading off to bed.
After breakfast, we spent a few hours fishing for the lake's notorious rainbow trout. The first one Jeremy caught was about 15-16 inches and MtnWkr said that he caught one about 20-22 inches the night before. We caught and released quite a few trout before deciding to explore.
Nice catch Tisha's turn
There was another lake, 5970, located NW of us on the other side of the ridge. We climbed from the lake to the upper basin and from there up the loose scree to the ridge, where we contoured around a summit to a beautiful remote lake bowl. We made our way down to the lake and had lunch.
Western anemone Heading to upper basin A "mystery" of a mountain from the pass First view of Lake 5970 Lake 5970 Mtn Wkr enjoys the beautiful alpine colors Tarns around 5970
We then climbed back up the ridge, this time obtaining the summit of peak 6998.
The 11th Commandment.....Though shalt not reveal the name of this lake! Tisha on Pk 6998 View back down to Lake 5922
We then followed the ridge line back to the pass and descended into the upper basin to visit the snow melt tarn in the middle of it.
Whippet toss Rowena cools off at the tarn Doggy paddle Went a little too far out....help!
We then descended back to lake 5922 and sought out some shade from the ever present sun. We decided it was just too hot, there were way too many bugs, and the lake looked too inviting, so we stripped down and took a dip.
Lake 5922 Time to cool down! Aaah.... Last view of the lake
Eventually we packed up camp and made our way back to the river and the trail beside it. It was then a quick 3.5 miles to our car and a well deserved dinner and margaritas at the 7 Cedars casino.
"Forest 101: These big wood stick things are called trees. The big rocks are called mountains, and the little rocks are their babies." Elliott from Open Season
"Forest 101: These big wood stick things are called trees. The big rocks are called mountains, and the little rocks are their babies." Elliott from Open Season
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mtnwkr Member
Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 1332 | TRs | Pics Location: Bremerton. I'm the Lorax, I speak for the trees |
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mtnwkr
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Mon Jul 30, 2007 2:26 am
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That was a good trip.. I hiked in and spent the first night solo catching monster trout on both fly and spinning gear. The next morning I hiked up a nearby ridge and spent a few hours making friends with a marmot. The lake is packed with trout in the 14-20" range, but they aren't the easiest to catch as there seems to be an abundant supply of food.
b hungry trout feeding in the shallows my first pano attempt j peak 6998 g my only friend h i
There's a mostly unspoken acknowledgment among the voluntarily impoverished that it's better to be fiscally poor yet rich in experience-living the dream-than to be traditionally wealthy but live separate from one's passions.
There's a mostly unspoken acknowledgment among the voluntarily impoverished that it's better to be fiscally poor yet rich in experience-living the dream-than to be traditionally wealthy but live separate from one's passions.
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Dayhike Mike Bad MFKer
Joined: 02 Mar 2003 Posts: 10958 | TRs | Pics Location: Going to Tukwila |
Nice!
"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
"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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Backpacker Joe Blind Hiker
Joined: 16 Dec 2001 Posts: 23956 | TRs | Pics Location: Cle Elum |
Great job guys. Im sorry I missed it.
"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
"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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Magellan Brutally Handsome
Joined: 26 Jul 2006 Posts: 13116 | TRs | Pics Location: Inexorable descent |
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Magellan
Brutally Handsome
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Mon Jul 30, 2007 6:57 am
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I love the Charlton Heston impersonation
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Matt Tea, Earl Grey, Hot
Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 4307 | TRs | Pics Location: Shoreline |
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Matt
Tea, Earl Grey, Hot
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Mon Jul 30, 2007 8:39 am
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Me too.
“As beacons mountains burned at evening.” J.R.R. Tolkien
“As beacons mountains burned at evening.” J.R.R. Tolkien
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Tom Admin
Joined: 15 Dec 2001 Posts: 17851 | TRs | Pics
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Tom
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Mon Jul 30, 2007 11:06 am
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Looks like a nice spot. Are lakes in the Olympics still planted?
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Schmidt Alti-Dude 4th class poster
Joined: 06 Jul 2007 Posts: 1361 | TRs | Pics Location: Looking for Adventure 201! |
Tom wrote: | Looks like a nice spot. Are lakes in the Olympics still planted? |
The lakes in the National Forest are still stocked. I believe most are on a four year stocking program. We were pleased to see quite a few trout in the 4-5 inch range as well. It must have been stocked recently because I don't believe there is any spawning habitat for rainbow trout (they have to spawn in a stream or river).
Anything stated by me in no way reflects the attitudes or opinions of my wife
Anything stated by me in no way reflects the attitudes or opinions of my wife
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reststep Member
Joined: 17 Dec 2001 Posts: 4757 | TRs | Pics
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reststep
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Mon Jul 30, 2007 3:38 pm
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Thanks for a great trip report and pictures.
I heard that Atlantic Salmon were planted in that lake at one time but I can't remember who told me that. If true they are probably gone.
"The mountains are calling and I must go." - John Muir
"The mountains are calling and I must go." - John Muir
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mtnwkr Member
Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 1332 | TRs | Pics Location: Bremerton. I'm the Lorax, I speak for the trees |
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mtnwkr
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Mon Jul 30, 2007 4:13 pm
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Nope, didn't see any salmon.
There's a mostly unspoken acknowledgment among the voluntarily impoverished that it's better to be fiscally poor yet rich in experience-living the dream-than to be traditionally wealthy but live separate from one's passions.
There's a mostly unspoken acknowledgment among the voluntarily impoverished that it's better to be fiscally poor yet rich in experience-living the dream-than to be traditionally wealthy but live separate from one's passions.
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Schmidt Altitude Whippet Entourage
Joined: 28 Mar 2007 Posts: 803 | TRs | Pics Location: The Quah |
I heard the same rumor. When I hooked my first fish the first time I visited the lake I was so excited. Then it jumped completely out of the water three times and I thought "man, these fight just like rainbows". Imagine my disappointment when I landed a 16" rainbow (okay not too disappointed). My father who was the local game warden until he retired in 2003, said that it was planted with Atlantics way back when but the stocking program was switched to rainbows. Charlia Lakes were also supposedly planted with Atlantics but all I caught we cutthrouts.
Jeremy
"Forest 101: These big wood stick things are called trees. The big rocks are called mountains, and the little rocks are their babies." Elliott from Open Season
"Forest 101: These big wood stick things are called trees. The big rocks are called mountains, and the little rocks are their babies." Elliott from Open Season
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javman Member
Joined: 28 Jun 2005 Posts: 193 | TRs | Pics Location: Tacoma, WA |
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javman
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Mon Jul 30, 2007 6:25 pm
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Good stuff and great photos! Took me a while to find it on the map
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ScottM Member
Joined: 18 Apr 2007 Posts: 363 | TRs | Pics Location: The Olympics |
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ScottM
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Mon Jul 30, 2007 6:36 pm
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Did an overnighter up there last year in July and one of the guys I was with caught what we believe was an Atlantic Salmon. It looked like one, had pink meat inside, and tasted like one. I found an Washington alpine lake stocking chart for Atlantic Salmon on the internet. It mentioned both Charlia and the "secret lake 5922" as having been stocked with Atlantic Salmon.
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Tazz Member
Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 7902 | TRs | Pics
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Tazz
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Mon Jul 30, 2007 10:02 pm
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It is so nice to see more trs from the incredible Olys!! Thanks you guys! good images and great report...
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Bruce Member
Joined: 14 Feb 2007 Posts: 270 | TRs | Pics Location: Jupiter Foothills |
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Bruce
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Wed Aug 01, 2007 7:58 am
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Can't be much of a secret with such a vivid report...complete with
photos.
This lake was planted in 1970 with atlantic salmon.
The state record is from there.
At the time it was a most pristine lake without trail,
one needed to be a "goat" to get there.
Now however there is a boot track created by
fishing folks in persut of the big ones.
Try Wonder lakes in ONF and ONP for more
big ones.
Bruce
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