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MtHoodlum Member
Joined: 09 Jul 2008 Posts: 5 | TRs | Pics Location: Portland, OR |
Cooper Lake to Pete Lake to Spectacle Lake then Escondido Lake
July 18-20th 2008
Trails: #1323, PCT #2000, #1329, #1320
Hola everyone, first post here! This site was extremely useful for me when planning my trip so I figured I'd give back with my own quick trip report.
I took a group of five friends out backpacking, some of them were backpacking for the first time so I wanted the trip to be both beautiful and approachable. We did a variation of the Central Alpine Lakes Loop as per "Backpacking Washington" by Douglas Lorain, published by Wilderness Press. We drove from Seattle and arrived at the Pete Lake Trailhead around 2:00 PM. The bugs started biting as soon as we opened our car doors so I'd recommend having your deet in hand and be prepared for immediate application. Once we greased ourselves up and assembled our packs, we hit the trailhead.
We got a late start so we had some time to make up. The trail to Pete Lake was fast and well maintained. Did the 4.4 miles in about 2 hours and took a quick break. Pete Lake was gorgeous and there were quite a few people camped along side it.
The trail to Spectacle Lake from Pete Lake (1323) was also well maintained and quick. We took our shoes off and forded the river, some with sandals, some barefoot. The deepest section was about knee high and moving rapidly. There was a lot of complaining about the cold bite of the water and numbness of feet, but everyone crossed safely without incident.
Sometime further on our way to Spectacle Lake we came across a large avalanche area that had buried the trail and downed a good section of forest. It was about 70 meters wide and had about a meter of snow pack still underneath thick broken tree limb debris. The trail passed through the avalanche area without a change in elevation so it was easy to find at the other end.
Along the trail there were sporadic flat snow patches which were easy to cross and everyone did so safely. We then came upon a bridge crossing a large waterfall and eventually made our way to Spectacle Lake around 8 or 9 PM. There was plenty of camping sites available and the lake lived up to its name, it was spectacular! It was a great treat at the end of a hurried day on the trail. I was cold at night with my 40º down bag, but other people reported that they were comfortable with their similarly spec'd bags, making me regret buying my bag used. Mosquitoes were persistently a problem through out the trip and Spectacle lake was no exception.
Around 10:30 Am we packed up and headed toward Escondido, retracing our steps back to Pete Lake. From Pete Lake the trail to Escondido starts off with a long dusty set of switchbacks. At the top of the ridge the trail evens out and there are more small flat snow patches. The trail junction for Waptus Lake was near a larger snow patch which the trail had hollowed out. If you are watching your step, ensuring that you don't fall through the snow, you will likely miss the junction. All six of us missed the junction but we missed it in the direction we were heading, so that was fine. Escondido means "hidden" in Spanish, and this lake too lived up to its name. At the end of the trail there is a large meadow with yellow flowers in bloom. Beyond the meadow Escondido Lake is obscured by trees. We found a nice campsite along the lake. Again, that night I was cold but no one else complained. We headed back to the trail head the next morning.
We encountered some probable poachers on horseback who were using their rifles for "self defense" and had an extra horse. No evident carcasses though.
On the way back to Seattle, hoping for some beer and burgers, we stopped by Roslyn Brewing Company, but they only served beer. So we downed a couple pitchers and headed next door to the Pasttime Tavern. We ordered more pitchers of the Roslyn lager because it was so delicious and had some burgers and pies. There were a couple of cowgirls at the bar who were interested in our hike. You don't see cowgirls around Portland, so it was cool to talk with them. Definitely added to the atmosphere of the bar, which was excellent.
The hike was good, the company was good, and the adjacent towns were fun to visit. Another good trip!
Jay got bit on the forehead as soon as we exited our vehicles at Pete Lake Trailhead. Jay and Laura at Pete Lake, Danny on the rock. Laura, Jay, and Maria at Pete Lake Laura crossing Lemah Creek on the way to Spectacle Lake Maria and Jay crossing Lemah Creek on the way to Spectacle Lake Avalanche area on the way to Spectacle Lake. Jay and Maria at Spectacle Lake Delate Creek waterfall on the Pacific Crest Trail. Camped out at Escondido Alpine meadow near Escondido Lake Roslyn Brewing Company. They only make two beers, a gold lager and a dark lager. The gold lager is delicious! Mowing down at the Pasttime Tavern.
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Backpacker Joe Blind Hiker
Joined: 16 Dec 2001 Posts: 23956 | TRs | Pics Location: Cle Elum |
Nice report. Sounds like you had a good time.
Welcome to the site.
"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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Schmidt Alti-Dude 4th class poster
Joined: 06 Jul 2007 Posts: 1361 | TRs | Pics Location: Looking for Adventure 201! |
Welcome to the site. From your trip report I gather you like hiking and drinking beer - you'll fit right in.
MtHoodlum wrote: | The bugs started biting as soon as we opened our car doors so I'd recommending having your deet in hand and be prepared for immediate application. |
I'll second that notion. We were in the same area this weekend and the bugs were the worst we've encountered all year. On Saturday (about 1-ish) we passed a mixed party hanging out on the Pete Lake side of the Lemah Creek crossing as we headed up to the other fork of the trail to the PCT. They looked like they had just crossed - was that you?
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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sarbar Living The Dream
Joined: 28 Jan 2002 Posts: 8055 | TRs | Pics Location: Freeland, Wa |
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sarbar
Living The Dream
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Mon Jul 21, 2008 7:04 pm
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On the topic of horsemen.....that is quite common in that area. Nothing to get excited about - I have yet to meet a horsepacker who wasn't carrying. The two go together hand in hand.
If they were poaching you'd not know it. Just saying.........
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Malachai Constant Member
Joined: 13 Jan 2002 Posts: 16088 | TRs | Pics Location: Back Again Like A Bad Penny |
Where I come from poachers use .22 and lights, just saying
"You do not laugh when you look at the mountains, or when you look at the sea." Lafcadio Hearn
"You do not laugh when you look at the mountains, or when you look at the sea." Lafcadio Hearn
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GeoHiker Rocky Walker
Joined: 26 Feb 2005 Posts: 6033 | TRs | Pics Location: Off the Deep End |
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GeoHiker
Rocky Walker
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Mon Jul 21, 2008 9:16 pm
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Nice report, pics and welcome to the site.
You call some place paradise, kiss it goodbye......Eagles
You call some place paradise, kiss it goodbye......Eagles
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MtHoodlum Member
Joined: 09 Jul 2008 Posts: 5 | TRs | Pics Location: Portland, OR |
Schmidt Alti-Dude wrote: | On Saturday (about 1-ish) we passed a mixed party hanging out on the Pete Lake side of the Lemah Creek crossing as we headed up to the other fork of the trail to the PCT. They looked like they had just crossed - was that you? |
Yeah, that would have been us!
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peppersteak'n'ale Member
Joined: 28 Aug 2003 Posts: 1996 | TRs | Pics
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MtHoodlum wrote: | Roslyn Brewing Company. They only make two beers, a gold lager and a dark lager. The gold lager is delicious! |
I had some of their beer at the recent St. Edwards brewfest this summer. I wonder if you guys bathed before going in there....
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Dayhike Mike Bad MFKer
Joined: 02 Mar 2003 Posts: 10958 | TRs | Pics Location: Going to Tukwila |
Ha! Bathing's for sissies.
Thanks for the post MtHoodlum! Glad you guys had a good time!
"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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