Forum Index > Trip Reports > Beyond Hope, on white powder to Trap 10/11/08
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Old Not Bold Hiker



Joined: 12 Dec 2006
Posts: 4745 | TRs | Pics
Location: Bend Oregon
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Old Not Bold Hiker
PostSun Oct 12, 2008 9:47 pm 
A Sunny day October hike to Hope Lake and Trap Lake made up for the monsoon the week before. The DEEP October snow did make it probably the toughest 10.2 mile hike I have done. Stats: 7hr25min car to car. 2920 feet accumulated elevation 5370 feet high point. Came in through the Hope lake "trail head" which justifies requiring the cost of a Forest pass because they planted a sign there. Parking for about 3 cars, NO turnaround(the road just ends, which wasn't a problem in my tight turning radius Element, but could be for some cars/trucks), and no outhouse. Location is just below Steven's Pass, and since the pass cams only showed a dusting of snow...how bad could the snow be... A BIG group pulled in JUST behind us and parked on the shoulder. The noisy fun-loving group quickly left us old geezers behind and we didn't see them the rest of the day. If they were the ones that broke trail from Hope to Trap, we thank them. We only saw a couple more people the entire day. But it was pretty amazing wading through deep powder in October! It softened up by the end of the day and was actually tougher going on the way back. I only used my traction devices for the way back down to parking from Hope Lake, and Pete proved it could be done without....although I think I had more fun. Deepest blue sky I have ever seen for reasons unknown. I think the pictures pretty much speak for themselves about this glimpse of paradise day.... Hike up to Hope was easy
View from just above the parking lot in the morning
View from just above the parking lot in the morning
Thom on the the way to Hope, in the morning
Thom on the the way to Hope, in the morning
Hope lake looked good, morning and afternoon.
Hope Lake penninsula
Hope Lake penninsula
The monster of Loch Hope
The monster of Loch Hope
Hope Lake in the morning light
Hope Lake in the morning light
Geese, wondering if they got the calendar right.
Geese, wondering if they got the calendar right.
Hope Lake in the afternoon October sun
Hope Lake in the afternoon October sun
Kahtoola traction devices made the slick downhill from Hope Lake to the car FUN.
Kahtoola traction devices made the slick downhill from Hope Lake to the car FUN.
I forgot just how many switchbacks there are between Hope and Trap lake, but I did eagerly anticipate the views that were mostly socked in with fog the last time I hiked this section.
Pete trying to remember that its october
Pete trying to remember that its october
Pete cruising down the switchbacks
Pete cruising down the switchbacks
Pete in deep...THIS is OCTOBER??
Pete in deep...THIS is OCTOBER??
Fall color  and snow
Fall color and snow
Pete hiking into the low October sun
Pete hiking into the low October sun
boulder formed textures were sensual light play.
boulder formed textures were sensual light play.
This TINY guy seemed to be just a kid. I believe its a rare native squirrel.
This TINY guy seemed to be just a kid. I believe its a rare native squirrel.
A nice bowl along the way
A nice bowl along the way
Small contrails kept appearing like daylight falling stars
Small contrails kept appearing like daylight falling stars
Just more of the view across from the trail as it followed the 5000 foot line.
Just more of the view across from the trail as it followed the 5000 foot line.
Icicle playing with the light
Icicle playing with the light
Icycles
Icycles
Trail held at 5000 foot line, with this view across for quite aways.
Trail held at 5000 foot line, with this view across for quite aways.
Nice creek with a splash of red
Nice creek with a splash of red
The ridge line above Trapper Creek valley, JUST across from the trail
The ridge line above Trapper Creek valley, JUST across from the trail
BIG frosted rock.  Just because it looked cool.
BIG frosted rock. Just because it looked cool.
Confused grass on the side of an alpine pond in october
Confused grass on the side of an alpine pond in october
Trapper Creek Valley with Grass Lake shown at the bottom
Trapper Creek Valley with Grass Lake shown at the bottom
Alpine pond freezing up in October
Alpine pond freezing up in October
Looking towards Trapper Creek Valley
Looking towards Trapper Creek Valley
October Snowfield light play
October Snowfield light play
Thom pausing to take a photo in early October snow between Hope and Trap Lakes
Thom pausing to take a photo in early October snow between Hope and Trap Lakes
Thom on Just a sample of the switchbacks between Hope and Trap Lake.
Thom on Just a sample of the switchbacks between Hope and Trap Lake.
I was ready to turn back before getting to Trap Lake...OK, once again Pete was right...it WAS worthwhile to press on.
Pete enjoying Perfection. Warm enough for shirtsleeves lunch at Trap Lake.
Pete enjoying Perfection. Warm enough for shirtsleeves lunch at Trap Lake.
October foliage with snow in the sun....Just plain spectacular
October foliage with snow in the sun....Just plain spectacular
Makin' tracks
Makin' tracks
Trap lake vista
Trap lake vista
Looking down into Trap Lake
Looking down into Trap Lake
Tracks near Trap Lake
Tracks near Trap Lake
Trap lake mounds
Trap lake mounds
Trap Lake, a study of textures
Trap Lake, a study of textures
Trap Lake with tracks and Fall Foliage
Trap Lake with tracks and Fall Foliage
grass and snow in October....its been a short season
grass and snow in October....its been a short season
Nice October scene next to Trap lake
Nice October scene next to Trap lake
Ant wondering what happened to October...."coulda sworn I had more time"
Ant wondering what happened to October...."coulda sworn I had more time"
Fall leaves and snow next to Trap Lake in October
Fall leaves and snow next to Trap Lake in October
Thom at lunch at Trap
Thom at lunch at Trap
It doesn't get any better than this.... hockeygrin.gif up.gif

friluftsliv
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EastKing
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Joined: 28 Mar 2007
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EastKing
Surfing and Hiking
PostSun Oct 12, 2008 10:06 pm 
I think you were the two people we saw on the way up!

YouTube | SummitPost Saw the depths of despair. Now I am salvaging what time I have left on Earth.
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Magellan
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Joined: 26 Jul 2006
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Magellan
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PostSun Oct 12, 2008 10:14 pm 
You're welcome, allthough I didn't do much of the trail busting. I'm sorry I didn't get to say more than 'Hi' to you. I would have talked your ear off if I knew your were NWHikers. I turned around at the pass, and might have caught you guys on the way down, except I just kept messing around. Next time I will chat up Boot Up!

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Old Not Bold Hiker



Joined: 12 Dec 2006
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Location: Bend Oregon
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Old Not Bold Hiker
PostSun Oct 12, 2008 10:23 pm 
Magellan wrote:
You're welcome, allthough I didn't do much of the trail busting. I'm sorry I didn't get to say more than 'Hi' to you. I would have talked your ear off if I knew your were NWHikers. I turned around at the pass, and might have caught you guys on the way down, except I just kept messing around. Next time I will chat up Boot Up!
Definitely THANK YOU for doing the initial punching through of the trail. We were impressed by how well you stuck to the official trail in spite of the recent deep snow. We were debating how you stuck to it THAT closely. Please resolve our discussion. smile.gif Are you VERY familiar with the trail? or Did you use GPS? or Was there enough of a trace of a V-groove to keep on track? Just curious. Sounds like some track was still traceable when you hit it? We dinked around on the way up and came back FAST. We ALMOST went to the pass, but I had given an ETA for getting home that didn't account for that much snow, so I didn't want to push it later. I didn't realize how fast we could make it back. My hunter orange hat band must of worked....didn't spot any hunters. I figured it must be SOME sorta season. Should make me easy to remember too. biggrin.gif Eastking, were you part of the big group? Or the couple heading up as we were almost back to the car

friluftsliv
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EastKing
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Joined: 28 Mar 2007
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Location: 77 miles from Seattle!
EastKing
Surfing and Hiking
PostSun Oct 12, 2008 10:27 pm 
Part of the big group with Magellan.

YouTube | SummitPost Saw the depths of despair. Now I am salvaging what time I have left on Earth.
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Magellan
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Location: Inexorable descent
Magellan
Brutally Handsome
PostSun Oct 12, 2008 10:32 pm 
Here is our trip report. There were footprints that came from the direction of Mig Lake and went all the way to Trap Pass. From there the prints went down into Suprise valley. Somebody did a one way trip within a couple of days previous.

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Old Not Bold Hiker



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Location: Bend Oregon
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Old Not Bold Hiker
PostSun Oct 12, 2008 10:37 pm 
Magellan wrote:
Here is our trip report. There were footprints that came from the direction of Mig Lake and went all the way to Trap Pass. From there the prints went down into Suprise valley. Somebody did a one way trip within a couple of days previous.
AHA! I am only half a step behind on chasing this thread....which sounds about the way the day went too, now that I think of it. smile.gif It was my first time driving into that trailhead. I did the Hope-Trap before as a through day-hike from the summit out through Suprise...on a less snowy trail. You are correct about the driving instructions...Stay on the "main" road or go straight until you see a tiny hiker sign.

friluftsliv
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Sabahsboy
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Sabahsboy
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PostWed Oct 29, 2008 7:04 pm 
Just had a wonderful time viewing these photos. We, pups and I, did the trip to Trap Lake 2 x several years ago, end of September. Your photos bring back and dress up that memory with glittery snow. What a terrific set of photos! Glad no one slipped down Tunnel Creek Trail! Same weekend pups and I went on Johnson Ridge and enjoyed less snow than you, but the views were great. I had wondered what it would be like on the PCT to Trap Lake; so, thank you so much for sharing your experience and photographs.

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Jennifer S.
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Jennifer S.
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PostWed Oct 29, 2008 8:53 pm 
The "nice creek with red" photo is really beautiful. (I have no idea how to copy your pic in my reply.)

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