[HitTheTrail]

When my buddy and I day hiked into Airplane Lake (three years ago) we hit deep snow and found the lake iced over. On the way down we vowed to go back for an overnighter. He worked it into this years’ vacation the day after my wife and I came back from our Moab trip to do Arches and Canyonlands. We agreed to leave one day later and I was in. We were also accompanied by one of his friends who went along as a day hiker.

Airplane Lk

Starting

Indian Head

Most people just pass by this lake on the way to summit Mt. Saul. But summiting peaks is so yesterday. We decided to spend some time around the lake explore the basin below Saul and the overlook to the White River(much more interesting).

morning reflection

From above

Basin above the lake

Basin above lake

From above

Glacier Peak

Back side of Clark Mt and Lahuna

White River valley

Me in red and yellow because it's hunting season

There is a rather sad epilogue to this great hike. On most well marked and well-traveled hikes I go on I find the campsites trash free or almost pristine except for signs of usage. Some of you might know the steep primitive boot path to Airplane Lake has a history of people marking the trail and other people removing the markings. I find it ironic that this difficult unmarked path had campsites at both ends of the lake completely trashed out with cans in the fire pits and shelters built with branches cut off the surrounding trees. Do people feel they can do anything they want at seldom visited spots because there is little chance of getting caught?

Do not mark boot path

Camp Trash

trash in second campsite

Gimmie shelter

Another shelter with trash

[Get Out and Go]

Hope I can get in there one of these years. Looks really nice, Lloyd.

[puzzlr]

Maybe some kids reading a 40 year out-of-date scouting manual? I'll bet infrequent hikers/campers think they're almost the only ones that every go to these places.

[wildernessed]

Great views, terrain, and some pitch and catch fishing. We had great colors one year by October 2nd.

[cascadetraverser]

Nice; always wanted to get up there. Any fish??

[HitTheTrail]

[contour5]

Nice pictures, HTT. Bummer about the trash. I found similar levels of trash at Thornton Lakes and then at Anderson Lakes recently. Even the upper Anderson tarn was festooned with juice bottles and candy wrappers. I extinguished a burning campfire at lower Anderson. Just as well I didn't catch up with the dayhiker in the blue shirt who built it and left it burning. I think I might have caught him in a photo, however...

[Backpacker Joe]

Is there a fishermans trail up there?

[kbatku]

Airplane used to have phenomenal fishing, but the word got out and a lot of people have been going up there lately. Fish the area of the boulders and outlet stream with a 1/8 oz black Roostertail, 4 lb line, and no weights. Or flyfish, if that's your bag. I first went close to 40 years ago, and the inlet peninsula was MUCH smaller, and the lake quite a bit deeper. It's a beautiful area, and a shame to see that idiots have found this place too.

[HitTheTrail]

[FiveNines]

Thanks for the TR. More reliably helpful beta. It seems like anytime I think of somewhere to go and search nwhikers, HTT and/or wildernessed have already been, and made a comprehensive report. ++ I did not find the "marking routes is prohibited" sign at the bottom. Most of the path up is flagged though, and pretty easy to follow. Had to pay more attention going down, but still stayed on track. Except for fire rings, all the campsites I saw by the lake looked nice and clean. Too tired to climb Saul, but at least made it to the ridge above the lake and got to look down on White River. Great views. Fun spot.

[HitTheTrail]