Trailhead sign, West Fork Foss, Trout Lake
It seems like it has been a long time since I put up a ski or hike post. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and closures our ski season was cut short and our hiking season just started this past week. Our last hike in 2019 was to Blue Lake in the North Cascades and ended with a sprained and broken ankle that fortunately healed well. The hike to Trout Lake is short, 3 ½ miles round trip with a 550 ft elevation gain. It is located in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area. Most of the elevation gain is in the last half of the trail up to the lake. Part is quite steep, rocky, and narrow with a lot of bushy undergrowth encroaching on the trail. The trail surface is nice, packed earth with a covering of needles in most places, some loose rocks where there were slides or dry creek beds. We had a tiny bit of mud here and there but on a rainy day there could be several muddy places. Bob participated in a Washington Trails Association work party here in 2011 to fill in mud pits and provide a smoother tread. Trout Lake is the first of several lakes on this trail. Copper Lake, the next lake is about 2 miles further and 2,000 additional feet of gain.
In the past we have hiked this trail earlier in the season and been wowed by the number of trillium. It was too late for the trillium but there were plenty of other flowers in bloom. We wore bandana type masks and put them up when encountering other hikers.
Baneberry
Canadian Dogwood, also called Bunchberry, and Lily-of-the-Valley
Columbine
Queen’s Cup
Pink Coral Root
Mertensia
Western Meadow Fritillary
Chipmunk
Bob chose this particular trail because it isn’t too long of a drive from home to get to and is a beautiful destination with river and mountain views, an old growth forest, a gorgeous scenic lake, and views of mountain waterfalls from the trail.. There is also a 10-mile long dirt road with chuckholes up to the trailhead parking area and that usually discourages some folks. When we had been here previously there had not been many hikers or dogs. However, this time the people count was off the charts and provided us with the most potential exposure to the virus we have had so far. Only about 1/3 of the hikers and backpackers we met were using mask protection. Most of the time we were able to get 6 feet off the trail and away from people passing us.
Grandfather Douglas Fir & "measuring device"
Grandfather Douglas Fir – cannot see the top!
Grandfather Douglas Fir from a distance
The trail has a gradual incline up to the river crossing. A sturdy newer wooden bridge crosses the river. The pleasant sound of running and roaring water follows along the route. After the bridge the trail begins to grow steeper and rougher. Part way up we came to the grandfather, possibly close to 1,000 years old, of all Douglas fir trees. Bob was the measuring rod and we estimated the diameter of to be 10 or 11 ft. or about 30 ft around. This day the river water was high and running fast making a spectacular noise and vista.
Bridge across the river
West Fork Foss River
One of 3 or 4 mountain waterfalls seen from the trail
This trail requires a National Park pass or a fee but during COVID-19 the fees have been waived. Note: the outhouse at the trailhead was locked with a sign saying that it was closed as a precaution during the pandemic. There are some very nice lakeside day use areas that are suitable as lunch sites. There are two back country toilets at the lake and about two dozen approved campsites away from the lake shore.
View of Trout Lake from our lakeside lunch site
The day was sunny and warm moving to hot on the return trip but with shade. The bugs were a problem and required several reapplications of repellent. Even so both of us ended up with bites.
Count for the day: 72 hikers, including one infant in a front carrier and 10 dogs. Many, if not most, of the hikers were backpackers heading up past Trout Lake to camping areas.
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