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April 02, 2000
| We got to this trailhead, finally. You basically drive up this itty bitty road for miles & miles and switchbacks & switchbacks, gaining more elevation in the car than you do on your feet on the actual trail. Finally, the plowed road ended and you walk a bit to the trailhead on compacted snow. |  |
This is the views straight across the 'parking lot' at the trailhead.
| Now, the trail is
actually kind of uninteresting, as trails go. It starts
out wider than a fat Iowa ass, and narrows in a bit. You
do get an interesting view at this weird thing. A duck
with a glove? It's just a roor coming out of the snow, but much like the Gorilla Muppet at Squire Creek, It's cool! |
 |
The trail is pretty easy. The switchbacks get near the creek numerous times, which is nice.
 |
The trail splits after a ways. The main trail veers off to the right over a bridge, and continues on to Olallie Lake, and hooks up the Pratt Lake trail. We crossed this bridge. Why? Because we are stupid! 3 feet of snow on a log is NOT a bridge. But we crossed it and realized that the real trail was nowhere to be found, so we had to cross it AGAIN. Can you say, butt-scoot & handsandknees? I knew you could. |
The trail sorta ends at the lake, but if you cross this creek, the footprints in the snow continue on, and look like they might rejoin the other trail. But, we turned back and enjoyed the lake. So, here is the obligatory pictures!
Now, while you are sitting at the lake, eating your fruit and Goldfish (crackers, you sick little monkey!) You get to look at the 2 mountains & the saddle.
Pratt Mountain, to the right.
Then, Bandera Mountain, to the left.
Its a good look at a very hikable Bandera Mountain. It is snowy now, and an overhead conversation at REI stated very avalance prone, But I bet it will be clear soon, and will make a good May hike. Must go.....
Over the saddle in the middle, the creek runs right down the middle and into the lake, and the lake runs its own creek down, which you meet on the way up.
Good hike. However, it may be the last snowy hike done this year, at least intentionally. Knees tend to scream at bad slippery sinking footing. Not mine, but my compadre. Mine are actually doing ok on hikes. Its the regular stuff....
Next up? Who knows! Stay tuned!!!!
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