Dawn Patrol in the Alpine Lakes

This was a record breaking Dawn Patrol, two brand new members, there just aren't that many people who are willing to wake up when its dark and start hiking. One of the main reasons I get up so early is because you always have the trails to yourself, another is so I can get out and get back without missing too much time from my family. Clark Thomson from church and Adam Kramer from work joined me. We met at the Target parking lot at 6 am and headed out for Exit 45 on I-90, Forest Road 9030 and Talapus Lake. Last year during the winter storms the road washed out, they noted at the time it may take upwards of two years to clear and I was worried they wouldn't re-open, but was excited to read it was clear again. I drove the 4 wheel drive, thinking the road repairs might require it, but was happy to see a regular car could make it fine. In fact when we left, there were 10 cars in the parking lot, but we were the first to arrive.

We set off in the dark our headlamps making halos on the trail. Just past the sign marking the border of the Alpine Lake Wilderness, where the sign points right to Talapus Lake, we turned left crossing Talapus Creek and reaching the north shore of the lake just as the light was beginning to brighten the sky. Fog settled around the trees and a light mist was falling. We put away the headlights and began hoping the boulders up the large talus field that spreads out above Talapus Lake. We climbed and scrambled up the rocks following the natural draw of the landscape that followed the outlet of Island Lake. The back of Bandera mountain rose to our left and we arrived at the bowl below the ridge the forms the lip of Island Lake. Here the boulder field steeply raises to the tree line. We followed the creek till things got really steep and then via vegetable belays made our way to the top and down the lake.

The wet drizzly rain continued to fall, adding a moody mystique to the woods. We made our way north from Island Lake towards Rainbow Lake. We came upon the first small tarn and I was taken a back by the strange scene. The tarn appeared to be full of milk, and had a watery reflection. A couple of pokes on the surface confirmed that the water had frozen solid and then an inch or so of water lay on top. Last weeks cold weather resulted in the freezing and the warmer rain had not thawed the frozen mass but lay on top. We made our way to the left of the tarn and tromped through the grass and the snow. We arrived on a ridge looking down on Rainbow Lake, traversing along the edge of the lake we rejoined the trail and headed east climbing up the ridge below Pratt Mountain.

We made quick time along the fairly flat trail heading east toward Olallie Lake. As we walked we passed a group of 7 or 8 who were heading west. Passing the Pratt Lake turn off, we jogged down the trail towards Olallie and passed several other parties. We paused at Talapus for a photo of the lake in the fog and then made our way back to the car. Back at Target we bad Clark farewell and Adam and I went to Chipotle to gorge ourself on yummy burritos. (I had the bowl). Looking at the map later this evening, I wonder if anyone has ever been to Lake Caroline, or Hatchet Lake or Derrick Lake. Always more lakes to explore, and always a future dawn.

Stats : 4 hours and 40 minutes, 8 miles and 2069 feet of elevation gain.

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