Goat Lake 11-29-2019

Today was a super cold but gorgeous sunny day for a hike to Goat Lake.  I was super glad I decided to #optoutside instead of fighting crowds for things no one needs. I saw only one other person on the trail today - amazing!

On my way to Goat Lake, I stopped at the Ice Caves picnic area and the sun was just touching the peaks - beautiful!

Apple Watch stats:  10.43 miles RT and 1808 ft of elevation gain.

I got there pretty early and as the sun hit the tops of the trees the little pieces of ice on their needles melted a little and popped off, falling on the frozen ground below.  It sounded like I was walking through a rice Krispy forest.  The hard frozen ground soon had about an inch of snow in areas that trees didn't provide cover.  It was a winter wonderland, and not enough snow to hide the trail.

This time I noticed something I never have before.  I'm not sure what this is - something from an old logging operation?

I usually take Upper Elliot on the way to the lake, and Lower on the way back, so that is what I did.  I really love the aspen stands with all their white bark and black patterns.  It was especially striking with the snow and sunshine.

The little streams were all in different states of frozen and icicles hung from the ends of logs, the seeps on rock walls, and everything around waterfalls.  The different formations of ice were really interesting, but I was glad I had my hiking poles and traction today.

One thing I forgot on this hike is that if you use a water bladder like a platypus or a camelbak, those little hoses freeze.  I sipped mine now and then on the way into the lake to keep the ice from getting too solid, but when I got to the lake I was distracted and my water tube was frozen solid for the rest of the hike.

The lake was stunning!  Beautiful aquamarine where the sun hit it, and it had great sheets of ice across a lot of it.  I had brought my JetBoil and treated myself to some hot cocoa, which I sipped while perched on a root at the edge of the lake.  If it wasn't so icy cold out, I would have stayed longer!

I only saw small wildlife that apparently didn't want to be photographed today - a Douglas squirrel, a chipmunk, and a couple red-breasted sapsuckers.  I did notice these footprints along a couple of the bridges on the Lower trail.  They didn't seem like small dog prints, so I looked up some comparisons online when I got home, and believe they are bobcat.  I wish I had seen their maker!

There are always so many little things to notice along the trail too - mushrooms wearing hats of snow - and this cool little hole in a log adorned with tiny ice crystals at the top. It looks like some little gnome lives in there and decorated his doorway for the holidays.

Get out there and have a great adventure!