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!

Goat Lake 06-02-19

AppleWatch Stats:  11.16 miles RT, 1767 ft of elevation gain.

What a beautiful sunny day to hike to a beautiful lake.  Apparently everyone else thought so too, and when I arrived at 8:30am the parking lot was already overflowing.  I was pretty surprised.

I really love this trail.  It can be done in like a loop, as the Upper and Lower Elliot Trails diverge shortly after the trail starts, and then rejoin a couple miles before the lake.  I like to go on Upper and return on Lower.  The Upper trail is a wider flatter trail, with groves of aspens and peek-a-boo views of the crags across the valley now and then.  The Lower trail is a narrow twisty undulating trail through the woods.  You can't go wrong with either.  Here and there you can see sections of boardwalk type planking from when this was a "paved" (with wood) road to a town and a hotel.

There are also numerous waterfalls along the trail. The biggest ones you have to leave the trail a very short distance for, but they are oh so worth it!

Today there were flowers everywhere.  The trillium were done and the bleeding hearts looked tired, but still - color everywhere.

bunchberry dogwood

beadruby

queen's cup

columbine

coral root

The lake itself, although many people were there, seemed quiet and peaceful.  Swallows were skimming the water's surface and water skeeters were skittering on top of it.  It was pretty idyllic.

I was joined by a friendly chipmunk for lunch.  No, I would never feed wildlife.  Looks like he just so happened to pack a mini PB&J too hehe.  In fact it was a nice day for a lot of small wildlife - although I didn't get a photo of all of them.

banana slug

yellow warbler

Get out into nature and soak it all in!

Goat Lake 07-15-2018

Thinking of temps in the low to mid 80's and 10 miles, I realized that this hike would be pushing it a bit.  Turned out to be closer to 90 and 11 miles - yikes!

I have been putting this hike off a bit since I hike with just me and the dogs and there has been a bear sighted a lot on this trail.  A ranger last weekend said Elliot the bear had moved on, but one of the backpackers on her way out said that he was in her camp last night.  We never did see the bear, and there were a LOT of people and dogs on the trail.

I took the hike slow as I didn't want to push the dogs too hard.  So I got to enjoy all the flowers and mushrooms and stuff along the trail as we went. 

Although I had decided against taking the little side track to the waterfall on the way, it sounded too beautiful to miss, so the dogs and I treked over the fallen trees to the stream.  You can still see parts of the plank road that once led up to an old lodge or hotel along here.  The waterfall is really worth it too.  What a gorgeous cascade of thundering white water!

There is something about arriving at a jewel-like alpine lake after trekking through trees vastly older than yourself that just takes your breath away.  So beautiful!

Once we got to the lake we went down the shore to a spot we could just rest, eat our lunch, and look at the lovely water.  Water skeeters played on the surface and little fish jumped.  We took our time so they could rest enough to get back to the car.

We took Upper Elliot trail to the lake, and Lower Elliot trail back.  Upper Elliot goes through a lot of aspen groves and for the most part is gently sloping.

It had really heated up and I thought being along the river with more tree cover would make it cooler for the way back.  Instead it was a lot like hiking through a lovely green oven.  Luna got too tired and even with lots of water breaks and getting the dogs all wet in the streams, she kept stopping and digging in on the side of the trail.  So I took a sarong I carry in my pack and made a little sling for her.

About 3/4 of a mile of toting my fluffy puppy and I thought I was going to keel over haha.  Luckily I gave her a shot at hiking the rest of the way on her own four paws, and she had regained enough energy to do it!  Yay! 

Definitely enjoy the hell out of this hike every time - both Upper and Lower trails are gorgeous, the lake and the waterfalls and the streams.  Worth every step.  I also learned a bit on this particular hike.  I will pay more attention to combinations of heat and length for the dogs sake as well as my own.  I couldn't believe my little Cedar trucked right on through the whole hike like a champ at age 9. 

Enjoy your adventures!