Ira Spring Trail - Mason Lake
Feb 03, 2010
by
Navigator
—
last modified
Feb 05, 2010 11:14 AM
- Type of Outing
- Day hike
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Ira Spring Trail - Mason Lake
- Region: Snoqualmie Pass -- Snoqualmie Pass
- Agency: Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
- Trails: Ira Spring Memorial (#1038)
- Avg Rating: 3.83
- Be Aware Of
- Snow on trail
Tracks into Mason Lake (3.45 miles, 2,200 ft Elev gain)
Winter at 4,000 ft!
Based on earlier weather reports we were expecting sunny weather. Fooled again. Luckily Mason Lake was well worth it.
Road to the trailhead was good and only one other car. Started out in light drizzle. Snow on trail started at 3,000 ft and was solid just before breaking out into the open (3,400 ft). While you don't need snowshoes (snow is solid), its a good idea to have hiking poles and gaiters.
To navigate to Mason Lake I strongly suggest having a map and gps and how to use them. The only tracks are those up to Bandera Mt. as the wind and weather had erased the trail (where Ira Spring trail splits) to Mason Lake clean. While you could pick up the trail near the ridge crest just before entering Alpine Lakes Wildnerness {ALW}, parts of it near the lake were again simply gone.
Ah, but the need for cross-country snow navigation paid off. You got to love gps. :-) Above 3,400 ft the rain turned to snow and the trip into the ALW was magical. No noise from I90, just quietness, a frozen lake, and snow covered trees, all to ourselves. While the snow depth was only 2-3 ft, (grass was poking out near the lake edge), it still was very much full into winter. The hike out was a quick trip from winter to spring.
Highly recommended if you can manage the navigation.
Based on earlier weather reports we were expecting sunny weather. Fooled again. Luckily Mason Lake was well worth it.
Road to the trailhead was good and only one other car. Started out in light drizzle. Snow on trail started at 3,000 ft and was solid just before breaking out into the open (3,400 ft). While you don't need snowshoes (snow is solid), its a good idea to have hiking poles and gaiters.
To navigate to Mason Lake I strongly suggest having a map and gps and how to use them. The only tracks are those up to Bandera Mt. as the wind and weather had erased the trail (where Ira Spring trail splits) to Mason Lake clean. While you could pick up the trail near the ridge crest just before entering Alpine Lakes Wildnerness {ALW}, parts of it near the lake were again simply gone.
Ah, but the need for cross-country snow navigation paid off. You got to love gps. :-) Above 3,400 ft the rain turned to snow and the trip into the ALW was magical. No noise from I90, just quietness, a frozen lake, and snow covered trees, all to ourselves. While the snow depth was only 2-3 ft, (grass was poking out near the lake edge), it still was very much full into winter. The hike out was a quick trip from winter to spring.
Highly recommended if you can manage the navigation.
Document Actions
- Email this page
- Print this
- Share
Forgot your
New user?
