Wing Lake, Lewis Lake & Heather - Maple Pass Loop — Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023

Bottom Line:

A simply amazing larch and alpine lake hike that is a difficult spur off the Heather-Maple Loop trail; the spur is quiet and remote - the loop is obviously a madhouse during larch season (patience and expectation management needed until you get to the spur); Lewis and Wing Lakes are spectacular, both emerald colored and surrounding by larches, all at peak; Black Peak with its snowfield and huge waterfall frame Wing Lake; clear air and skies, and warm sunshine lit up the endless larch groves; a stunner - go now!!

Stats:

• Distance: 12-1/2 miles
• Duration: 6-1/2 hours
• Vertical: 3300 ft
• Road/Parking: Approached from Mazama to the east; there is some smoke on the road from the Blue Lake fire (CAUTION), but it is very localized and not impacting air quality for the area hikes; the parking for both Blue Lake and Heather-Maple & Cutthroat Pass had already overflowed onto the highway at 9:30am on a Thursday; larches are visible on all the ridge tops, and down to the road as you navigate the hairpin curve passing the Kangaroo Pass trailhead; the drive up from Mazama was a treat itself!
• Weather: Sunshine, 70s, crystal-clear skies, light wind at the trailhead but none up top; much cooler in the shade; this is a morning hike, with the sun setting over the southern ridges in the afternoon, casting Lewis Lake, and eventually Wing, into the shade; the coming weekend should continue to be spectacular, although I cannot imagine how busy the loop will be - another reason to come early!
• Trail: Hiked Heather-Maple Loop trail counterclockwise to Heather Pass, and then took the spur (see Gaia) out to first Lewis, and then Wing Lake; one has to manage expectations if considering H/W Pass in larch season - it is busy, and today was no different - but once you take the spur to Wing Lake, there are few people and you leave the hordes behind; the trail is in excellent condition apart from two washouts on the boulder traverse over to Lewis Lake, the second particularly sketchy; the boulder field is long and difficult and really keeps this trail quiet relative to H/M-loop; I lost a leg up to mid calf in a rock hole at one point and could have easily broken something - took some gymnastics to get out (CAUTION); the trail descends from Heather Pass through a long boulder field, and then eventually climbs modestly again to Lewis Lake; despite reports to the contrary, there is a fairly well-defined (although primitive) trail the whole way to Wing Lake, and cairns help one through the easiest sections of the boulder field; Lewis Lake is BEAUTIFUL and this is a destination unto itself if that is as far as you want to go; the hike from there up to Wing is mostly uphill, but you will have left the bouldering behind; leave "gas in the tank" for the boulder field on the return, which will then be uphill and even more work; larches are peak and simply fantastic (in the late afternoon, the whole forest was glowing); H/M-pass is OK larch-wise, but this trail definitely takes it to another level with the volume of trees and the neverending groves that line most of the spur; Wing Lake is fantastically beautiful - what can I say, WOW! I could have sat there in contemplation for hours! The final ascent to Wing passes an old glacier cirque with a huge morraine - the landscape telling a story of a definitely bygone era
• Water: Seasonal streams are dried up so the only real water on the trail is at the lakes themselves where silt might clog up filters a bit
• Takeaway: Perhaps my new favorite Hwy 20 larch hike; it has been on my list for a number of years, but I had no idea it was this incredible; the boulder field should not be taken lightly - this trail is tough despite the moderate distance and reasonable vertical; with the low traffic, you would not want to get injured out there (satellite distress beason recommended); camping at Wing looks wonderful - next time

The attached 4K video will take time to upload and convert to high definition.

If coming from the west side, the brewery down in Mazama has good beer and food and is not that far away if you want to hit it before heading home.

<<Will finish this report late - the mountains are calling!>>

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