Pete Lake , Escondido Lake, Polallie Ridge Lo

The Alpine
Lakes - On a gray westside day, I headed east to sunshine and one of my favorite day loops, a 16-mile route to Pete Lake (#1323), climbing up to Escondido Lake, then back across Pollalie Ridge (#1309) to the Tired Creek Trail (#1317) which connects back into the Pete Lake Trail 1.4 miles from the trailhead. The trail to Pete Lake is a relatively flat and easy 4 miles and the work starts once you venture north on Trail #1329 and begin the uphill climb towards Waptus Pass. I've always enjoyed a side trip up to Escondido Lake, but was surprised to find that this trail has gone unmaintained for some years and appears to have been abandoned. Still, I made it to the lake which is a pleasant and quiet hideout. Horses have massacred stretches of the trail from the Escondido Lake turnoff to Waptus Pass. AFter leaving this Pass on trail #1309, its a stiff, long and dry climb up the west face of Pollalie Ridge, but you're rewarded by one of the nicest viewspots around at the former lookout site just uphill of the junction with the Tired Creek Trail. I had this spot entirely to myself and enjoyed the sunshine and incredible views for over an hour. Descending a long 3.2 miles down the Tired Creek trail completes the loop back to the Pete Lake trail. For a sunny Saturday in August, there was an unusually light number of vehicles at the trailhead, maybe 8 or so.