Trip Reports

We left the Hyas Lake #1376 Trail Head Thursday night around 4:00pm we met two groups on their way out from Tuck & Robin Lakes. Both conveyed a message of RAIN,RAIN,RAIN. But onward we trudged

(WARNING the first part of the trail very muddy). We hiked up to just shy of the Junction to Tuck and Robin Lakes, and set up camp as it was raining lightly and getting dark (and had just ventured a pretty steep terrain.)

It was mostly clear the next morning as we continued up our trek to Marmot Lake. We took Lake Clarice Trail #1066 and had fairly good conditions. It was mostly dry, with spots of mud here and there. As we got closer to the Lake Clarice/Marmot junction, spotting frogs became more common, the wild raspberries weren't quite ready, and the flowers were very fragrant.

We arrived at Marmot Lake around 12:30 There was no one camping in the meadow but as we progressed around to the point we noticed a group of (4) camped with limited tent spots and a truck load of gear on my back we decided to make Camp. The weather was actually pretty nice sunny with scattered clouds . Marmot Lake is definitely a must on your ""TO HIKE LIST"" .

On Saturday After a night of rain we awoke to bone chilling temps, fog and overcast skies . (WARNING: bring extra base layers)

we started our journey to Jade Lake the trail around the lake starts out easy but gets harder at the back end of the lake. (Warning: When you get to the end of the your going to come to a rock slide that when you look up it you can see a waterfall, ""This is not the way"" keep going to the large rockslide at the very back corner of the lake . Upon arriving there we observed a Goat that had been grazing back and forth on the ridge. At the top of the rock slide the trail picks back up and easy going. This is truly what its all about as we were walking we spotted two Bears in the distance and one goat all on the same ridge when we got to Jade lake It started snowing we sat and ate lunch watching another Goat on the far side of the lake . With the weather front coming in and limited supplies we decided to hit the trail back .

On Sunday do to more rain and sleet we decided to pack it in and cut our trip short and head home . The hike back was primarily the reverse of going in although once we hit the Hyas Lake #1376 trail it was more like I-5.

(Note: Day hikers please remember to practice trail etiquette when it comes to right of way and dogs) .

I took the pooch for a three-day backpack into the Alpine Lakes Wilderness last weekend (Sunday to Tuesday, August 26th to 28th.) We got a very late start on Sunday, and the persistent drizzle made hiking somewhat unpleasant. I hate that cold, clammy feeling. I had hoped to make Marmot lake the first day, but bailed on that when we had only reached Deception pass at 5:30 pm. We found a nice campsite in the woods a little ways before Hozzbizz lake and went to bed early.

Monday brought a complete weather change, clear skies, hurray! The pup and I took our time hiking over to Hozzbizz lake, and checked out that area some, as it is very scenic and pleasant. We then dropped down a really annoying 600 vertical feet, though the trail is actually nice, sweet old growth forest and huckleberry parkland, interspersed with meadows rich with salmon berries. ""Berry delays"" would ""plague"" us the rest of the hike. The elevation lost must be immediately regained, and then some, on the push up to Marmot lake. The trail was a bit brushy in a few stretches, no problem otherwise.

Marmot is an impressive lake. It's pretty big, and has a very clear blue color. The shores are rocky with several convenient access points, great for swimming as there's no muck or mud. Cliffs surround the lake, one high enough to be named, Terrace Mountain. Daisy and I camped on a little peninsula about a quarter mile from where the trail meets the shore, going to the left. There was no one else there, from Monday afternoon until Tuesday afternoon when we left.

We crashed early again, since I had plans for the middle of the night. My alarm watch went off at 2:45 am, and I grabbed my sleeping bag and sleeping pads and went outside, down to the smooth rock slab that bordered the lake. There I stretched out and watched the lunar eclipse go ""total"". It was awesome, in a slow-motion kind of way. The result was the moon was dark, dusky red in the exact center, with a lighter, salmon-red around the edges. I stayed up long enough to hear Dark Side of the Moon (of course), then hustled back into the tent to continue my slumbers. Daisy wanted no part of any old moon, she stayed in the tent.

Tuesday was another beautiful day, so we lounged in the sun, and went swimming in the lake, and generally enjoyed ourselves. We spent hours and hours Monday and Tuesday picking blueberries. I must have eaten a gallon, between both days, including the dozens of huge salmon berries on the trail to and from marmot. Daisy picks her own blueberries, at least she does when I make her. She's content to eat any I'll pick for her. She moves the leaves aside with her nose, then uses her tongue and top teeth to pluck the juicy morsels.

The hike out turned into a bit of a death march, about 8.5 miles from where I camped. But it was only bad at the end, when I was tired and hungry. The segment from Hyas lake to the trailhead seemed to go on forever.

A few things I forgot to mention:

Elk. We heard them bugling, then heard some crashing off through the woods upon our approach, and saw some elk poop.

Bugs. There were some around, biting gnats and mosquitoes, but they were never really bad, and mostly left us alone. Some DEET during the evening hours or around swampy areas when hiking did the trick nicely.

Road to Hyas TH: Bad as always, potholes, washboarding, rocks, a real crummy road, and long, too. There are a couple of short stretches of recent repairs that are even crummier than the rest of the road. A low-clearance vehicle could bottom out. I did see a low-rider minivan get through OK with extreme care.

Trail conditions: generally good. A WTA work crew was out doing work in the Hozzbizz area. They made the ""Salamander"" (my name for it) pictured below. They said Daisy was the first ""person"" to cross it. I was second.

Having Monday and Tuesday off I decided for an overnight trip up to Robin Lakes. As mentioned in an earlier report the road is good all the way to the Hyas Lake trail head. As long as you're driving a low rider you should be fine. Trail is easy going all the way to the Tuck/Robin Lakes cut-off. Getting up to Tuck and Robin Lakes is a grind for sure. Passed two groups on their way out so I had the entire place to myself. Tuck Lake is completely snow free. There are some snow patches on above Tuck on the way to Robin, but all manageable. Robin Lakes still have some snow/ice in them, but mostly melted out. Set up camp and wandered around the lake and hills above for a couple of hours. When I got back to camp the bugs were relentless. Even with pants, jacket and bug hat on they were driving me nuts. It was only 5:30pm and I didn't feel like sitting around all dressed up as it was too hot and too early to stay in the tent so I decided to pack it up and head back down to Tuck Lake, which was too bad as I had a great spot and the whole place to myself. Found a good spot below Tuck Lake with a great view of Cathedral Rock and Mt Daniel and the bugs were minimal. Got a little rain overnight. Over all a good trip. Had never been up to Robin Lakes before and its a beautiful place.

FS #4330 is OK. I've read earlier reports on other sites concerning for 20"" of water over the creek and the need for a high clearance vehicle. We crossed fine in a stock Jeep Cherokee w/no lift. A loaded Buick crossed it right before us. Trail is all clear, very little water now covering the trail. Seems all the blow down has been cleared pretty good. Now, can't wait to make another trip back to stay overnight and explore the other trails. My wife and two kids (11 & 13) had no problems.