Lovely first alpine lake hike of my Washington residence. Me and my pup hiked up around 1pm, with the snippets of mountain tops and trees motivating us up the inclines. Once we got to the top there were a few people and we got a lovely couple to snap a picture of us.
The trail to the lake was refreshing (downhill!) and the views were utterly mesmerizing. Not any ice and minimal snow; the water was calm and still, and the sunny weather was just the balm to soothe.
Heading down we saw a few people but were mostly alone on the trail. What a great hike!

Some snow on the trail that day. Should be gone by now. Some lingering snow on the water , kind of interesting , also should be melted by now (likely)

As we drove up the potholed road to the trailhead, the emerging day was a lighter shade of gray. Other hikers congregated at the trailhead, talking about P3. So, I guessed that was their objective. The trailhead was chilly, so we hurried up the old roadway to warm up. The big waterfall at the wood bridge thundered down the rocky cut, a symphony of roaring liquid. The sheer volume and energy of the falling water commanded our attention. Big drama. We stopped.

After photos, we ambled further up the trail to the split, where the trail branches up from the old road bed. Now rockier and steeper, the trail relentlessly ascends to and up a granite staircase that cuts through boulder fields. We soon arrived at another trail split with a rustic sign. Go right and straight up for Bandera Mountain, or left for Mason Lake. At this point, we were out of the woods and saw a few patches of blue and the promise of warmth ahead. However, it was not to be.

We traversed left and hiked up to the high point before the rocky descent to the lake. The temperature dropped as we approached the lake. We soon encountered scattered snowfields beside and on the trail, punctuated with muddy sections. The snow was soft and undercut, so we cautiously avoided punching through. Once at the lake, we stopped for lunch at the lake outlet. We chose an exposed spot, ready to take advantage of any warming sunlight that might appear. We layered up and broke out snacks. A hungry Gray Jay made an appearance, but the sun did not. We sat in that bowl of cold, near the mostly snow-covered lake, and made the best of it. We were alone.

My hands were soon freezing; despite wearing gloves so I shouldered my pack to depart. My companions soon followed. Once we ascended from the lake bowl, the sun began to make a gradual appearance.  By the time we reached the wooded section of the trail, it was quite toasty. As we hiked lower, we shed layers. Our spirits soared. Another fine day in the mountains.

The Road: The water-filled potholes were so numerous that we had to go slow and zigzag back and forth, squiggling through a circuitous puzzle. Nonetheless, the road was in far better shape than in times past. Any vehicle can make it with enough patience and attention. The parking area had little more than half a dozen cars at 8:30 am.

Debris: We found and collected discarded orange peels, egg shells, pistachio shells, and broken glass during our hike. These objects do not easily biodegrade. So, ‘Pack it in. Pack it out!’ It’s not that difficult.

Weather was variable today. Trail is a little wet in spots, but in very good shape. No snow on trail until you drop into the basin for the lake. No spikes necessary to get to the lake. Lake was still about 80% frozen. Views were intermittent. Trail is wide and easy to follow. Views from the talus field must be great when it is clear, mostly socked in today. Easy rock hop across the lake outlet.

Nice early season hike nearly snow-free to the lake. Just a few patches on the way from ridge down to lake. It’s possible to cross the small creek at the head of the lake and go along the lakeside trail a ways, but we hung out at the small clearing and enjoyed the view of the partially thawed lake. Misty day so not much view, but enjoyable hike with few people. Round trip about 3.5 hrs including ~40 min snack break at the lake.