Snow patches began appearing on the trail at 1400 feet (1.0 miles). Snowshoes were not required for travel to Otter Falls, but would be probably needed for travel beyond. I was originally planning to go to Marten Lake, but spotted some fresh cougar tracks at 2400 feet. I like Cougars in the Rose Bowl, but not on the trail. Snowshoes are required for travel to Marten Lake. Deterred by the cougar, I opted for my secondary objective, Otter Falls. Otter Creek at 4.0 miles is not running anywhere near as strongly as last year. All the water was draining through the culvert. The trail to Otter Falls is to the left about 500 feet beyond the creek. There was very little snow by the falls. There is less snow than there was at the end of April last year. http://www.geocities.com/~rangermike

Taylor River road to Otter Falls has always been a great early season hike. Last year my wife and I did the hike 4/5/97. This year I took a new coworker recently transplanted from back east. We arrived at the trailhead at 9:15am and hit the trail by 9:30am. The temperature was just above freezing, but unlike last year, there was no snow on the trail for the first several miles. The snow on the trail is minimal until just before Otter falls, and all the streams are running low. Jerry and I crossed the outlet stream from Lipsy lake, traveled about 100 yards, and turned left into the woods up to Otter Falls. Lipsy Lake has a very thin coat of ice and the falls are waiting for warmer temperatures for the water volume to pick up. We took a lunch on the west shore, and while I was putting on mole skin to cover a couple of hot spots from a new pair of boots, Jerry said he wanted to get a closer look at the falls. Assuming my friend was sunning on a rock, and my view blocked by trees, my friend had started to climb the rock face of Otter Falls. You don't need to hear the sound of a body falling down a rock face twice to know what it is. I immediately grabbed my first aid kit, scrambeled around the west end of the lake, up twenty feet of rock, and found my friend. Jerry had managed to get almost half way up the smooth rock face before falling and sliding aproximately 200 feet. By the grace of god he was in one banged up piece. Stating this was the most stupid thing he had ever done, he described how the rock face had gotten so smooth he ran out of holds, and fell trying to retrace his steps. Jerry learned a valuable lesson and so did I. Don't assume, and don't let your hiking partner out of your site. After a long break to regain our wits, Jerry felt game enough to continue to Big Creek before heading back. The trail to the concrete bridge over Big Creek is covered with two to three feet of snow, the bridge is bare. During the hike we saw signs of many rabbits and a few hungry bobcats. On the way back we saw three other parties. The first party was a pair of well equipped backbackers we met after recrossing Marten Creek. I was more then suprised when they told me their destination was LaBohn Gap! LaBohn Gap does not sound like Snoqualmie Lake. As they repeated their destination I stated they were on the wrong trail, but was cut off with the explanation they had been this way before but not this early in the season. A very bizarre day.