This was my first time doing this hike. The trail was crystal clear and easy to follow up to Ingalls Pass. As I hiked up to the pass, the views of the Esmeralda Range were a treat. There are some lovely wildflowers in bloom right now too - bright red-orange columbine, lupine, and others that I didn't know off the top of my head.
Once I got to the top of Ingalls Pass, I went to the left of the trail fork and followed the trail across the Headlight River basin as carefully as I could. The snow was soft, but there are patches where the melting below is great enough that snow bridges might collapse. Watch your footing! The path across the basin isn't super distinct either. On the way back from the lake, I got off trail a few times and had to do a double take with my map and Garmin. What I did before heading into the basin is I marked a waypoint on my GPS at the summit of the Ingalls Pass so I could re-adjust my route back to the main trail.
The scramble up to the lake isn't too bad. Hikers have left some rock cairns along the scramble route that are super helpful (thank you)! Follow the cairns and you'll have no issues getting up and into the lake basin.
Lake Ingalls is still frozen over, but gradually thawing. There are beautiful sky blue patches of water where the lake has thawed a bit more.
On my way out I saw a pair of marmots having a really heated quarrel. I wish I had videoed it because it was pretty funny to watch! I didn't see any goats, but there were lots of goat tufts scattered around the basin since they're shedding right now. Besides marmots, I saw a cute little pika peering out of the rocks as I passed by.
Overall, I loved this hike! I definitely plan to come back this summer to camp out in the basin!
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