West Fork Foss River and Lakes — Saturday, Jun. 7, 2025

Stayed 2 nights at Copper Lake and day hiked to Big Heart Lake. Trail up to Copper Lake snow free and clear except the big tree you've had to climb over at least since I came that way last Oct (it has notches cut into it and is pretty easy to cross). Weather was gorgeous and rain free - plenty of bugs and esp. mosquitos. Day hiked to Big Heart Lake from Copper Lake - there are rapidly melting, easily navigable snow patches here and there through Little Heart Lake. Microspiked up at about 4500'. Starting at about 4800' (maybe the last 1/4 mile before the high point and the drop down to the lake) there were intermittent stretches of snow obscuring the trail - some fairly steep, exposed. After this point, until the drop to the lake, you def need to consult GPS, map, etc. to figure out where the trail is. Great care, microspikes and trekking poles a must. Significant post-holing. Wouldn't want to do it yet with a full pack. Big Heart lake was snowbound and gorgeous.