Went for a run/hike up up to Alta mountain, and added on Rampart ridge since it’s only a mile detour. I brought my micro spikes expecting snow, but I never even took them out of my backpack. The trail to Alta is mostly snow free, though there are intermittent snow fields that can be crossed in regular shoes or avoided on rocks. The trail was a bit steep and has some exposure, but no real scrambling was needed to get to Alta. I’d recommend GPS for this post though as the split in the trail between Alta and east Alta is covered in snow, making it hard to see where the trail branches off (I ran past the junction and had to go back with GPS to find where I missed the turnoff).
Rampart ridge has a bit more snow cover and a couple of places micro spikes could be useful, but the trail is doable without them.
There also is a ton of water on the trail (it looks like a stream at some points) and some downed trees going up to Rachel lake. Nothing unmanageable, but your feet are probably going to get wet on the way up and down.
Comments
SouthCove on Alta Mountain, Rampart Ridge - Rampart Lakes, Rachel Lake
When you say rampart ridge do you mean on the way to Lake Lillian.
I plan on coming up backdoor tomorrow and was wondering about the steep gully you have to go up out of rampart lakes to get up to the 5,200 mark on way to Lillian.
Taking my daughter so trying to understand this part. Will have spikes for her.
Posted by:
SouthCove on Jul 02, 2025 07:57 PM
mike_c on Alta Mountain, Rampart Ridge - Rampart Lakes, Rachel Lake
I actually didn’t make it all the way to the ridge, I should have said rampart lakes instead of rampart ridge. I came up from the Rachel lakes trail to Alta and then went to the furthest lake at rampart lakes just before the climb up to ridge. The trail beyond that point going up to the ridge was completely snow covered.
The first photo is that final lake facing towards the back door path, with the climb up to the ridge covered in snow.
Posted by:
mike_c on Jul 02, 2025 08:23 PM
SouthCove on Alta Mountain, Rampart Ridge - Rampart Lakes, Rachel Lake
Appreciate the quick response.
That’s the exact area I was assuming was still having a lot of snow. That gully up/down is deep so this indicates a bunch of snow still likely tomorrow even though it’s been 2 weeks.
I think with the daughter, this will make me take the normal way up the Rachel Lake TH. Bummer as I prefer coming from Lillian.
Posted by:
SouthCove on Jul 02, 2025 08:59 PM