Hidden Lake Lookout — Sunday, Apr. 30, 2023

Trailhead access: I parked along the Cascade River Road at the turnoff for Hidden Lake Lookout trailhead and ran up the road. In hindsight, the Prius would have had no problem making it 2.2 miles (just before crossing Sibley creek) up the road where a 15" log blocks all cars. If you drive a Porsche you might be able to go further as you could fit under the log. Some fresh ATV tracks went up another 1/2 mile or so until they ended in a 2' deep snowbank on the road. 

About another 1/4 mile up from the first log is another one, about 28" diameter and also partly in the air. About a quarter mile from the trailhead is a 3rd large log, again maybe 15" diameter. By thevtime you get to the trailhead parking lot you encounter 3-4 ft of snow on the road.

I actually took the winter route up the ridge, leaving the road about a mile before the actual trailhead (upon return, I did an out-and-back to the trailhead just to check on the road condition). 

The turn-off for the winter route is marked by a small rock cairn and there is a faint climbers trail visible if you carefully look. I noticed the faint trail a few times for short sections, but it's hard to get lost: just stay on the ridge and keep going up. It's quite steep to begin with, and mellows out a bit eventually. There's one short downhill along the ridge, maybe 30ft of elevation. Other than that it's a continuous climb until about 5800ft when you get out of the trees shortly before connecting with the official trail. 

Of course, I never saw the official trail as it is under many feet of snow.

Got to the pass between Hidden Lake peak and the lookout. Was looking for a safe way to the top. The trail route on the East face was a steep snowfield with cornices at the top and plenty of recent avalanche activity. I thought maybe I can go up richt along the ridge towards the Lookout. As I was half way up another avalanche came down near the summer route, so it was a good choice to not go that way. 

I got to within about 50 ft of the Lookout when conditions became too risky. It was a "relatively low probability but high consequence" kind of situation. 

Took some pics and headed back down. 

Equipment: trail running shoes, waterproof socks, shorts, long-sleeve shirt, vest, windbreaker, beanie hat, gloves, sunglasses, phone with GPS tracking and topo map loaded, ice ax, 1 gallon mini-backpack, snickers bar, 2 gels, some beef jerkey and 20 oz of apple juice. Traction wasn't an issue, but above about 4500 ft flotation was. I would sink in about 6" with every step, and between 5000 and 6000 ft more like 8-12". So, maybe several more thaw and freeze cycles.