BFTA Trinity Alps: Long Gulch Lake

Klamath National Forest

(purple lines, map link)

DAY 1  |  DAY 2  |  DAY 3  |  DAY 4  |  DAY 5  |  DAY 6-7

The trouble with staying at Long Gulch Lake is that it is open range for cattle. They've been known to decide to wander through camps knocking things over and generally trashing the area. And when they're done with that, they'll wander over and sit on tents. It's happened before. So as long as they were there (they were) we needed someone to make sure they didn't do all that to our camp. They actually stayed away for a bit longer than usual this day. I didn't even hear cow bells until around 10AM.

A little mist rises from Long Gulch Lake in the morning.

A single Canada goose on a log in the lake. Winged cattle according to some since they graze the grass too.

The rest of the crew was returning to Fish Lake Creek Trail for tread work, which is hard work.

We had a great number of leopard lilies to admire.

Lovely lovely leopard lilies.

Threadleaf primrose monkeyflowers dotted the meadow.

I took a wander around the edge of the lake. The first goal was to wander past a little piped spring high on the side. Instructions included simply listening for the running water. After that, I wanted to perhaps walk over to the island. Surely it would be a bit shallow around the back.

That island down there.

The spring water is there, but a mild challenge to get to.

From afar, there appeared to be a shallow path to walk over to the island. Whenever I got close, it got clear there's deep water on the way.

The only violets for the whole trip were these MacLoskie's violets on the far edge of the lake.

The channel is a bit deeper than expected, at least until halfway along.

The cow bells were coming down the hill and getting close, so I returned to camp. They wouldn't actually try to cross the creek to camp until someone else had come back. But you never know. It gave me time to sort out what my next trip would be soon enough to get a Trinity Alps Wilderness permit from the local wilderness ranger and fill it out.

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The next day, we packed up and hiked out. It was much the same as the hike in except the stock to pack out the group gear didn't appear. That was something that had to be dealt with, and so it was.

Cool yellowjacket nest on a burned tree.

Closer look at the yellowjackets and nest.

*even more photos in the album*




©2023 Valerie Norton
Written 24 Aug 2023