Alpine: Alpine Lake

Shasta-Trinity National Forest

DAY 1 | DAY 2 | DAY 3 | DAY 4

static map — Orange line for day 2. Click for interactive map

Unfortunately, the smoke had moved in overnight. I mean, I've seen worse, but I prefer a little less. We packed up hoping the afternoon would bring similarly clear skies as the last afternoon.

028: not so distant but murky looking peak — What view can be seen from the somewhat clear areas near the ford is looking a bit murky with smoke.

With a little difficulty finding where the ford is meant to be, we found something with a bit of trail on the far side. With a "Splish, splash!" we plunged in, boots and all, to cross the river. One spot did go over the knees.

029: white water and rocks — The ford across Stuart Fork Trinity River on the Alpine Lake Trail.

And then we sogged our way back downstream. I think the ford used to be a little downhill of where it is now, but there's a bit of a climb on the west bank of the river there now. It's not the only spot that has been experiencing erosion. While most of the trail is currently solid, we found one spot that's fallen away.

030: gap in the flat of the trail — The climb up the nearly vertical, loose dirt to get around this hole in the trail is not a pleasant one with a backpack. Don't worry, it's only 40 feet or more vertical to roll down to the water and boulders below.

The dangerous bit of trail was right before it settled onto a gentler, safer slope. There were no more mishaps. The downhill stopped and the trail turned up to follow Boulder Creek, not that we could see much of it.

031: water below a long drop — Somewhere down there is Boulder Creek.

032: trees and trail — First sunlight! As the trail goes determinedly up.

And so we found ourselves at a junction again. Bear Creek Trail to the left (where the Bigfoot Trail happens to go) and Alpine Lake Trail to the right (where we would wander). The upward travel gets steeper.

033: signed junction — A sign to mark the junction.

035: purple flowers and green seeds — Sierra milkwort was busily going to seed.

039: smoky mountains of white rock ahead — Looking up the trail to the bare rock mountain tops and smoke.

The trail got brushy in spots, then very brushy. One switchback was lost in brush, replaced by a short scramble. The seasons retreated as we climbed. Plants we saw in seed below became plants in flower above.

042: granite shelves between green — More of that climb ahead, including a waterfall, just become visible.

043: single perfect flower — One last flower on a Lemmon's Keckiella, of a genus closely related to Penstemon and one I was wanting to add to my iNaturalist collection.

044: oak with flowers and acorns — Much of the brush is California black oak, some of which still had flowers.

046: bug and seed pod — Small milkweed bug on a heart-leaf milkweed pod.

049: large tree on a large rock — There's some stand out trees.

051: water over a ledge — Closer now, to the waterfall.

053: splatter of water a the top — There's also a small tributary waterfall splattering over a boulder.

054: ledges of water — With more ledges to cascade over below.

We stopped by a small tributary with plenty of water to add to our supplies as well as romp among the ledges and flowers. It had both in great quantity and variety.

056: white everywhere — Closeup on ocean spray flowers, which grows as a bush.

060: black and white bug — A beetle that looks like it's knitted its shell.

063: flower a little dried behind other in glory — Leopard lily, most drying and plumping into seed.

065: dark dike that slips upward — Faulting within the rocks.

067: eroded chutes in a pool — At the bottom of the light spray of a waterfall, evidence of much more water flow in the past.

068: shining blacks spots among long faded petals — Cliff maids showing off some very shiny, black seeds.

There was still a little more climbing, so we got going. It really climbs on the last stretch.

069: water over a cliff — Finally getting a good look at that waterfall up the hill.

071: spray of water — It's got a lot more water than the waterfall on the tributary, this being the very top of that.

072: grey ridge lines descending — The smoke in the valley.

073: thin but numerous purple flowers — A small part of a spread of Layne's monkeyflower.

We had meadows of even more flowers as we came over the lip of the cirque edge. First there is a pond and then, finally, the lake.

075: yellow furry bee on a long flower — A particularly yellow Van Dyke's bumble bee takes nourishment from a Rydberg's beardtongue. It was one of three bees on these particular flowers.

077: butterfly on a flower — Mariposa copper sipping from a mountain brookfoam.

078: small water — The pond on the way to Alpine Lake.

079: lots of lake — Panorama of Alpine Lake and cliffs from the edge.

We didn't find many camp sites and the large one up and away from the water was already occupied by a tent. Everything else looked like tilted, small, little used desperation sites. Once settled into a camp, we had a bit more time to wander the lake and environs.

081: green flowers like spikes among red bracts — Giant red paintbrush.

082: plumping berry with a flower on the end — Serviceberries ripening.

084: yellow flower and points of developing seed pods — Stonecrops below were dried and dispersing seeds, but here there's one last flower.

086: lake view with more of the southern edge — Another view of Alpine Lake.

090: bright orange — The leopard lilies are still hanging heavy with buds.

Finding myself barely halfway to the far side of the lake after 45 minutes, I decided maybe I didn't really have time to look at everything close up and headed back again. I wanted to get to eating before dark this time.