Hike Date: 01-25-2014
Distance (Roundtrip): 4 miles
Elevation Gain: 640 ft
Highest Point: 3200 ft
Talapus and Olallie Lakes Hiking Guide
I have a tradition of kicking off each new year with a winter hike. On a sunny day like today, the weather was perfect for keeping the tradition alive! My fiance and I threw our hiking boots in the Jeep and drove out to the Talapus Lake trailhead. It's quite the drive (Exit 45 off I-90), but we wanted to be a bit farther away to avoid the crowds, even if the hike was only four short miles. Our Jeep fared pretty well heading up USFS 9031 to the trailhead parking lot. It's an unpaved and pothole-covered road, but there were many smaller vehicles that made it up to the parking lot.
When we arrived around 10am, there were only four other vehicles parked. Despite the bright sunshine, it was really cold. So, after adding another layer underneath our coats, we started our trek up to Talapus Lake!
It's a nice and easy incline the entire way. The trail is mostly well-kept, with wooden stairs and pathways conveniently constructed to make the climb a bit easier on the feet. Almost immediately, the trail switches back and forth steadily up the side of the mountain. The forest provides shade for most of the hike, but the trail comes to a bit of an opening along the way. It's a nice resting point, with plenty of boulders to sit on. We stopped for a bit, then made our way back on the main trail.
As we continued to rise in elevation, the trail became more and more covered with thick layers of snow and ice. This proved to be the biggest challenge for us, as we lacked micro-spikes or hiking poles. During the winter, with the sun shining brightly above, I highly recommend micro-spikes! Slipping and sliding our way up the mountain slowed us down considerably. Not to mention our cold hands and frozen bottoms from the occasional fall!
After reaching about 3200 feet, the trail levels off into a snow-covered forest; like something out of a Disney movie. With no incline, the snowy trail was much easier to navigate without the fear of slipping and falling. We slowly worked our way through the woods until we reached the frozen shore of Talapus Lake.
I've seen many alpine lakes, but the sight of one still takes my breath away. At this time of year, the lake is still completely frozen over. However, the mountains towering alongside its shores reveal their rocky cliffs and tall evergreens, a wonderful sign that spring is near! We sat and relaxed for about 30 minutes, snapping photos of the lake while munching on trail mix. The clear weather couldn't have been better! When we were finished gazing at the view, we slowly began our descent.
On the way back down, I was unfortunate enough to lose my footing in the ice and slide uncontrollably down the trail. Without any way to stop myself, I slipped right through a switchback and over the steep edge. Within seconds, I found myself hanging onto a tree, clothes covered in mud and snow, staring at the icy trail below. After a quick moment of panic, I managed to pull myself up, scramble up the muddy slope, and climb back onto the main trail. A lesson learned: during a winter hike, take it slow and wear the proper gear!
Despite the scare, we happily made it down with a total hike time of 2 hours. By then, the parking lot was completely full. We never got to see Olallie Lake due to the slippery conditions, but I'd definitely like to come back in the summer. It's a bit of a drive for a short hike, but it's an enjoyable, uncrowded experience!
Photos
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