Papoose Lake - Sept 2011

We gathered our courage and planned a final trip into the Alps for 2011. Don Hook, Darrell Rainey, myself, Pedro and Charlie embarked from Hobo Gulch trailhead about noon. Mike Rainey came up later and made incredible time to catch us just at dark. Deer hunters had not yet arrived en masse and we really had the canyon to ourselves.

After about an hour and a half, we made it to the Rattlesnake Creek turnoff. Hiking was pleasant and not too hot. We were lucky to have an overcast day with spotty rain.
The climb to this point is gradual, up and down and generally follows the North Fork of the Trinity River northward. Just north of the turnoff is a large horsecamp just across Rattlesnake Creek. Trailhead altitude is roughly 3000 ft elevation.

As we hiked up Rattlesnake Creek, immense and countless piles of stones left over from prior decades of mining work were evident. It is impossible to conceive how many backs were ruined moving all this rock! Perhaps 30 minutes up the creek from the turn-off there are 1-2 camp sites between the trail and the river (left side) that are generous and large. You might miss them if not alert. As we forded the river, we saw a sandy area as well that is marked as a campsite in some guidebooks, but is really not very pleasant. Another 20 minutes past the ford is a camp on the right, again, easy to miss. We saw it on the way out only because it was occupied by horses, hunters, a dog and plenty of brew.

The canyon gently ascends past oak forests. The next landmark is Bob's Farm Trail. The trail is deceiving and looks rather easy and inviting at the start! (Another day!) The trail now steepens and you head straight up at one point just prior to the ford of a river flowing down from Lois Lake. On the east side of this creek, follow the faint trail down the river about 25 yards to a very large, open, flat over-used campsite that does afford plenty of tent-space and a large fire-ring with stumps to sit on.

The next day, we made our way up the trail. The next creek to ford also contributes to Rattlesnake Creek, and comes down off the mountain to the north. There is a fairly large cleared campsite just along the far side of this creek that is pleasant.
It is right by the river among large boulders. Enni Camp follows about 30-45 minutes up the canyon. Steeper climbs are encountered at this point.

After Enni Camp, the trail is more difficult to follow and a few alternative routes are marked by hikers with cairns through dense brush for 1-2 miles. There is a good trail near the river by Enni Camp; we followed cairns left into the brush and did fine with lots of bushwhacking. The riverside trail affords a nicer walk for ½ mile or so. Stay with the cairns.

As you ford Rattlesnake Creek (didn’t see any by the way) this is your final place to resupply the water bottles before the lake. The last mile of the hike now rises 1200 feet, up rocky cliffs, across the hillside – from cairn to cairn.

The trail veers left to the canyon with the river cascading far below. This section is dangerous and must be very carefully traversed. The gorge must be 300 feet deep and one big cliff; a misstep here would mean the end of the trip – in more ways than one. Be careful;
watch younger hikers very closely here!

Papoose Lake is the quintessential Trinity Alps lake – beautiful, glistening, surrounded by beautiful granite and a high granite crown of magnificent circ. Papoose is unique in that the circ is half granite and half volcanic, and the dividing line is clearly visible. This circ is the most majestic I have seen in the Alps. Close to 180 degrees; last year’s snow still visible on the northern slopes even in September.

The group was very patient with dutch oven recipes; most were fine, but a few were less that perfect. Usually lacking enough coals to cook briskly.

There is a well used campsite near the lake outlet, among boulders – pictured here. Very nice.

As you explore the western edge of the lake, there are several exposed sites with firerings on the rock. In the small pine cluster at the southwestern corner of the lake, there appeared to be a very nice campsite.

The next morning was beautiful and brisk. The sun took a long time to visit us in this circ. Animals and people were happy to reach water at the base of the canyon again. The way out is a gentle and occasionally steeper, gradually decline over several miles. Two days before the annual deer –hunt provided for lots of company as we made our way out. Almost a highway really.

We had intended to make camp near the Rattlesnake Canyon junction, but all campsites were full of hunters. We voted and hiked all the way out in one day. 14 pleasant, beautiful miles!

A highly recommended, at times strenuous hike, Papoose is relatively lonely – except during the annual September deer hunt! Clearly in the top 5 of the Alps for scenery and beauty.

Bob’s Farm Trail remains a great mystery and a likely goal for 2012; Papoose, Bob's Farm, Grizzly Lake! Pedro and Charlie will have to get in shape for that one....

Grizzly Lake Part II

One trip to Grizzly Lake this year just wasn't
enough. Bishop Hook and his son, Cory, from
Florida came and made a threesome. It was great!
We packed the goats and tried to keep our packs
lighter.

We hiked from the China Creek trailhead near Cecilville. You head west off of I-5 through Gazelle to Callahan, and bear west over the bridge in the middle of town. The trailhead embarks at about 4500' elevation, and takes a mile to climb 1500 feet. Then you descent 1500 feet in another mile.

The trail joins the Hobo Gulch route and gradually ascends 4 miles or so back up to 6000' at Grizzly Meadow. We had a great campsite and the Hooks were very patient with my recipes in the dutch oven - which, for the most part turned out tolerably well.

Temperatures were unseasonably warm for September. The foliage bore traces of early fall changes and the water levels were significantly below July levels. Some creeks were dry, and others were now ponds. Nightime was 60 F and warm. Breakfast was a combo of breakfast potatoes, smokie sausage, egg and cheese in the dutch oven. Then we set off to see Grizzly Lake and attack the scramble leading to it. The picture above is taken from the scramble and shows the amazing rugged nature of the white alps.

Corey (below right) is standing on the edge of an 200' cliff and another 500' of rock. The outlet of the waterfall and the "jump" you have to make is beneath him on the right.

Corey and I and Pedro and Charlie (caprine companions) then headed for the summit of Thompson Peak.



We headed up the forested area just west of the ravine south of the lake. Then skirted across the scramble beneath the cliff and up to the saddle. The way to the peak from there is vague. You seem to drop down the other side about 100 yards and proceed east. Many spurious paths lead up to the crest of the ridge, but not to the peak. You finally reach about a 20' pile of rock which requires true rock climbing to get to the peak. Corey made it, but the goats didn't, so we took some pictures of the drainages nearby and headed back to the saddle.

To the right is Canyon Creek drainage and a shot of Wedding Cake. To the upper right is Stuart Fork drainage and Caribou Mountain. On the right is a shot along the ridge to the point of Thompson Peak, noting the glacier with crevasses below it.
Time from the lake to peak and back to meadow

was 6 hours.

After a big day, we rested well. Dinner was a casserole of cream corn, brocolli and chicken! Goatpacking does let you eat a bit better than the usual dehydrated fare.

The next morning, we packed up and out. Down the hill, up the hill and back down the hill! The goats were doing 30lbs and panted their way up but never gave it up. Hooray for alpine goats. Our prior Nubian buddy was wont to lay in the trail, and never could have gotten close to this one.

The lake and circ were brilliant with early fall colors; fishing appeared lively and the water was, as usual, ice cold and incredibly clear.

I think Papoose Lake looks good for 2010!

Deadfall Lakes and Mt Eddy

Deadfall Lakes (upper and lower) are very beautiful areas with abundant campsites with less than attractive names. This is a great younger scout activity. The PCT follows the contours of the land and rises only 400 feet or so in the 3+ mile hike. You can also begin in the bottom of the canyon and hike up that way. It is very beautiful.

To get to this area, you exit west off of I-5 after Weed but before Gazelle. I forget the name of the road, but you can look it up! It takes you up the mountain to the west of Weed and past many residential areas up there. It becomes a scenic highway that eventually connects with SR 3 somewhere over near Trinity Lake. It is a beautiful drive. There is a snowdrift every spring at the top of this road, just near the junction with the Pacific Crest Trail. If you come too soon, you won't be able to make it up there. If you want to do this hike anytime prior to June 15, you may want to inquire as to road conditions.

There are very nice campsites at lower Deadfall. upper Deadfall is a big lake with lots of space. You can continue up the trail, sometimes steeply to another lake (no fish) and on up to the Mt Eddy trail. This is a beautiful hike with great views from the top of Eddy. We saw ambitious folks making this entire route to the peak and back to the parking lot a day hike. Vigorous.

I am sure there are lots of fish in this lake. But most of us never really saw them. One of our party had particularly good luck, catching 6 and the rest of us = 0. Hmmmmmm.

This was late June or early July and you can see the upper lake still has ice on it.

Mt Eddy in the background (above). Then, (r) the hike out. A great weekend with great scouts!

Black Butte cindercone - little sister to Mt Shasta

Black Butte has had many names through the years. This one seems to have stuck for now. If have ever driven through the Siskyou valley past Mt. Shasta City you almost drove right into Black Butte. It is a symetrical cindercone just east of the freeway near Mt Shasta proper.

To hike this you should stop in downtown Mt Shasta and visit the tourism information center. It is a little building in the middle of town. They can give you a map to drive to the trailhead on the northeast side of the mountain. You have to head up Everett Memorial Highway past the high school (on the way to Bunny Flat) and turn left in just the right place to find this.

There is NO water on the mountain so bring plenty. It is about a 2500 foot climb in 2.5 miles or so and usually takes 2 hours up if you are a goat-type hiker. It is a fun workout and good training for the quadripeds. Some areas of the cindercone resemble the Land of Mordor strongly, but the views of the valley and Mt Shasta area spectacular! Do this on a morning so as to have as clear a day as possible, and to cut down on the afternoon heat exposure.

Be careful with some regions of the trail as the side of the mountain drops off steeply at times. This could also be a dangerous area for rockslides, so be ultra-careful not to start one on the folks below you. The northside of the mountain stays covered with snow well through May at times, and should be clear before you hike it, unless you are prepared to cross a snowfield.

You may have plenty of company here; lots of folks like to hike it. There is the cement foundation of an old Forest Service fire look-out on the top. You can jump over a small chasm and relax in there if the flies aren't too bad! The iron anchors for the building (in the cement) show signs of lightning strikes. Fun day hike; take lots of water!

The End