Tag: Lake of the Ancestors

Out for another trip into Indian Heaven. Usual entry point at Placid Lake. Surprise at the trail head finding out bow hunting season had started. Had to dig out bright orange to hang on my pack. This time in I tried to do an off trail to find a route between Lake of the Ancestors and Eunice Lake. I started following game trails and got thrown off route pretty quick. I ended up turning south to pick up the Thomas Lake trail just a couple of glens short of my planned destination. Finished up my off trail with doing a route from the CC trail to Ranger Lake. So I will need to work on improving that route before taking others on it.

Otherwise a good day of exploring. Fall was in the air when left the trail head but sun came out in the afternoon. Still berries on the bushes but fall colors are setting in. A few more weeks and the berries will be gone the berry bushes will be in full fall colors. Hopefully I can get back to enjoy the fall in Indian Heaven.

So this time up a full parking lot and lot of bow hunters setting up camp.

Heading into Indian Heaven. Usual route in to my jumping off point.

Felt like Fall. Clouds were at tree top and it felt like it was in the low 40s.

Official trail ends here. There were a few campers at the lake this time.

Still blue berries on the bushes. Huckleberries were about done.

Spooked a small herd of elk as crashed through the brush to the lake.

Rush Creek forms a pond on this section and around the corner.

One of several small meadow abandon 29a passes through.

Above the pond is the crossing point.

Still berries but Fall colors are coming on.

Mushrooms are starting to come up more. A couple of more good rains and they will be everywhere.

I popped in at the meadow across from elk meadow on the way in. There is more exploring I need to do of this area but not today.

The green is going from the grass at Second Meadow but no fall leaves yet.

Off trail starts here. First is heading to Lake of the Ancestor then on to new territory.

This is a key crossing point that everyone uses. It is a good place to see who is around. Lots of elk and deer but no cougar or bear this time.

When this is full it cuts off the area I am going to today.

My exploration in this area are keyed off of this lake.

Great campsite location. Right next to the game trail. If those bow hunters really wanted to get an elk this is where they would be camping.

Time to start following the game trails. This section looks as good as a Forest Service Trail.

This where the new explore starts. This was the meadow Lori and I got to last time.

Followed a game trail to this open area. I then stayed on the game trail and that was where thing went wrong.

Ended up at a pond not on the map and not on my satellite transfer. So at this point hiking blind but finding good game trails.

Another unmapped pond.

Another unmapped pond and not where I want to be. But making good time to no where.

Yet another unmapped pond. There are 140 ponds and lakes in Indian Heaven and I am finding some of them.

So out in the middle of nowhere and I find I am not alone. As wilderness ecosystems are restored we stand a better chance of being prey.

Left the game trail behind and finally found a lake on my map.

There is a large meadow tied in with this pond. I decide from here to run a compass bearing to the Forest Service Trail.

Strong Fall color was coming in this meadow.

One thing I found a lot of and walked in was deer and elk scat.

No name for this pond but the map had it about 20 yards from the trail.

Found the Thomas Lake trail and made my way to Rock Lake.

I headed back on the abandon Cascade Crest Trail.

There is a large meadow complex around Rock Lake I will have to explore someday.

Back on the main CC trail route and I could go through known areas.

Decide to head off trail and see if I could connect to Ranger Lake from here.

The satellite showed a strong meadow I should be able to connect on all the way but when I found it it only went part way. Back to compass bearing and crashing through the woods.

Found Ranger Lake then went off on another game trail.

The game trail went through a series of meadow.

So this elk remains still had meat on the bones so I decide it was time to head back.

So back to Ranger Lake

Though Exit Meadow to the CC Trail.

Across Big Meadow with its view of East Crater.

Back at Second Meadow where I started my off trail journey.

Back past Lori Lake.

Back past Lake Chenamus with late in the day sun on it.

Make the turn at Placid Lake and back to my car and home.