The store was open 7 days a week this summer, so we did not do any hiking, and not much biking except for the commute to the shop. We were really looking forward to our Tuesday hike. Now that Labor Day weekend is over we can go back to 6 days a week. I wanted to do Lava Butte Lakes, but we decided it was too ambitious considering our time frame and how little hiking we have done this summer (none!)
Snowslide and Maki lakes are close to town and easy to get to. Head towards Ponderosa State park, turning right on Lick Creek Rd at the stop sign. When you get to the turn off for East Lake you keep heading straight and continue on past Little Payette Lake. The trail head is clearly marked a bit over 11 1/2 miles past the East Lake turn off.
There is potential for wet feet at the start of the hike, as you begin by crossing the north fork of Lake Fork Creek. Luckily for us, the water is low enough this time of year to hop from rock to rock without wading.
It was a gorgeous fall day, with just a bit of chill in the air. Perfect for hiking. Not too many wildflowers left, but lots of bright orange berries. Need to look these up in my book as I can't remember what they are called. Below is a really nice (if slightly blurry) Indian Paintbrush.
Pretty orange berry bushes.
The trail starts out nice and gradual, but quickly becomes fairly steep. I think the guide book we were using called it "easy" which seems surprising, given the amount of elevation you gain in such a short distance. Several sections were very steep with lots of loose rock to slip and slide on. Definitely a good trail to bring your hiking poles on. Below is a very dry stream crossing. There were two wet stream crossings a little over half way to Snowslide that our thirsty pup was grateful for.
Thirsty poodle about 1/3 of the way up. She got in even less hiking this summer than we did!
Really nice views looking across towards Box Lake and Beaverdam Peak.
Anyone know what the fuzzy pink growth on these leaves is called? Blurry picture doesn't help. It looked like some sort of fungus. Since we didn't get a winner for our last picture challenge maybe we should have a 'name that fungus' challenge!
The trail looked like it had gotten plenty of use over the Labor Day weekend. Someone had made cute little rock cairns to mark the trail at fairly regular intervals.
A glimpse of Snowslide down the trail.
The poodle slurping up some tadpole water.
The water was just teeming with huge monster tadpoles. They were a bit smaller than a nickle. I can't remember my tadpole lore...do the frogs hibernate all winter? Another thing I need to look up. The picture doesn't really give you an idea of how big they were, but really I have never seen tadpoles this large before. I think these are gonna be some big frogs!
The poodle was especially photogenic on this hike. And especially fragrant when we got home, as she sunk up to her belly in the mud.
Right about this time we were thinking about lunch. We had chickened out on trying the freeze dried chili mac (despite it's high rating), and opted for beef stroganoff instead. Then I remembered I hadn't packed my fairshare mug or my spork. Argg. Gordy saved the day by cleverly crafting spoons out of the foil fire bowl that goes under the stove. We had some lunch and headed back down the trail. So good to get out!
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