Before we start our adventure and before I start this blog we all must pay respectful homage to Art and “Art’s Outhouse”. Its a long tortuous story, but one we hear every time we launch from this trailhead……basically Art lead a group which got this potty installed….. Thank you Art!
Now on to our adventure already in progress….. I had been eyeing this route up Boulder Mountain for some time. In another homage, this one to John, I was looking to put in a new gps line onto a place I had been many times before. The route starts up this newly formed clear cut which had great views of Jug Mountain.
Jughandle Mountain with a smattering of yellow Tamaracks.
Early on, there was a little grumbling about the clear cut scar.
Soon however, we moved off the steep clearcut and onto a gentle ridge and the grumbling gradually faded.
The further we moved up the deeper the snow got.
Art makes his way up the ridge with amazing views of Long Valley below.
The forecast called for sunshine but with mild winds and overcast skies, it defiantly felt like winter.
On top of the world! Some in the group insisted on veering left. Despite the uptick in grumbling, I keep the group on track.
At the summit, Mark and Coco dip over the edge and look down the East Fork of Lake Fork Creek Drainage.
Summit view South.
Art directs us to a decent trail onto Anderson Lake Saddle. Yes, there is a trail here. The snow on this aspect was about 18” deep. Luckily we were trekking down and not up.
Mark works his way off the Saddle on the Paddy Flats trail.
I’m not sure why Mark made so many photos on this blog but he and Coco were defiantly the MVPs for the day.
Hiking along Boulder Lake past this octopus sang.
Mark, Coco, Anne and Art make their way back to the Boulder Lake Trail. It was an amazing early winter hike. Next time we are bringing snow shoes or skis!
davefaitlemonde.com 