Mount Defiance 2017-06-05

This was Blue's last big hike.

10.1 miles and 4,334 feet of elevation.

Great day for a hike with 'see forever' views at the top.  Lost the trail in the snow at around 4,700 feet of elevation and just headed for the ridge.  The snow was compacted spring snow that was hard to get a footing with microspikes, crampons would have been the best.  Once we made it to the ridge the trail was visible for a short distance.  Rather than trying to guess were the trail is, we just kept going up the ridge.  This wasn't too bad until close to the top were it was difficult to kick steps into the snow and I had to grip my trekking  pole at the tip and use it as an ice axe. 

 

Google Maps link

Sly enjoying the waters of Mason Creek close to the start.

The "underpass" to get through an area with several downed trees.

Mason Lake is still partially covered with ice.

Lost the trail at around 4,700 ft.

Climbing up the ridge

At the top

Great views

 

Bandera Mountain with Mason Lake at the base.  The white stop before Mason Lake is Little Mason Lake.  Lake Kulla Kulla is on the left.

Enjoying a water break on the way down the old trail.

 Blue trying to pose on the Mason Creek bridge.

Almost back to the car.

Mason Lake 2016-02-25

7.28 Miles and 2,931 feet of elevation gain.

Started from I-90 at exit 42 so we would get our exercise in even if the hike was cut short.  I wasn't sure if we would be able to cross Mason Creek, where they took out the culvert, because of high water level from melting snow.  To my surprise they finally put in the bridge!  The trail was snow covered starting at about 3,100 feet.  The lake looked like it was melting by the outlet.

Google Maps link

The new Mason Creek bridge.

The bridge provides a great view of the falls.  

Is this supposed to hold the bridge if it is hit by debris coming down the creek?

 Mason Lake

 

 

pub 3/31/2016

Mason Lake 2014-12-29

5.19 miles and 2,171 feet of elevation gain.

An afternoon hike to the outlet of Mason Lake to get some outdoor time and check out the snow conditions.  Consistent snow on the trail starting about 2,800 feet.  Put on microspikes around 3,500, there was never a need for snowshoes.  Would probably need snowshoes to continue on to Mount Defiance.

Google Maps link

Starting up the trail.

Crossing the creek can be a challenge since they removed the culvert.  Many of the rocks above the water were covered in a clear sheet of ice.  

 

Mason Lake

My first panorama shot with the new camera.  Some people showed up with a dog and wanted to get to this same spot right when I was taking the picture.   I didn't get to experiment.  I'm disappointed with the pixel height, it's about a third of a normal picture.

Mason Creek

The sun starting to set over McClellan Butte on the drive back to the freeway.

Mount Defiance 2014-09-16

10.13 miles and 4,414 feet of elevation gain.

Decided to hike the whole mountain, so we started from the freeway. 

Google Maps Link

Blue's full name is Blue Longtongue

Looking down on the freeway exit we started from.

At the top

I'm not sure why Blue has his whole mouth stuck in the water, fishing?

Little Mason Lake 2014-07-13

6.99 miles and 2,837 feet of elevation gain.

Rather than start at the Ira Springs trailhead, we parked on the north side of I-90 Exit 42 by the "shooting range".  A nice boot path follows Mason Creek up the hill and intersects with the road about 0.2 miles from the trail head.  We crossed the road and continued uphill.  It's an easy hike until you're almost to the main trail then it is a bushwhack the last few hundred feet to the trail.  You do get some good views of the creek cascading down the rocks.  On the way down, we just stuck to the main trail, it didn't seem to take much longer even though it is much farther.

Google Maps link

Mason Lake

Blue enjoyed wading in the lake.

 

 Amazing, a picture where you can see Sly's eyes.

 

 Little Mason Lake with Mt Defiance