Rainbow Lake 2015-02-23

8.55 Miles and 3,019 feet of elevation gain.

Another wonderful spring day in the middle of winter.  We went up the old trail then past Mason Lake and on to Rainbow Lake.

We have never been to Blazer Lake and I thought it would be nice to include it.  It looks like it is only a short distance from Rainbow but I have never noticed a trail on previous trips through the area.  We did see some foot prints in the snow heading in the right direction, but they turned around at a swampy area.  I decided to do the same, too lazy to bushwhack.   Very little snow, most of the trail was snow free.

Just prior to Rainbow Lake, we met our first person on the trail, a guy doing a 27 mile trail run on his day off, what fun.  I forgot to ask if he was training for the Cascade Crest 100 Mile Endurance Run.  He did mention that last year at this time he was in show up to his knees.

I sat  in a sunny spot by the Rainbow Lake and had a snack,  very relaxing.  Another plus, no bugs!

I haven't been on the new Mason Lake trail since we discovered the old trail.  For a change of pace we went down it.   It was amazing how many people were coming up the trail on a Monday!  We met more people than on all our other hikes put together in the last year. 

Google Maps link

On the old trail to Mason Lake.

A mostly frozen Mason Lake and Little Bandera.

The no name lake and Pratt Mountain.  A nice alpine lake, I don't know why it doesn't have a name.

 Rainbow Lake

 Mount Defiance

Kaleetan Peak?

Putrid Pete's Peak

McClellan Butte

The big mountain

Back at the parking lot.  Four or five years ago, this is what it would look in the summer on a weekend not on a Monday.

Mason Lake to Talapus Lake 2013-07-03

Park on the north side of Exit 42 then hike past the no shooting sign.  The old road splits, go to the left and just before the creek, look for a boot path on the right that follows the creek up the hill.  Cross the road and continue to follow the creek up the hill.  When you are close to the Mason Lake trail you will need to bear to the left and bushwhack the last little bit to the trail.  Continue up the trail and across the creek.  A hundred yards or so from the creek, is a boot path on the left.  This is the start of the old trail.  

This was going to be an up and back hike, but at our turn around point we met Pico and company.  They came up from the Talapus Lake trail head and offered to give us a ride back to our car.  Four people, packs and three dogs in a Forester, it was fun, especially when Sly thought he should let Pico know who's the alpha dog.

Sly kicking up a rooster tail on his way to get a stick in the first little lake after leaving Mason Lake.  Blue prefers to just watch if the water is deeper than his legs are long. 

A view of Mt Defiance 

Blue at Rainbow Lake

Nothing more fun than chasing sticks in the water

Pico and company at the Olallie overlook