Talapus Lake in June Snow
Posted June 30th, 2008 in [hide]An easy hike is a double-edged sword; being in nature isn’t really “getting away” if the trail is as densely populated as New York. Talapus is close enough to Seattle, and easy enough, that the US Forest Service web page warns “This area offers little privacy or seclusion due to overuse.”
Snow changes everything, and, this year, the highlands have no shortage of snow. The only hints of winter are above, on the surrounding peaks. It isn’t until halfway up the mountainside that patches of snow start to appear, at first isolated from one another, then more and more often, until the ground is covered in white. At first it’s shallow enough, but soon it becomes impossible to tell; with nothing exposed to provide a frame of reference, the snow could be inches, feet, or miles deep.
About the point where the trail begins to climb switchbacks up the mountain side, a blanket of snow hides the path completely. This is where most hikers turn back. It’s a difficult climb when the ground is slick and the trail is lost completely. Still, it isn’t long before the hill levels off, forming a plateau which leads to the stream forming waterfalls.
If you follow the guide books, Talapus Lake’s trailhead is at the end of Forest Road #9030, 
a dirt service road following tight switchbacks up the mountain. As you climb, you’ll loop past a stream flowing down, occasionally as waterfalls. Early in the hike, the trail leads around the side of the mountain, with occasional breaks in the tree cover opening up to a vista of snow-capped peaks, but away from the stream. Near the crest, a narrow bridge – currently dwarfed by snow banks – crosses the river, leading away to campgrounds. The stream itself leads to a marsh at one end of the lake, which, even under two or three feet of snow, was not empty.
Most of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area is connected by a network of trails. Talapus can also be reached from the Pratt Lake trailhead, and the lake itself is a stopping point on the way to more highland scenery. A mile further is Olallie Lake, then it’s a steep hike upward to reach Mason Lake, sitting immediately under a ring of peaks.
hi forrest
like the first photo. looks like a great place for a solitary walk
Did you take it using a wide angle lense?
i like very much the google map. it helps me get an understanding where these wonderful places are. if i’m ever in seattle i’ll have to try this hike. how long did it take you each way? do you have to go on long hikes into the mountains to get good pictures anymore?
Hi, Neerav!
I used a 15 to 30 zoom for the first shot, around 24 mm. The vertical showing the same scene, more or less, was a 50 mm. Anyway, it was a great hike! We got a lot of snow a few weeks ago, so the trail was virtually empty. Normally people think of this as a good place to bring out-of-town guests, but not so much to enjoy the solitude in nature. And there was still a large group at one end of the lake, but walking around the shore was beautiful. Anyway, I’m glad you enjoy them! And thanks for stopping by.
@Jennifer - It was probably an hour going up, and maybe half that going down. Maybe a little more on both sides, but I don’t think by very much.
I don’t see any cities or farmland. Is this kind of place rare in America?
whats that spot in the river picture with the log in it?