I wanted to get to an alpine lake again this year and as the snow is coming and going I thought today would be a good choice.Foggy , rainy and cold was the weather not the 62 and sunny predicted.The hike to the lake is through a wonderful silver fir forest with a sprinkling of doug firs and Engleman spruce thrown in , many large for the type. There was good fall color at the lake with the huckleberry bushes the brightest but there was also good color in the willows and especially the Lyalls larch which are golden this time of year.A harsh transitional day with dozens of feet of snow to fall here soon.
I have climbed and skied this area many times and I find the wet raw days of fall to be more intimidating than the bitter cold and deep snows of winter. With good snowshoes or skis and proper clothing a day far below zero (F zero ) is easier to take than wet and windy in the thirties. In any case the snow will prevail soon .
