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In the morning we visited a store to get 3 replacement cups - in fact, almost
exactly like the cups we had left at home.
Click here to see what's in our packs. Then we drove to Coldwater
Campground and arrived at the trailhead at 10:45am. The upper lot
was mostly full, but there were a handful of spaces left.
There weren't any bear boxes at the upper lot, so we stored our extra food in the
bear box next to the lower trailhead. After getting everything ready and doing
our weigh-in, I discovered we had more weight than I expected. I was carrying 60
pounds, Jean 34 pounds, Nathan 33 pounds, and Jared 24 pounds. These were all
close to the limit of what we wanted to carry, but at this point I didn't want to
fiddle anymore, so we got started just before noon.
We had done a day hike from this trailhead before, 5 years earlier to Arrowhead
and Skelton Lakes. The kids couldn't remember it, and I didn't remember much
other than what I read on my own website. The trail starts
climbing steadily from the start, switchbacking through the forest up to
Arrowhead Lake. We stopped at the intersection, but didn't actually go down
to the lake.
There were lots of people out on the trail today, mostly day hikers probably headed up
toward Barney Lake. The trail continues to climb, though not as steadily and mostly
not as steeply as before. Soon enough we passed by Skelton Lake. We could see the
peninsula we had stopped at 5 years earlier, but we didn't go there this time.
We continued on up the trail for another mile or so to Barney Lake.
Skelton Lake
Skelton Lake
Stream crossing
When we arrived at Barney Lake, it felt like there were 500 people there. Ok, maybe
there were closer to 50. But there was a large, loud group of college-age kids near the far end
of the lake, chanting, offering each other money to jump in and swim in the cold water.
On the bright side, it was a beautiful (though somewhat shallow) lake. Snow fields flowed
right down to the edge of the lake. Mountains rose up above it to the south and west.
Barney Lake
Barney Lake
Wildflowers at Barney Lake
After a snack break here, we left the crowds behind and started the climb up to Duck Pass.
The trail climbs up switchbacks and across a few muddy or watery portions of trail.
While earlier reports had mentioned snow on the pass, we didn't set a foot on snow
on the way up to the top. What little snow there was, people had routed the trail
around it. It's about 800 feet of climbing from Barney Lake to the top of the pass.
Along the way are some great views of the lakes below.
Heading up to Duck Pass
Barney Lake
Pika seen on the way to Duck Pass
Barney Lake
Barney Lake
Barney Lake
Barney Lake
Taking a break on a snow bank
The pass itself is kind of anti-climactic. It's narrow, and you can't see much to
the northwest anymore. You also can't see much to the south or east yet, either.
After continuing a little over the pass, though, we reached the trail intersection
and could see Duck Lake spreading out below us.
Duck Lake
Duck Lake
The trail to the left leads to Pika Lake. We decided to stay on the main trail for
now, looking for a campsite. However, we soon decided that the terrain made that
almost impossible. We did see one or two small sites, but none big enough for our
tent, or even remotely flat, or close to the water. In fact the entire northwestern
shore of Duck Lake drops precipitously toward the lake, so it's probably impossible
to find a suitable campsite on that shore unless you're a solo camper who doesn't
mind a slanted site and a long walk to the water.
Duck Lake
We doubled back and took the Pika Lake trail. After another aborted attempt to find
a site on the northern side of the lake, we continued along the trail as it descends around the
northern tip of Duck Lake. When the trail reached the bottom, it became very muddy
in places, slowing our progress.
We saw two other tents in the area, and we found a site a little past them,
near the northeastern shore of Duck Lake. While the site we found was mostly suitable,
it was slightly slanted toward the lake. After dinner I moseyed up the hill to see
that there were many large sites above, but without good lake views. I also didn't
go far enough to see Pika Lake itself. In any case, our site was still pretty good,
with some nice views of the lake and easy access to the water.
Duck Lake
Duck Lake
Duck Lake
Mountains to south of Duck Lake
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