The morning broke early and hot with the sky a deep blue with the sun its only guest. The perfect day to try for a hike to that isolated lake known as Bloomington Lake. There are generally two ways to get to this little jewel in the Rockies. (http://thetrekplanner.com/bloomington-lake-bear-river-mountains/)
First is a hiking trail that winds its way up the mountain past beaver ponds, streams, luscious foliage and pine trees that reach to the heavens. It’s a gentle hike on a trail that is wandering through young aspen that show the signs of beaver’s handy work as they try to use them to increase the size of their ponds. The water runoff from the snow melt is all around us as we get about a half mile into the hike. Making the trail a little hard to follow but undaunted we continued on until the trail meets the snowline and vanishes out of sight.
Well not wanting to hike into drifts and deep snow we decided to back track and take the road up to the top and hike down into the lake.
And as it goes that road has been closed with the gates locked probably due to run off and mud. So since we are hiking we take our hike to the road. The road is actually dry and the sun is out so the shade of the trees is welcome as we steadily continue upward.
One thing I should mention is that we had 3 adventurous small children with us on the hike. Hiking with them was interesting to say the least. One picked up small rocks or pebbles as we started up the road handing them to each of us as a cherished treasure of the hike. The other a little older took those small rocks and threw them at the culverts that ran under the road to make a “clang” followed by a laugh as we hiked up the trail. Looking across the canyon the light breeze ripples the leaves in the aspen and brings the smell of spring to our senses. (https://www.facebook.com/pg/USFSCaribouTarghee/photos/?ref=page_internal)
It was a beautiful day for a hike into the woods looking for a small lake nestled at the bottom of cliffs and steep mountains.
As we ascended the road we broke onto the flats known as Telegraph Flat where the water was running aggressively across the road. This water being two to three feet in depth and about 50 feet long was now barring the road. Looking up the road we could see the snow, now bold and deep across road and mountain side as far as the eye could see.
So it is a perfect time to stop and have a snack giving the little ones a break. Well those of us who had been carrying them for the last mile and half at least needed a break. I like the freeze- dried pineapples and the apple slices are great for a hike snack as well that you can get from Rainy Day Foods.
A couple of the adults in our group headed up the trail and endured the snow for a couple of hundred more yards before turning back to join the rest of us.
Well it was a good try. The day is still hot and it looks like the hike back down the road will be just as beautiful as the hike up. With the little ones splashing in the small stream that ran along the side of the road, showing the happiness in their little faces for being there, well it just does not get any better. So off down the road we go refreshed from our little snacks and drinks.
It does not take long before we meet a couple coming up the road; they are ahead of some teenage youth who want to see the Lake. We told them that we could not get there because of the snow. They asked us not to tell the kids following a little way down the road, not wanting to discourage them from their hike. Of course we complied and just wished them a good hike as we passed them on the way down. (https://parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/parks/bear-lake)
Youth are always positive and know exactly what they want in life so it did not surprise us as we were hiking down the road when we met a couple of young men who had backpacks and camping gear with hammocks to spend the night at Bloomington Lake.
They told us they were up with a family group and had decided to come on their own for an overnight camp out at the lake and they asked about how far to the lake. We told them that it was probably about two more miles ahead but that there was deep snow and they might want to rethink the overnight camp. Well they said they thought they were prepared to stay the night and did not think a little snow should keep them from the camp out. (https://rainydayfoods.com/clearance-emergency-supplies.html) Have fun we said and we continued on our way down and they resumed their hike up the mountain.
I wonder today how those two young men fared on their adventure in their sandals and shorts as they continued their hike to camp overnight at Bloomington Lake. I am sure our words to them seemed strange since the road was dry and there was no snow to be seen where we met those two young men. Hopefully they got to the lake without getting frost bite. I hope we are prepared in our homes for what we cannot see ahead. ‘Till next time RLJust a Hike to the Lake
The morning broke early and hot with the sky a deep blue with the sun its only guest. The perfect day to try for a hike to that isolated lake known as Bloomington Lake. There are generally two ways to get to this little jewel in the Rockies. (http://thetrekplanner.com/bloomington-lake-bear-river-mountains/)
First is a hiking trail that winds its way up the mountain past beaver ponds, streams, luscious foliage and pine trees that reach to the heavens. It’s a gentle hike on a trail that is wandering through young aspen that show the signs of beaver’s handy work as they try to use them to increase the size of their ponds. The water runoff from the snow melt is all around us as we get about a half mile into the hike. Making the trail a little hard to follow but undaunted we continued on until the trail meets the snowline and vanishes out of sight.
Well not wanting to hike into drifts and deep snow we decided to back track and take the road up to the top and hike down into the lake.
And as it goes that road has been closed with the gates locked probably due to run off and mud. So since we are hiking we take our hike to the road. The road is actually dry and the sun is out so the shade of the trees is welcome as we steadily continue upward.
One thing I should mention is that we had 3 adventurous small children with us on the hike. Hiking with them was interesting to say the least. One picked up small rocks or pebbles as we started up the road handing them to each of us as a cherished treasure of the hike. The other a little older took those small rocks and threw them at the culverts that ran under the road to make a “clang” followed by a laugh as we hiked up the trail. Looking across the canyon the light breeze ripples the leaves in the aspen and brings the smell of spring to our senses. (https://www.facebook.com/pg/USFSCaribouTarghee/photos/?ref=page_internal)
It was a beautiful day for a hike into the woods looking for a small lake nestled at the bottom of cliffs and steep mountains.
As we ascended the road we broke onto the flats known as Telegraph Flat where the water was running aggressively across the road. This water being two to three feet in depth and about 50 feet long was now barring the road. Looking up the road we could see the snow, now bold and deep across road and mountain side as far as the eye could see.
So it is a perfect time to stop and have a snack giving the little ones a break. Well those of us who had been carrying them for the last mile and half at least needed a break. I like the freeze- dried pineapples and the apple slices are great for a hike snack as well that you can get from Rainy Day Foods.
A couple of the adults in our group headed up the trail and endured the snow for a couple of hundred more yards before turning back to join the rest of us.
Well it was a good try. The day is still hot and it looks like the hike back down the road will be just as beautiful as the hike up. With the little ones splashing in the small stream that ran along the side of the road, showing the happiness in their little faces for being there, well it just does not get any better. So off down the road we go refreshed from our little snacks and drinks.
It does not take long before we meet a couple coming up the road; they are ahead of some teenage youth who want to see the Lake. We told them that we could not get there because of the snow. They asked us not to tell the kids following a little way down the road, not wanting to discourage them from their hike. Of course we complied and just wished them a good hike as we passed them on the way down. (https://parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/parks/bear-lake)
Youth are always positive and know exactly what they want in life so it did not surprise us as we were hiking down the road when we met a couple of young men who had backpacks and camping gear with hammocks to spend the night at Bloomington Lake.
They told us they were up with a family group and had decided to come on their own for an overnight camp out at the lake and they asked about how far to the lake. We told them that it was probably about two more miles ahead but that there was deep snow and they might want to rethink the overnight camp. Well they said they thought they were prepared to stay the night and did not think a little snow should keep them from the camp out. (https://rainydayfoods.com/clearance-emergency-supplies.html) Have fun we said and we continued on our way down and they resumed their hike up the mountain.
I wonder today how those two young men fared on their adventure in their sandals and shorts as they continued their hike to camp overnight at Bloomington Lake. I am sure our words to them seemed strange since the road was dry and there was no snow to be seen where we met those two young men. Hopefully they got to the lake without getting frost bite. I hope we are prepared in our homes for what we cannot see ahead. ‘Till next time RL