Heather Lake on New Year's Eve
Jan. 2nd, 2026 04:11 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tiggymalvern
We had a few days of clear sunny weather in the run-up to New Year, so I waited until day three when some of the mud might have dried up a bit and went hiking! After all the rain and flooding, some places aren't accessible right now because roads and trails have washed out, including a 50 mile section of Highway 2 that's closed which they say will take months to repair, so that limits some options. I knew from the trip reports that there was snow at Heather Lake, but most of the trail up there was snow-free.
Down near the car park. There used to be some very large trees here.
The full-time snow started about a third of a mile from the lake. This was the path through the trees entering the lake basin, with that lovely eerie colour of winter sky.
The loop trail around the lake was just magical, with the lake mostly but not completely frozen. The area around the outlet stream was still open, where the water's moving more.
The outlet stream and that pink-tinged winter sky again.
The main expanse of Heather Lake, ringed by mountains.
A few people walked out onto the ice, and I can't emphasise how much I wouldn't do that when the lake isn't even entirely frozen! They were taking their kids out there too, ugh.
The lake was only part frozen at the far end of the loop too, where the water from the mountains runs in. This was my spot to sit on a rock and eat lunch, listening to the intermittent small avalanches from the other side of the mountain where the sun hits.
Mountains reflected in the open water.
Working my way around the back half of the loop, looking out over what is wetland in summer to the low point of the basin where the trail comes in.
More mountain reflections.
Looking back towards the high mountains from the final section of the loop.
It was just beautiful. Absolutely clear and still and snow everywhere :-) There were definitely people around, I saw some here and there, but not as many as I'd thought, especially since everyone spreads out around the loop. While I sat for about twenty minutes eating lunch, nobody passed me. I got back to the car at 2pm, and a few people were just setting out. I hope those people had lamps with them for the way back.
My quads have ached for the last two days, because I always forget how bad that trail is. It's only two miles up to the lake, but the second mile is very rocky and rooty - you're always stepping up over things and sometimes up onto boulders two and a half feet tall. It's one of the slower miles on the hiking itineraries!
Down near the car park. There used to be some very large trees here.
The full-time snow started about a third of a mile from the lake. This was the path through the trees entering the lake basin, with that lovely eerie colour of winter sky.
The loop trail around the lake was just magical, with the lake mostly but not completely frozen. The area around the outlet stream was still open, where the water's moving more.
The outlet stream and that pink-tinged winter sky again.
The main expanse of Heather Lake, ringed by mountains.
A few people walked out onto the ice, and I can't emphasise how much I wouldn't do that when the lake isn't even entirely frozen! They were taking their kids out there too, ugh.
The lake was only part frozen at the far end of the loop too, where the water from the mountains runs in. This was my spot to sit on a rock and eat lunch, listening to the intermittent small avalanches from the other side of the mountain where the sun hits.
Mountains reflected in the open water.
Working my way around the back half of the loop, looking out over what is wetland in summer to the low point of the basin where the trail comes in.
More mountain reflections.
Looking back towards the high mountains from the final section of the loop.
It was just beautiful. Absolutely clear and still and snow everywhere :-) There were definitely people around, I saw some here and there, but not as many as I'd thought, especially since everyone spreads out around the loop. While I sat for about twenty minutes eating lunch, nobody passed me. I got back to the car at 2pm, and a few people were just setting out. I hope those people had lamps with them for the way back.
My quads have ached for the last two days, because I always forget how bad that trail is. It's only two miles up to the lake, but the second mile is very rocky and rooty - you're always stepping up over things and sometimes up onto boulders two and a half feet tall. It's one of the slower miles on the hiking itineraries!
no subject
Date: 2026-01-03 04:12 am (UTC)Those people walking on not completely frozen ice are gonna die horribly one day. I hope they don't expect other hikers to risk their lives to save them.
Thanks for sharing the photos. I still haven't finished posting mine from WA :(
no subject
Date: 2026-01-03 04:53 am (UTC)You still have more photos from WA to come? Cool, I'm looking forward to them!
no subject
Date: 2026-01-04 03:02 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-01-04 04:44 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-01-06 06:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-01-06 07:11 am (UTC)