10 miles of hiking • 2500' elevation gain •
Full trip report is at http://www.portlandhikers.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=8760. My guess it will take until late August to melt all the snow in that area. The trail still mostly covered above 4,800', and first patches start at 4,000'. I managed to get lost on the way in (went to Lemei Rock but found myself at Wapiki Lake), and then on the way out (went straight north and found the road near Hidden Lakes trail, instead of going east). My route finding skills are terrible in the snow and trees... Wapiki just begins to thaw, and in a couple of flat spots the bare ground opened just enough to put a small tent. NO MOSQUITOES at the lake (saw a few but they're not hungry yet). They'e bad only down near Road 24. The area around the lake and Lemei Rock is beautiful in snow.
Kyle Meyer
July 26, 2011
It's amazing how much snow is still up there. Thanks for posting this.