24 replies to this topic

[Igloo Ed]

soatley, on 16 August 2011 - 06:59 PM, said:

Ed if you ever hike behind Kristin you'd know why I like to follow her. Quite a nice view.

Snady

Oh! And here I thought you were sticking your tongue out at her...

Here's a Google Earth image with the route roughly where we went:

Hopin that'll do Fox.

[Mark Zemmin]

Looks like fun. Sounds like my kind of hiking. You three are impressive.

[foxfire]

Thanks Ed!

Foxter

- - Cool!

[Scrapinator]

Great report. Looks like you had a fantastic day.

[JDgreen]

Aaron, on 16 August 2011 - 01:29 PM, said:

Wow. I have no desire to ever hike through Forest Canyon.

That one picture looks like Snady is hoping to capture Kristin falling into the water.

Thanks for the report!


--Aaron

Like +1000 but I am in awe of the trip you 3 did in every way!

[John]

Well done! What a great trek!

[Allie]

Can't even begin to say how much I admire the 3 of you. Wonderful photos.

[mistylady]

An amazing hike! Way, way out of what I would ever be able to do. But, I am fascinated with the Forest Canyon Overlook. I look below to all the trees and wonder what it would be like to be there to share in some of the canyon's secrets. Thanks for sharing some of those secrets with us. Incredible!

[malicky]

Amazing report and fotos. I'm going to Forest Canyon and Arrowhead last weekend of Aug. Since Little Rock Lake site was already taken, my buddy and I will be camping in the cross country zones. We plan to camp near edge of cross country zone, at 42 23 48.49 N 105 45 23.24 W on the 2nd night to minimize total climb on the hike out on the last day. But, we're still discussing where to camp the first night. At first, I had thought maybe somewhere near Forest Lake or between Forest Lake and Little Rock Lake. Had hoped to hike to the Big T river on the 2nd day so I can fish and visit the headwaters area. However, you noted boggy spots near Rock Lake and stories of boggy areas are common. Any suggestions on dry spots you found?

In addition, I'd be interested if you kept a GPS track of your trip. Would not mind borrowing your tracks up from Arrowhead to the ridge above so I can pinpoint where to start my treck down (in reverse). We'll be coming in and out on the Mt Ida trail and crossing over the divide to parallel the ridge above Gorges Lakes before descending down to Arrowhead from above Love Lake, not duplicating the adventurous route you took on your trip.

In following the outlet from Little Rock Lake up to Arrowhead, how was the deadfall? I am thinking that again in reverse, I would be taking this route from the Little Rock Lake area to the Big T when doing my exploring on the 2nd day of the trip.

Was the big snowfield on the ridge above Arrowhead, and did you feel that traction spikes of some kind were needed if someone were to be carrying a 40lb backpack?

On the last day, we just hope to make it back over the divide and below treeline before one of these thunder clapper, hail, buckets of rain storms hits, so not much exploring planned the last day.

Any tips much appreciated and again congrats on an amazing trip.

[Igloo Ed]

The boggy spots are the swamps behind the lakes and along creeks, the woods are dry. There seemed to be ample flat spots scattered about, look on top/behind rock cliffs.
Didn't track it with a GPS but:
Leave Arrowhead some 100 yds. from the lake outlet by following the shore along the south side of the lake. There will be a route heading across glacially shaped/polished rock that heads N.NE. over to the steam coming out of the lake but some 100 ft. below the lake. The steam crossing is right below a nice alpine meadow with a snowfield above it and along the stream. The stream is actually running under the snowfield right now and could be completely melted when you are here, don't know about that.
After crossing stream, head left away from stream following little clearing out onto a ridge. At first, there are some rather nice clearings that are nearly flat mixed with routes through trees and then another clearing. Follow good clearings down on crest of ridge (a rather broad ridge at first) and when the clearings run out stay on left side of ridge where you'll get a good view from some of the cliffs you come close to. Follow left side/exposed rock mixed with nasty dead fall but there seems to be a way through most of them. Ridge will get steeper and steeper and the last couple downs are climbing. It's safe enough but if you are not comfortable with a tiny bit of exposure....
After getting down off cliffs, you are still above the river but you can head left. The cliffs to the left and above have collapse some leaving some rather large boulders to go through. They can be scambled/climbed over but the first encounter with boulders has a cave going through them. I'd advise taking the tunnel.
One more pile of boulders after the tunnel and then it is just woods/nasty going down to Rock Lake.
The entire route showed signs of wear from use but it disappears frequently and if you are good at finding them again...
The snowfield/cornice we encountered upon reaching the top of the ridge out of Arrowhead was melted away from a cliff along the west side of the snowfield. We climbed up on bare ground.