The trail starts at Mill D North. The trail starts at 7300ft and after 2.6 miles and 1450 ft I'll be at the lake. I've been to Dog Lake once this past winter.The lake was obviously just a snowy white patch. Today will be different but there's still the chance I will see snow.
It's cloudy out right now but I checked the radar and it looks clear so I think I'm safe (at least I hope).
I'm approaching the trail head when 3 doe walk down the steep slope to the left, cross the road and drop down the steep right side of the road. Well, that's a good start!
I park at the trail head and there's only one other car -- I'll have the trail basically to myself tonight. Yea!
Not 30 feet down the trail, I see another doe in the woods. She looks disheveled - bad hair day after all the days of rain?? :)
I hear other rustling in the brush but can't see any other deer.
I continue up the trail. There are blue violets, Strawberries and OregonGrape blooming.
And I find a Geranium just about ready to bloom! And Wild Lily of the Valley.
There are Bluebells ready to bloom everywhere (and some are blooming).
I spot 3 more doe among the thick aspen grove.
Further up, I spot some Meadow Rue blooming.
I'm hiking above a valley now - below is the winter snowshoe trail to Dog Lake. Soon both trails will become one. Across the valley, the aspen covered slopes have not started to leaf out.
And I'm here, the intersection of both trails which is at a small creek. The creek no the downhill side of the intersection is not flowing. A little further up the trail, it is flowing. They must be routing the water off to some catchment system.
Still scanning for moose or elk -- but nothing yet.
I so spot some Spring Beautys in bloom.
I get to the split in the trail. To right, I go to Desolation Lake; to the left, Dog Lake. Heading left today. About a 1/2 mile to go - and this is the hardest part.
There's snow around here. The trail is pretty clear at first but then I get to the "gully" - a very steep section of the trail. From here to the lake, it's in and out of snow.
I find the rib cage and spine of probably a deer that didn't make it through the winter.
I hear some rustling in the forest to the right. There's a good sized brown animal! It's a porcupine!!
We both stop for a while and then when I move, he starts moving. We're both going in the same direction. After a few stop/moves, he scurries to hide under a large pine tree. And I continue up the last section of the trail before coming to Dog Lake.
I approach slowly in case there are animals around the lake -- but no animals. Just a nice small mountain lake with some wonderful reflections.
The one side still has a lot of snow. I plow through the foot+ of snow to get above the lake. I want to check the area I went to this winter. Mt Reynolds is much different without all the snow.
I believe I can hike up to that peak but I just don't have time today. So, I hike around Dog Lake. There's lots of logs on the far side of the lake -- and a male Mallard too.
I make my way around the lake enjoying the views.
Time to head back down.
I find the porcupine again. He's out in the open. We repeat the same drill as before but instead of hiding under the pine tree (the same pine tree), he climbs the tree. I can see him go up and up.
I leave him in peace and continue down.
The sky is a little darker now and the snowy peaks show up a lot better.
I spot doe number 8, 9 and 10 down the ravine.
I spot some Virgin's Bowers blooming.
And I spot #11 on the trail. I try to sneak up on her but she's slowing grazing up the hill. She disappears into the forest.
I'm nearing the end; Mt Kessler is getting larger.
I'm back to the trail head and it's starting to spit rain -- so much for a rain-free day. Run into heavy rain down the canyon and into valley.
Can't complain, I had an awesome hike!
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