I like the mystery of early season hiking. Going somewhere knowing you’ll most likely be turned back by unsafe creek crossings or snowfields that are hard and icy, soft and wet, or filled with post-holing Type II fun. It must be the curious adventurer in me that doesn’t care about miles covered instead just wanting to see what I can see, go where I can go, while being completely fine turning back when things show me that’s best for this day.
Spring has it’s own schedule. How much snow did winter bring? With the trailhead at 2,800 feet, it’s one of the lower elevation options and a good place to test conditions. Most often you can’t get far until late May or early June. These mountain should still be draped in heavy white coats.
In a few weeks most of the white will be gone. This is Bear Gulch, one of the less popular ways to reach Morris and Smith Lakes.
Morris Meadow will soon be filled with lush green grasses and cheery wildflowers.
With few hikers and campers, the bears roam free.
Signs of spring are everywhere.
Snowmelt means raging waterfalls.
Mother Nature reminds you to pay attention to the weather forecast and to be prepared for springs storms.
While Emerald Lake shares a little reflection, Sapphire and Mirror Lakes remain masked beyond the fog.
These prayer flags added a punch of color to this well-used campsite on this dreary day, but they don’t belong in the wilderness. I gained a few LNT credits by taking them with me.
I go prepared for wet feet on these spring jaunts. Between water crossings, wet meadows, creek-like trails and snowy traverses, it’s just a fact of life.
On trips like these I’m happy to have my phone loaded with e-books for those times I might need to spend time in my tent waiting out a storm. It doesn’t hurt to find a great view campsite where you can be entertained by the storm.
The aftermath of rain, is magic.
The warm sun might encourage a few breaks to recover from the rain showers.
Wandering off the beaten path might lead you to find cool geologic features.
And you might just find a perfect campsite.
You can find early spring blooms to observe and photograph.
I’m happy to find trails free of litter but I always seem to find lost items that need to be hauled out.
Adventure Dates:
- April-June, any year, depending on winter snow levels
Resources:
- USFS – Shasta Trinity National Forest, Trinity Alps
- Map – USFS Trinity Alps Wilderness
- Books
Disclosure: Amazon affiliate links may be included which provide me a tiny kickback to help pay for this site.
Jan's Jaunts and Jabberings 
Looks like a lovely way to ring in the new hiking season!
What wonderful writing Jan! Thanks so much for the wonderful photos and inspiring words that tell your story of the coming spring.
Thank you! Life goes on and thankfully we shall not be constrained by corona. Hope all is well with you and your family.
Absolutely gorgeous photos- what a beautiful place.
Pretty nice backyard 🙂 I’m glad you enjoyed. Hope you and your family are well.
Beautiful area! I love the 2 geologic pics and so many beautiful flowers. Again, thank you for sharing your adventures. Stay healthy and safe as always!
Thank you. Hope you and your family are doing well also.
Thank you for sharing. From your experience, it does not look too early to make the drive south. I assume it is legal to backpack there now. Places like the North Cascades are not legal.
Yes it’s legal although we are still being told not to leave our county but it’s happening. We are finishing up a storm that dropped some new snow so I’d make decisions based on elevation and be aware of those north facing slopes.
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