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When taking the trail to Snow Lake, as it switches back to the north or northeast and starts to get steep as it ascends the ridge, look for an obvious sign at the split in the trail. The old trail to Snow Lake proceeds westerly ahead aiming at Chair Peak. As you follow this trail branch westerly, at some point you will see Source Lake down below you on your left. You can then work your way down the rockslide to the lake. (It is actually shorter and easier to go down through the trees when you are at the level of the lake, but you probably won’t be able to see it through the trees, and won’t see it easily until you get to the rockslide.)
The lake is stocked periodically with coastal cutthroat. It is a pretty little pot, but is obviously very small and shallow, so consider releasing all your fish, or take only one for dinner.
Yo Corrington –
Welcome to the best trout fishing in the state (other than steelheading)! There are literally hundreds of high lakes you can go to, many on trails of course, and many more off-trail. The challenge and rewards of this fishery are mainly in the off-trail destinations, but of course you must be experienced in off-trail travel to be safe. I began exploring off-trail in my mid-20’s in the early 1970s, and it didn’t take long to get enough experience to tackle the more challenging areas and routes. You will find the fishing rewards to be – well, about as good as you can imagine, in some lakes.
There are many sources of information on the lakes – published books such as Lakes of Washington by Ernest Wolcott (out of print, and much of the fish planting data is obsolete), USGS 7.5 quads, and mainly from others who share your interest. There are two principal high lake fishing clubs in this area, and you have found one of them (Trail Blazers, Inc.). You should check the web site for the Washington State Hi-Lakers as well. Note that spelling carefully.
I helped prepare a High Lakes Fishing “Primer” a decade or so ago, and you can find it on the Wash Dept Fish and Wildlife web site under Fishing Guides if you snoop around. It includes many tips on the sport.
I expect Brian Curtis will sooner or later add to this string.
I’m not sure why Sandy feels the results would be 10 years out. That certainly isn’t the Idaho experience, based on my understanding. I think we will see *at least* preliminary results in the first 2-3 years. By the way, a colleague and I are going to the lakes to do the baseline zooplankton collections later this week.
Ebob –
Brian can help me here by perhaps forming a link…you will find data on fish growth in a report I put together that is in the Science section of this TB website.
Goldens HAVE been caught in Big Greider, but you usually have to really work at it because they are almost lost in the much more numerous rainbows in the lake. I began stocking the lake with goldens in order to provide a relatively easily-accessible golden lake to the general public, but having them mixed in with the rainbow does make them more challenging to catch. There are other golden lakes that you can search out that have JUST goldens in them. All of the other comments from Brian are right on.
McPil –
I would love to go up there with you. It tends to be a “low water” trip since much of the route is right up the outlet. Fall would be best bug-wise, but the snowpack is fast disappearing. If we still felt strong after getting to the lake, maybe we could attempt to repeat Brian’s feat of climbing on up to Smith.
Sandy –
Excellent comments. But I think you meant $11M, not $1MM in your earlier post. Folks out there need to know how many of their tax dollars were spent on this NCNP study. (Maybe my memory is failing me here, but I don’t think so.)
McPil –
Wonderful photo to go along with your oft-repeated relating of your amazing experience. I formerly found it just interesting, but since meeting another avid hiker who had some TAPES of very, very unusual noises from our woods, I am now a believer. The only frustration I have is our apparent inability to bring in some definite remains from these creatures.
OK, I have been hiking in these mountains for 30+ years, right? My day trip to Lake Ivanhoe this past Thursday proved that if you keep your mouth shut, you can still have some really, really cool wildlife encounters. I was tootling along the Middle Fork Snoqualmie Trail towards Dutch Miller Gap around noon when I crested a small knoll. Up ahead was a bear cub! No wait – IT WAS A WOLVERINE!!!!!! I am a biologist and trained observer, plus I have had a 400-level course in mammology. In any case, its pelage was unmistakable as it galloped up the trail for 4-5 seconds as soon as it saw me. My deepest regret was that I did not have my camera at the ready.
I immediately logged this sighting into the WDFW database. Friends emailed me back, expressing good cheer and jealousy. I consider myself extremely fortunate to have had this wonderful experience. It is just great to know that they are in this area. Their distribution map in my old mammalogy text (printed in 1960s) does not show them below the BC/WA border, except for some in the Sierras. Well, obviously they ARE in Washington! It was an experience I will treasure; it has been on my mind constantly since the event. Guess I’m just a silly, old inveterate tree-hugger.
