Ever since my trip in the same area back in March, I've been wanting to come back here again with my wife. Unfortunately work had kept us both busy on the weekends, the Memorial Day weekend was the first weekend we both had the same days off. We arrived at the parking lot around 9am, and there were already at least 10 cars in the lot. I knew it was going to be a busy weekend, fortunately every person and dog we met on the trail was very nice. Almost everyone had a dog or two with them, we even met three huskies and one husky-malamute cross. The trail looks very different without all that snow, but Herman Lake was still totally frozen.

Anyway, here comes the pictures!

You are at least a month ahead of us in being able to get into the alpine.
Love the pix of your wife (?), Polar and the couloirs behind.

You all always have great adventures! looks amazing! I am still amazed with the doggies off leash!

I was just thinking about you and your hikes the other day and was hoping you weren't one of these short timer visitors. Great photos, Polar looks to be in great shape.

Great pics and thanks for sharing! Looks like Polar made some new friends...and another wooly at that.

We went in April and it was still snow pack about 30-40 mins in.
I was going to see if you wanted to join us as a few of us are hitting this hike on Saturday!
Looks like most of the trail has thawed out. Did you need spikes at all for a short part of the hike?

Great pictures! Can't wait to hit this trail this Saturday - Kim (Demon&Dakota) and Heather will be joining us, along with 2 of the huskies I've placed in their furever home, and Kelly (from H2M2) - It's gonna be a husky hike!

jalepeno wrote:

You are at least a month ahead of us in being able to get into the alpine.
Love the pix of your wife (?), Polar and the couloirs behind.

I heard that there are still a lot of snow coming down on your part of the country. We are pretty happy to still see a little snow on the ground at the end of May. Polar really loves to play in the snow!

norbreedslove wrote:

You all always have great adventures! looks amazing! I am still amazed with the doggies off leash!

When are you moving out here to enjoy the adventures? I've seen you talking about it for a couple of months now!

Here4thePics wrote:

I was just thinking about you and your hikes the other day and was hoping you weren't one of these short timer visitors. Great photos, Polar looks to be in great shape.

I've just been way too busy with work, since I started working in April, I've only had one Saturday off, and it rained... my wife used to teach a class on Sundays, and since we share one car right now, it really limit my ability to head into the mountains. Polar and I have spent a lot of time in the dog parks, but we just haven't been able to get out there.

MicroBrewer wrote:

Great pics and thanks for sharing! Looks like Polar made some new friends...and another wooly at that.

His owner told me he is a husky-malamute cross, and he's bigger than Polar too! He is definitely a handsome dog.

cmanding wrote:

We went in April and it was still snow pack about 30-40 mins in.
I was going to see if you wanted to join us as a few of us are hitting this hike on Saturday!
Looks like most of the trail has thawed out. Did you need spikes at all for a short part of the hike?

Great pictures! Can't wait to hit this trail this Saturday - Kim (Demon&Dakota) and Heather will be joining us, along with 2 of the huskies I've placed in their furever home, and Kelly (from H2M2) - It's gonna be a husky hike!

Unless they get dumped with new snow before this Saturday, no you don't need any traction aid for the snow field. It is still deep in parts, but if you just follow the well trodden path in the snow, you won't have any problems. If you venture off path though, you may end up in thigh deep snow...

Unfortunately I'm working again this Saturday, so I won't be able to join you all on this hike. I wish I don't have to work so much on weekends, but right now I'm just happy to have a job to support my family. Maybe next time!

Hey! Been wondering were you were! Great hike pics. Polar is one happy girl.

Sweet! Lots of good info in those pics. If you take the right fork just before heading to the lake, you go over that ridge in the last pic and down to Hassell lake and peak. I still have unfinished business up in there.

Love her expressions. And that red guy... Holy crap that's a huge sled head!