Home»All Photographs»2020 Hikes»Talus Lake 06-20-20

Talus Lake is a great outing with a long fire road approach, providing the opportunity for a bike-n-hike.
David rented a steed the day before, and Clayton had his newly purchased ride ready to go, so the three of us were set.
We rode to Mt. Romulus backcountry campground, where we ditched our bikes in the forest and changed into hiking boots. The trail to Talus Lake is by no means busy and has a sense of isolation and wilderness, despite it not being really that far from the trailhead (10 km of riding each way).
Varying terrain eventually led us to a rocky gorge where I lost the faint trail for a bit. This led to some bushwacking along a ridge - oops!. When I did spot the correct trail, it was across a steep-sided gully (pic #8). We scrambled down a manageable section, then postholed across some soft snow - oops again!
Our reward soon followed, however, with a dramatic arrival at Lower Talus Lake. The azure water decorated with ice at the edge was only outdone by Upper Talus Lake, which still resembled a daiquiri. The upper lake even had entire fir trees and 20 lb boulders on the lake ice, a testament to the avalanches that rip down these slopes every winter. A relaxing lunch was enjoyed lakeside before heading back along the opposite side of the lower lake.
The return to our bikes was largely uneventful. The ride out however, was fast and exciting. We ripped through stream crossings and down bumpy stretches - the kind of adrenaline-pumping goodness that hiking alone can not offer.