Home»All Photographs»2013 Hikes»Consolation Lakes 10-05-13

It started lightly snowing - just a flake here and there - as I started hiking. A couple of hours later, it was steady snow flurries and showing no signs of abating. It slowly increased in intensity as the day went on, but I welcomed the weather I was given. Although larch tress glow like no other in the sunshine, snowfall always adds its own interest to a hike. Maybe the limited visibility and muffled sounds make you focus more on seeing and hearing?
After a brief approach through pine and spruce forest, the Consolation Lakes are easily reached. My plan was to explore the upper valley beyond the lakes, toward the base of Consolation Pass.
I used a lateral moraine for travel beyond the second lake, as much of the immediate valley appears to be rocky but is rather gravel/boulder-strewn glacier ice. The moraine led me up to my destination safely, as I reached a fantastic larch grove below Taylor and Consolation Pass. The snow here is shin-deep and won't be going away for many months to come. A peaceful little creek flows here in the muffled quiet of this place. The snow made it easy to skim along, randomly wandering without a trail. It's curious how such a serene enclave is reached by travelling up such a rugged, windy moraine.
Consolation Pass and Taylor pass dominate the view (at least on a snowy day).