Circle the Cirque Crest

Lake Basin. "Horsehead Lake", and I have to admit, one of my all time favorite pictures. To me, this is a apex of pure wilderness, once again proving the overwhelming infinite variety of wilderness. Sadly, this will someday be a meadow, and with global warming, a small forest and no longer timberline.

"Horsehead Lake"

Circle The Cirque Crest - By D.W.Donehoo (All rights reserved)

We pressed on beneath the ramparts of the pass down grassy gullies with traces of use trail (used by deer and humans), and through a large avalanche area and down to a small pretty lake, which I call "Horse Head Lake" due to the remains there. It has a large grassy sward, all embraced by granite ribs and cliffs, with a sheltered campsite in cozy trees. A waterfall slides and cascades into the lake, with another sluicing in a granite joint that feeds an extensive cascade that ends in another meadow fringed lake some 100 feet below the lake. From the solid granite outlet you embrace great views down into Cartridge Creek canyon. We crossed Horsehead Lakes outlet and turned the west side of the lake to find an easy grassy gully to the top of the great ribbed wall and slopes that mark the end of Lake Basin.