Big Five / Little Five Lakes Loop

Here is a good example of the reason we backpackers endure grueling treks: breathtaking views such as this. Below is Spring Lake, the source of Cliff Creek. Above the soaring cliffs above Spring Lake is Sawtooth Peak (12,343 feet). Down the ridge is Needham Mountain. I could see people at the lake. Note the Black Rock Pass Trail below.

Spring Lake

Big 5, Little 5 Lakes Loop and Sawtooth Pass, August 4th to 7th, 2000.

Back and forth the trail swept upward, back and forth, back and forth. The slope was mostly a sandy or rocky desert sporting some small ground hugging growth. Of some interest was that the elbows of the left to right (looking up) switchbacks were sometimes built among some hardy large sparse trees that allowed me to stop, breathe, and cool off before resuming the climb.

Black Rock Pass is the notch on the right horizon. Note the yellowish scree and the dark volcanic rocks of this area. By the way, this picture is looking straight up the mountain at a very steep angle. A very steep angle.

The views were beginning to shape up nicely, particularly towards Spring Lake, Columbine Lake and Glacier Pass up at the head of the canyon. At one right to left switchback a faint cross-country route could be see heading towards Spring Lake and its outlet waterfall, although down trail a ways there was much easier access to the valley below and the easy cross-country to Spring Lake. At one point I was at the level of Spring Lake, and I could see people walking around on the left end of the lake there. The lake look inviting in the dramatic surroundings, not the least of those is the sheer cliffs over the lake. As I rose higher on the pass the lake (and those above it) were slowly revealed, along with most of the other features of the area. Sawtooth Peak, which I would pass close to two days hence, was king above all the lesser peaks nearby, striking a dramatic pose on the deep blue sky background. The open canyon below was almost devoid of trees except at Spring Lake. Above the valley and below Glacier Pass, the terrain looked inviting to cross-country mountaineers such as myself with miles of open granite pavement to cross on hikes of discovery.