Ramps and Stairs
Sunday, September 30, 2018 – Blue Lake Approach
Dodging leaf traffic, I drove up to Brainard this afternoon for a breathless, heart-pounding jaunt up the Blue Lake Trail, stopping about 3/4 of the way up due to waning daylight. Trees along the road up and through Ward were in full golden color, whereas those only a little higher in elevation have already dropped their leaves.
Along the trail, I tried to remember the features. After the log bridge beyond Mitchell Lake, the trail ascends a rock staircase before leveling out a little bit at some high tundra ponds. The top of the “staircase” is essentially treeline, with krummholz edging the trail.
At this point the trail rises again, in what I call “the ramp,” where it’s not as steep as the staircase, but still a significant ascent.
After the hike, I stopped in Nederland for a cookie and hot chocolate.
Red Rock Lake
