Fault Lake (2) - Just Hiking

Statistics

Date - 10/14/2000
Elevation - < 7,000'
Route - Trail No. 59
Miles - 11.7
Elevation Gain - 2,765'
ACME Mapper - Link
CalTopo - Link
Partners - Not Applicable

Description

As I said at the close of the 1999 season about Two Mouth Lakes, I also wanted to return to Fault Lake because I never actually made it all the way to my final destination. The Fault Lake trailhead is located approximately 14 miles up the Pack River Road north of Sandpoint, Idaho. After starting the hike, I was afraid that my reunion with the Fault Lake trail was going to be bitter sweet. Although the weather was more cooperative and I was going to complete the entire hike, after I made it in about 4 miles, I was completely shrouded in clouds. I couldn't see much more than 50 yards around me, and when I finally made it to the lake it was even less.

Even though I was disappointed at my arrival, I was still happy that I had made it, and I began thinking about the run in I had with the local wildlife just an hour earlier. As I tromped down the trail on my way in, I was startled by some rustling in the brush about 30 yards away. When I stopped in my tracks and looked over, I watched a medium sized black bear inquisitively raise on its hind legs to see what all the noise was about. He didn't actually see me, but he probably smelled me and he high tailed it down the draw. Needless to say, my heart was pounding, and I wondered if I would encounter him on my way out. Thankfully I didn't.

Anyway, after being at the lake for a few minutes the clouds started to rise and I could finally see all the way across the lake. It was spectacular as I peered across the lake at a huge granite wall that shot up out of Fault Lake. I felt as though I was in a room with rock walls and the clouds as the ceiling overhead. I clicked a few photos and meandered out seeing the trail that I had come in on. With McCormick Lake, Hunt Lake, and Gunsight Peak in the area, I will plan to return here again and give myself more time to explore the area and see the other attractions. I need to come up here in the middle of the summer rather than in October though.

Photos

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Fault Lake