Hidden Lake - Oct. '26 

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On a Saturday in late October, seven of us drove to Plasse's Resort at Silver Lake on hwy 88, and took the uphill walk to Hidden Lake at 7,700 ft., and back. In July some of us tried to reach Hidden Lake via a trail from the Kit Carson Lodge area, but we only got as far as Granite Lake before turning back, mainly due to due to warm afternoon temps.

Today it was surprisingly cold at the trailhead, and ice was seen on small puddles (following a recent rain) but all of us had gloves & extra layers, plus the immediate uphill slog warmed us up.

On a cloudless blue-sky morning, it was great to be in the mountains ! 

	heading out		uphill for some time		Sierra meadow at 7,500 ft.
		note 1		< Sugar Pines & Silver Lake overlook >
	Thunder Mtn.		Silver Lake & Desolation Wilderness		Jean
		first look at Hidden Lake		note 2
	from the lunch spot		on the walk back

note 1 - (left to right) Kathy, Marcia, Diane, Donna, Jean & Rick

note 2 - At Hidden Lake, Rick & I admired the impressive granite boulders above, imagining how to traverse trough such challenging terrain.   

note 3 - in case anyone is wondering why we saw no fall colors in the woods, there are some Aspens woods trees in the Silver Lake basin, but their brief period of leaf color occurs mainly in September at this elevation.    

The walk - on AllTrails the Hidden Lake via Plasse Trail  is 4.1 miles rt with 862 ft. of gain, and the high point at the Silver Lake overlook was at 7,940 ft. 

Postscript

On the drive home on hwy 88, we stopped once again at scenic Shot Rock vista & restroom. Later we discussed maybe returning here next year for a freelance walk; some of us have fond memories of such a walk from a previous visit. 

Tragedy Creek watershed

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