Eagle Lake Skate

     So a day off and again no more snow, but a cold snap has allowed for clear and calm weather.  It also has allowed things to freeze quickly: perfect setup for another wilderness skating opportunity.  Yellowjacket and I headed out with the dogs to Eagle Lake at the back of the South Fork of the Eagle River for a chance to slice the ice. 
     This was the last day before some weather, hopefully lots of snow, was suppose to move in.  Yellowjacket got some spiffy new skates to try out.  We headed up the trail that was pleasantly packed until the bridge where we discovered a slushy ice-dam that was impassable.  Bummer.  We bushwhacked a few hundred feet upstream and crossed on more firm ice and continued on.  Once past the split to hanging valley we were breaking trail on a sugary 3 inches interspersed with frozen flowing water. 
     Upon reaching the lake we checked things out for skating: smooth enough, thick enough, it's a go.  Skating was a great way to get around.  That boulder field with a thin snow covering would have been miserable.  We skated all the way to the back of the lake, taking in the stillness, surrounded by the peaks that ascended into foggy snow and listening to the eerie bubbling that echoed underneath us.  This was the largest rink I had ever been on.  It was an excellently easy way to travel as well. 
     We skated around some more then headed back.  Not all things are frozen over yet, I stuck my foot ankle-deep in a mud hole being over-confident, and the river itself is still flowing over what ice is there.  The sloping valley walls also gave me more ideas for skiing this winter.  Also I should remind myself to crust ski this valley in the spring. 

Team Corndog crossing boulder infested, frozen streams teaming with hoarfrost.

 

 

Yellowjacket doing the Eagle Lake skate.