I’ve lived in Oregon now for almost 10 years and have always wanted to go to the Wallowas. Lindsay and I were supposed to go to Norway for ten days for a good friend’s wedding in July, but alas, our trip was canceled due to the pandemic. We decide to keep the same week off to have something to look forward to in the spring when we are in full tread water mode adjusting to full time work and childcare responsibilities. I casually suggest to my sister Kristin that we meet up to go backpacking and she hardly thinks twice about it, despite an 18 hour drive from Colorado. It didn’t take any effort to convince my brother either. It did, however, take a global pandemic for three of the four Brady siblings to finally go backpacking together for the first time.
Tuesday night, we sit around the campfire at Wallowa Lake State Park going back and forth on whether we wear trail shoes or hiking boots. We all laugh at how ridiculous we sound debating this seemingly trivial issue! Seriously, though, the privilege to be able to escape to the mountains for a few days during the pandemic is not lost on me.
I am so grateful for the four days we all have together - catching up, breathing in fresh air, taking in the beauty, and moving my body in the mountains.
Day 1 - Wallowa Lake Trailhead to Ice Lake
With full packs and comfy trail shoes on, we’re off! It feels amazing to have a pack on and be with such good company as we start our hike on the West Fork Trail. The weather is perfect - clear and warm. After a little over four hours of hiking close to eight miles with 3,200 feet of elevation gain, we reach Ice Lake. We cross a creek and find a perfect campsite. We had originally planned to try and hike the Matterhorn, but we’re all wiped from the hike up so we decide to go on a late afternoon walk along the lake instead.
The mosquitos aren’t too bad, but our mosquito nets are still nice to have. We shoo off a bold buck who gets a little too close for comfort while we are eating. After dinner, we watch the sun set behind the mountains as the day makes its long descent towards night. The lake becomes still. After darkness settles in, the sky is painted with stars. I am hoping to be able to see the comet, but the mountains surrounding the lake are too tall.
Day 2: Ice Lake to Horseshoe Lake
I sleep so soundly and wake to our tent heating up in the sun. After breakfast, we tear down our camp and make our way back towards the West Fork Trail, enjoying a long, easy descent from Ice Lake.
The river crossing at Six Mile Meadow is easy. The water is frigid but feels good on sore feet.
Today is our longest day with packs on and by the time we reach Horseshoe Lake (after 11.5 miles) I’m pretty worked. The lake is beautiful and our campsite is perfect! Large, private, and right on the water. We spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing and a few of us dive in the lake to cool off.
Kristin and Annie
Day 3: Day hike from Horseshoe Lake to the Eagle Cap Trail
I wake up grateful that I don’t have to put a heavy pack on today. The plan is to hike towards Mirror Lake and see how far up the Eagle Cap Trail we can get before reaching potentially impassable conditions. The lakes basin area is gorgeous. If we were to return here some day, I would love to camp at Moccassin or Mirror Lake. The views of Eagle Cap are perfect.
We don’t make it very far up the Eagle Cap trail before hitting steep slopes covered in snow. Microspikes aren’t helpful in soft snow so we decide to turn around. 10 miles of hiking later, we are back at our campsite and enjoy the rest of our last day in the mountains.
Day 4: Horseshoe Lake to Wallowa Lake Trailhead
I wake up at 5:30 and spend the next hour shooting the changing light over the lake and surrounding mountains. I’m so glad I didn’t crawl back into my sleeping bag because the scene is lovely.
In the silence of the early morning - as I soak up the stillness of the lake and watch the fog glide over the water - I reflect on how grateful I am to have been able to spend a few days in the mountains with two of my siblings and how lucky we are to have had the opportunity to meet up during covid. (My sister drove 18 hours to join us, and we got to meet her girlfriend Annie!)
With so many unknowns in the near future, the simple, quiet beauty of this moment at the lakeside means so much to me.