Upper and Lower Palisades Birthday Hike

I have become more ambitious these last few years in becoming a stronger, more durable hiking machine. I have always loved to hike in the mountains, but never really thought about standing on top of the area’s highest peaks, as a goal. I suppose when I reached forty years old, I had a goal to climb the Grand Teton. It didn’t happen, but I managed to climb the South Teton that year.
So in the last few years I have climbed many mountains including: Borah, Leatherman, South and Middle Tetons, and Baldy. There are still many mountains to be conquered in Idaho and then maybe I’ll look to other surrounding State’s highest peaks.

This particular post is about my recent hike which required snow shoes.

My alarm went off at 4:45AM Friday, April 22nd. I woke up to three inches of new snow. Spring has been having a hard time finding it’s place this year. As I turned off the highway to go towards the Palisades creek campground, several deer were out in a field watching me as I went around the bend in the road. As I was getting out of my car and putting my pack on, four deer were watching me as they were getting a drink.

It was 6:15AM as I started my hike to the Lower and Upper Palisade’s lakes. It was still cold and the snow was frozen enough to support my weight without snowshoes until about 9am when the sun came out and it was a warmer temperature. There was a new fresh blanket of snow all over. As I hiked, within the first mile, I came upon a young moose. He looked like he had a long, rough winter. I spotted him as I was walking up the trail. He finally saw me when I was 20 yards from him. He stood up, a little alerted, not knowing exactly what to do. I stood there and took a few pictures of him. He was a young moose and didn’t seem like he was in good health.

As I continued up the trail, I would stop to take a picture or two of the scenery.

I reached the lower lake to find there was still so much snow. Since seeing the moose, there really wasn’t much sign of life other than a few bird and varmint tracks.

I take it the bathroom is still closed for the season.The snow got deeper as I headed up the trail, and harder to walk on in snowshoes. The sun was out warming the snow. By the time I got to Chicken Springs, I was worn out due to pushing through the deep snow. By this time, even with snow shoes, I would fall through the snow. There was still about six feet of snow.
I rested for about 15 minutes and seriously thought about returning. But I knew I was close to the upper lake. I also knew the hardest, steepest part of the trail was yet to come. I decided to push on as I cannot ignore a goal set. The trail got steep and soon was lost due to so much snow. I continued to follow where I remember the trail to be as I was familiar with the area. It looks a lot different with seven feet of snow all over though. I knew I was almost to the top where the Upper Lake was.

I again came upon another moose. But this moose wasn’t too happy to see me. I was below him so I hiked up to him and got within 30 yards. He was a big boy and not as timid as the moose I had seen earlier. I walked just a little closer. The snow was so deep I didn’t think he felt like walking around too much. But as I started to take pictures he bluff charged me. I stepped back and fell through the snow up to my knees. As I was trying to get out I looked up and he didn’t bluff this time. He charged me and got within 15 yards of me before I screamed like a little girl, I mean yelled and waved my ski poles. I then realized I had ran downhill in snowshoes back to my trail. I don’t remember that part, but I didn’t care, I was just glad I got away. He bluffed a few more times and so I had enough and didn’t care if I got video or pictures of him.

I continued on my hike and within 20 minutes I made it to the top and looked down into the Upper Lake. It was frozen solid as expected. I took a 20 minute break and was very exhausted. It was 12:12PM when I made it to the lake. It took almost 6 hours to hike in the deep snow. Normally in the summer it only takes about 4 hours.

I put my gear back on and head down hill only to see the moose again. But he was on the move following my trail down. I saw him go around a corner so I was glad not to have to deal with him again. Or so I thought. I came around the corner and he was coming towards me, ears and head down in a charge. I jumped off my trail down a hill to a tree. It was my only protection. I quickly learned if I yelled at him, he would charge me. So I stayed quiet. I was trapped by a steep hill side and a mad moose. He would not let me move without letting me know he was there and watching my every move. I threw 2 softball sized rocks at him, only to learn know how much more pissed off he was. His hair was standing just as tall on his back as my neck. He attacked the rocks and trampled them giving me a visual of what he had planned for me.

After 10 minutes of this I had to make a break for it. I backtracked a ways and hiked up and over him. I soon calmed down and realized how exhausted I was from snowshoeing in the deep wet and heavy snow. I still had 6 miles to go. I was too tired to take very many pictures on the way back but did see some Mountain Goats which was cool. I made it back to my car by 5pm. It was a great long exhausting hike, but loved every second of it.