R03 TR: Hilton lakes 6/28/19

[overheadx2]

Hilton lakes 6/28/19
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Post by overheadx2 » Mon Jul 01, 2019 9:12 am

Made the trip to the Hilton lakes this weekend. Seemed to have picked the right weekend as the snow had melted off enough to get up to 10300’ relatively easily while mosquitoes seemed to be just starting up. On the hike in, we were overtaken by some horse packers and found that they were headed to the lower lakes which made our decision to head up to third lake much easier. The mosquitoes at the lower lakes were probably a 1-2 while the the mosquitoes at third and fourth lakes were a 0-1 due to a nice breeze most of the time.

2nd Hilton lake

The trail was snow free to the lakes turn off and spotty but relatively easy to the third lake. There was still quite a bit of snow on the steep north and east facing slopes at both the 3rd and 4th lakes with the camping flats areas pretty much snow free.

3rd lake from the inlet, from the ridge by 5th lake and looking from our campsite down toward Davis lake at dusk.

Getting to fourth lake was tough simply because of a slightly precarious creek crossing and extremely boggy terrain at the base of the creek coming out of 5the lake.

Getting to 5th lake was pretty easy by staying with on the snow free ridge from 3rd to 5th lake. 5th lake was completely snow covered with som very cool looking ice burgs in the lake. From 5 th lake on it was completely snow covered but easily doable with micro spikes or crampons early in the day.

5th lake and ice burgs

Fishing was pretty good overall at all of the lakes

[maverick]

Thanks for the TR and pic's, liked the iceberg pic.

[mckee80]

Nice pictures and report! Thanks!

[ryanerb]

Great report, thank you for posting!!

[windknot]

Thanks for the report and photos!

[gary c.]

Really appreciate the report and pictures.