The dogs and I started early for Rachel Lake and Alta Mountain yesterday, with the possibly of Lila Lake as well. We arrived at the TH at 7:15am, the same time as the other first car. We were off on our way within 15 minutes and never saw the other person. We never saw anyone all day until we were headed down from Rachel Lake, and then only 4 people total.
The trail is very muddy right now. This is not entirely unusual for this particular trail, but just be aware your shoes will be wet and muddy. There are a few trees to step over on the trail. One of them was a little tricky for me on the way out because of tendinitis in my hip, being tired, and the height of the log, but that was the only one. It was no big deal on the way in.
Snow starts just below Rachel Lake intermittently. The lake is not frozen over but you might be hard pressed to find a dry camping spot at this point. The trail around the lake and up Rampart Ridge was about half snow covered and half not. You could use spikes but I didn't put mine on. Once you arrive on Rampart Ridge to the sign to go the direction of Rampart Lakes or Lila Lake, there is a solid two inches of icy snow.
The trail up Alta Mountain was completely melted out in some places. In other places it was drifted up to my knees. It was definitely a potpourri. We went to the last false summit before I called it because the dogs were making me nervous. I would have gone all the way if I would have been solo, but I've been up there so many times it just wasn't worth the risk of one of the dogs falling.
Lila Lake is starting to freeze over but is not entirely frozen yet. The Alta Mountain Tarns are all frozen over with a dusting of snow. The trail out to Lila was obviously completely snow covered. I was tired and once we got back down Alta I decided I didn't feel like going out there.
There are no bugs. There were some crazy birds that startled me a couple times. I guess we startled them too. We saw one deer and a thousand chipmunks. Arrived back to the car around 2:30, feet soaking wet, and was really glad I brought my warm slippers.
It was a gorgeous day for a hike, before the next storm brings more snow to the higher elevations. The fall colors were still popping in the forested areas, where they haven't been covered by winter.
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