This lake is NOT an easy lake to Access and a 2 to 3 day trip, Once you get to the trail head you have along difficult hike, this trail is not a Maintained Trail and I wouldn't suggest going alone. you have to go up and over 2 peaks. the last peak is almost a vertical climb once you get to the top of the second hill you can see down into the bowl where the lakes are located. On my trip this weekend we reached the top of the second peak only to find 4 feet of snow. We made our way down to the Lower of the 3 lakes the lakes were mostly covered in snow, we found a small peninsula with a snowless ledge. We stopped and fished for a bit. Second cast I had a bite, due to the clear water I could see the fish it was easily a 16" what I presume to be a cuthroat. One of the other guys I was with had the same. We only fished for a few minutes, we needed to get out of the valley the lakes are in and back down to set up a safe place to camp for the night. I think under better circumstances we all would have limited out quickly. I gave it such a high rating because It was a great experience. I was bound and determined all day to write the first report for this lake, its the one thing that kept me going and made me pull my fishingpole out of my pack and throw out a few casts despite the dire circumstances.

knotabassturd

6/6/2010 7:49:00 PM

LOL ya the Staircase aint an easy hike but the trout up there in Mildred are apparently still healthy :-) Used to make that trip in younger years. Can remember getting snowed on for Memorial weekend one time at Flapjacks, just over from Mildred lakes.

Thanx for the report!

Lock3056

6/6/2010 9:06:00 PM

I think I may give it another shot in August if I can muster up the courage, Probably going to make a 3 day out of it...

BMGW

6/6/2010 9:47:00 PM

Good on you guys! I blew my knee out on my way back down from there ohhh so long ago, but my knee has never been the same since and it reminds me often enough of that trip and why I went there. Glad somebody's doing it :)

'OL GREY DOG

6/7/2010 7:15:00 AM

you go up the trail at the end of the hamahama road ???.....
ya'll are crazy LOLOL...
you shoulda seen the wild lil trout that were in those lakes 3 or 4 decades ago...
in the OLD days we used to camp bye the lena creek bridge(logs bk then)where the creek runs into the Hamahama...
folks would plan their vacations so 1 could work 'n the other camp..meant 6 or 8 weeks in the woods for us kids...
in later years i took boy scouts up over Staircase on a 50 miler...up the old trail to the mildreds....and manyyyy trips to the Lenas...
AWWWWWW the memories in the purtiest place in the whole world....THNX for the report..where's the pics ???....DOG

Lock3056

6/7/2010 7:22:00 AM

I posted some... they must have been to large

'OL GREY DOG

6/7/2010 9:05:00 AM

i still say ya'll are crazy go'n up there this time of year...LOLOLOL....the big blue green beaver pond you can see wayyy down the hill of the eastside of the road....(didnt used to be a trail to it)....ARRRGGG....in the 60s 70s we would do the bout 2 hour hike down over the scree 'n threw the brush 'n bugs for a 60 to 90 min bite...DOLLY's as long as your arm...then bk up the hill in the dark....LOLOLOL crazy kids...
DOG

Lock3056

6/7/2010 9:24:00 AM

I posted some... they must have been to large

Lock3056

6/7/2010 10:43:00 AM

I posted some... they must have been to large

Lock3056

6/7/2010 10:57:00 AM

I posted Photos here http://www.washingtonlakes.com/forum/yaf_topics36_Camping-Life--the-BEST-places-to-go-and-avoid.aspx Under Mildred Lakes

'OL GREY DOG

6/8/2010 6:48:00 AM

LOLOLOL...yea i saw 'em.....STILL say ya'll are crazy...
sure was purty tho.....thnx..DOG

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