After this fair meadow with moose, the way out of Paradise Park
became increasingly difficult with fallen trees making the passage
exhausting for our already tired legs. With nightfall approaching, we
had no choice but to press onward. Just before dark, we made it to
the East Inlet Trail near Mount Baldy. From there it was a long walk
through the night on the well maintained trail to our car at the East
Inlet Trailhead by Grand Lake. Click on photo to return to the beginning
of this two-day trek.

Epilogue: We hope you enjoyed
this virtual trek. Researchers may ask for high resolution originals of
the photos. Write to relax@MountainLake.com Photos may be used if
a credit is given as follows: photo courtesy of www.MountainLake.com

Some of the photos will join our ScreenSaver.

We made this trip as scouts with a minimum of equipment with the intention of
exploring routes for larger groups to use in August. Ideally, one would have pack
animals bring equipment to Stone Lake in Hell Canyon (and also to Lake Verna if
you are going for the grand tour). Although there would be much less difficulty with
snow in August, thunderstorms then are severe and the day period is significantly shorter.
One could plan to stay for two nights near Stone Lake and use the middle day for a day
hike to the pass leading into Paradise Park. From there, one could make the 900 foot
descent into the green bowl at the end of Paradise Park that was just coming out of the
snow in our end-of-June photos. There is a long and steep snowslide into Paradise Park
that requires crampons, icepicks and ropes except in the best of conditions. We could
have used these things for our scouting expedition, but we were traveling light and
looking for non-technical routes.

Fallen timber makes the lower reaches of Paradise Park almost impassable.
There does seem to be a way by foot (without pack animals) to Fifth Lake
via Ouzel Peak or by following an 11,400 foot contour above treeline around
the northeast reaches of Paradise Park. The final climb to Fifth Lake is over a
wide 12,000 foot pass near Ten Lake Park behind Mount Baldy. Pack animals
cannot be brought frrther then Lake Verna. If one could have a camp at Lake Verna
and another at Stone Lake, then one would have a comfortable day hike from one
camp to the other. Hopefully, this can be arranged in the not too distant future!

Click here to return to our high approach to Paradise Park.

.. return to Scenery2 page ..