Hiking to Phelps Lake Fall 2023

Each year we hike to Phelps Lake. This fall we waited a bit too long and due to a bear closure, the short trail was closed and the hike turned into a longer one. It added an additional 1.2miles but it was still an easy hike with only one long hill to climb. There were warning signs posted as some of the black bears have raided people’s packs and coolers, (idiots had left them unattended, a fed bear is a dead bear as the bear that eats human food, will be captured and euthanized). We did not see any bears on the hike and yes, we always carry bear spray. The first part of the hike was through a section of grass and sagebrush.

Reaching the road, we had to stop for cars, (the Moose Wilson Road). Crossing it we reached the terminal moraine, (which forms the dam for the lake), and it wasn’t long before we reached the moraine damned lake. Taking an adjoining trail, we crossed a bridge and continued around the lake.

Fred and Becky had to leave early but we sat on the edge of the lake and enjoyed the peace and quiet. A pied billed grebe chased minnows and we did see a few rises, (next time up there I am going to take some fishing gear and we do practice catch and release). It was calm and we were able to take a picture with the mountains reflecting off the lake’s surface. Heading back down the trail we took it slow but didn’t see any wildlife. Just lots of people were heading up the trail. Some of the older people, (younger than us), asked us how far it was and turned around.

Reaching our car our luck was about to change, as we headed from the LSR Preserve to the Moose-Wilson Road. Cars were parked blocking the road, a bear jam! Now usually the bear is hidden from sight in the thick bushes, but this cinnamon black bear was balancing on top of a service berry bush as it devoured the berries. I was able to park alongside the LSR road and grabbing my camera got great shots of the bear. It ignored all the traffic and people on bicycles. We watched and took about sixty images as the bear seemed to pose offering us both profile views as well as one where it looked at us, (you can see it’s eyes).

We were even lucky enough to get pictures of it as it opened its mouth showing it’s fangs and even a bit of its tongue. The light was perfect, the sun in the right position and the pics are the best black bear pictures we have taken this year, (and we were at a safe distance).

Finally, the bear couldn’t find any more berries and climbed down the tree.

It disappeared from sight and the bear jam broke up. We never did see it again, but we were excited that we had been in the right place at just the right time, (Fred and Becky had already left).

It was great last hike and trip of the year! Clear skies,