You can start the Notch trail at either Trial Lake or Bald Mountain, but I would suggest starting at Bald Mountain. This way you can save hiking through the notch for the end of the trip. Before you start your hike take a side trip to the top of Bald Mountain and get a good look of the area you are going to be hiking through.
The first few miles of the trail are pretty level and pass by with out much of an elevation change. Take some time to explore the area. If you are backpacking you might want to spend your first night in this area. I would recommend spending the first night somewhere between the trail head and Bench Lake but not at Bench Lake itself. I camped the first night at Bench Lake. There are no fish in Bench Lake and the files and mosquitoes were terrible. They would fly in your nose, eyes, mouth and ears. I ended up trading most of my Tang rations to another in our group who had an extra insect head net to get some relief from the bugs.
After getting camp set up and eating dinner I left to do some exploring and scout the trail ahead. Bench lake sits up against the spur of Notch mountain. The area to the north and east of Bench Lake drops in to a valley that contains the Webber River. Here are some pictures I took from Bench Lake.
The trail from Bench Lake starts to slope down into the valley to the north and around the spur of Notch Mountain. The trail continues on a down ward slope for about two miles. The Trail then forks. The right fork continues down and meets the Webber river trail. The left fork will start climbing and lead to Meadow Lake and the notch.
The turn off to Meadow Lake is about one to one and a half miles up from the fork. It is only marked with a small sign nailed high into a tree. Meadow lake is a good spot to camp. I sent to day there fishing and exploring the area. We even used some of the dead fall in the area to lash together a raft and paddled out onto the lake. Here are some pictures from Meadow Lake.
After the stay at Meadow Lake it's back on the trail and a continual climb until you reach the notch about 2 miles up the Trail. The view from the notch is spectacular and well worth the climb. Send some time up at the notch enjoying the view and catching your breath.
The trail from the notch southward is nothing but down hill. You will also notice a lot more people on the south side of the mountain. Wall Lake makes a good place to camp or finish the trail with a mile hike to Trial Lake.
This was a good trail to hike in two or three day. I would have liked to do some more exploring along the Webber river trail but it wasn't in the plan for this trip maybe another time soon.
|