Olallie Lake (via Talapus Lake) trail No. 1039
(As described in the book, "100 Hikes in Washington's Alpine
Lakes", third edition)
A well-groomed forest trail, perfect for first time backpackers and families
with young hikers, leads to two popular lakes with excellent camps and gives
access to many more, the area crisscrossed by trails providing infinite
opportunity for exploration. Due to the proximity to Puget Sound City,
weekenders should arrive early to secure a desirable camp--the weekly average is
425 hiker-visits throughout June, July, and August, mostly on weekends.
Drive Interstate 90 to Bandera Airfield Exit 45, signed "US Forest
Service Road 9030." On the north side of the highway, follow road No.
9030 west for 0.7 mile to a split. Go right, uphill, still on road No.
9030, for 3.2 miles to its end at Talapus Lake trail No. 1039, elevation 2650
feet.
The trail begins on an overgrown logging road through an old clearcut, enters
forest shade, and, in several gentle switchbacks and a long sidehill swing,
reaches a marshy area just below Talapus Lake. Paths here branch in
several directions. The muddy track that stays on the north side of the
lake's outlet stream leads to several secluded camps on the west shore.
Driest and best-maintained is the main trail, which crosses the outlet on a
bridge and at 2 miles comes to Talapus Lake, 3250 feet. Designated
campsites virtually ring the lake. No fires, as you are in the Alpine Lake
Wilderness Area.
The way continues, ascending 1/2 mile to meet the sidetrail down from the
Pratt Lake trail (No.1007). Meadows and views start immediately.
Pratt Lake trail No. 1007
Continuing on up trail No. 1007 from Olallie Lake, the main trail rounds the
Olallie Lake basin in open subalpine forest to a 4150-foot saddle. Lots of
huckleberries here in season. In a few feet more is a view south to Mt.
Rainier at a junction with the Mt. Defiance trail No. 1009. The Pratt Lake
trail slants down a steep sidehill, views of Kaleetan Peak and Pratt River
valley, to the lake's outlet at 3400 feet. The once-popular campsites at
the outlet have been mostly destroyed by blowdown. In any event, the lake
is so heavily used the Forest Service requests campers stay at designated
campsites or go elsewhere.
Mt. Defiance trail No. 1009
From the Olallie-Pratt saddle (above), Mt. Defiance trail No, 1009 heads
westward through beargrass, heather and huckleberry meadows (fine views 1100
feet down to Talapus Lake) on the side of Pratt Mountain, whose 5099 summit is
an easy scramble via huge boulder fields on the southwest side. From
there, the trail skirts Rainbow Lake and passes the sidetrail to Island Lake
(actually a more rewarding objective for hikers than Pratt lake), comes near
Mason lake, traverses above Lake Kulla Kulla, and climbs past flower gardens
almost to the broad-view summit of 5584-foot Defiance, about 3 miles from the
Pratt Lake Trail. The trail continues westward on the ridge a mile, drops
to Thompson Lake, 3650 feet, 5 1/2 miles, and descends to the Granite Creek
road-trail, 7 miles.
