Bond Lake

What does one do when they find themselves w/ an entire holiday weekend off and not a single plan? Lace up their hiking boots, pack the dog, a tent, and some grub, & hop in their Baja of course!

So that's what I did. As soon as I clocked out of work Friday night I headed home to pack up the Baja, then my roommate, Debbie, & I headed out to the Swan to meet up w/ one of her friends.

We arrived at the trail head of Bond Lake just as the sun was setting and set up camp right there in the parking lot. After cooking filling our bellies on a camp stove meal the three of us settled in for the night. The sounds of nature lulled us to sleep & before my eyes were ready to open, the sun was coming up over the mountain rousing us awake.

Our destination for the day was a 5 acre lake nestled in a 5,400 ft mountain basin 6+ miles away. The trail took us through a beautiful forest of birch trees, maple, and lichen-draped conifers. At the 2 mile mark the trail encounters a beautiful series of waterfalls before beginning the 2,300 ft gain over the next 4 miles.

The hike's payout beyond the beauty of the waterfalls in a spectacular lake tucked right below the top of the Spring Slide Mountain. We stopped here to take in the beauty, a nap, some snacks, and even a swim before turning around and heading back to the starting point.