"I would probably not recommend this trip to a friend."
This tiny lake is tucked up against the upper slopes of Ingalls Peak, right outside the boundary of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. There are two ways to hike into this area.
One route travels north from the Teanaway River. This way is about four miles and gains considerable elevation, passing through meadows and topping an unnamed 6500' pass before reaching the lake. A side trail goes up to Esmerelda Basin.
Steve, Vicki and I took the shorter route, only 1.5 miles, with 300' elevation gain. The trail is not as pretty as the longer route, and the trailhead access road is a long, rough, 4WD track.
Photos: Lake Ann with Ingalls Peak in background; Mt. Rainier from 6500' unnamed (Esmerelda?) Pass above the lake.
This lake is not the typical, blue, alpine tarn lined with green trees and lush grass. If you're looking for that, go for a lower-elevation lake. Lake Ann is nice if you like the sparse, dry, high-altitude environment. At 6200', the lake is at the timberline. The vegetation around the lake is thin. The east shore is a barren boulder slope rising 1000' to the top of Ingalls Peak.
The lake itself is clear green and shallow, only a few feet deep at its deepest. Boulders as large as 20' high have tumbled into the basin, making the lake look something like a zen garden. Alpine Larch trees line the west shore, many of them blown down by 1998-1999 storm winds.
We found an excellent campsite at the edge of the lake, near the outlet. We were lucky to have clear skies and warm weather for this mid-September backpack. Even so, it was cold after sunset. The stars were fantastic, and the near-full moon rose around 10:30 PM.
The next day, we hiked the trail about 1/2 mile from camp to the unnamed pass to the south. From the top, we sought shelter from the stiff wind and took photos of expansive views--Esmerelda Peaks, Mt. Rainier, Mt. Adams, Ingalls Peak, and several snowcapped peaks within the Alpine Lakes Wilderness to the northwest.
The short trail to the lake is open to horses and motorcycles. Dogs are welcome. There are numerous fire rings, but very little firewood. The lake is probably frozen well into July.
Note: This is backcountry wilderness travel. You are responsible for informing yourself of the hazards and taking the necessary precautions.
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