Rattlesnake, Lake fork/Wrangell fork loop

Glacier lake and Mosquito's north couloirs with a fresh slathering of white.

I spent a frantic fall day between day care drop off and pick up doing as much as possible in the Rattlesnake.  Given by 8.5 hour time window, I launched by bike up the corridor, and ground out the bumpy road to the wilderness boundary.  From there, I ran up the Lake fork, marveling at the fall colors, subalpine lakes, and snow on a new-to-me trail.  From the crest, I slunk past Mosquito peak on the trail, and marveled at a whole new set of fall colors, subalpine lakes, and snow on the run down the Wrangell fork back to the bike.  A hasty running to bike shoe transition was all it took to be cruising back down the corridor.  I had an extra two hours, and I literally used every minute to walk/run up to the Mineral mountain lookout from the East Fork.  I climbed as hard tired legs would allow to Mineral, and sprinted back to the bike for a hasty, bumpy ride out to the car.

Fall colors and runnable single track in the Lake fork.

Closing in on Mineral.  Too tired to properly compose a photo.

It was great to explore more Rattlesnake country so close to home.  I have never been up the Lake fork, or to Mineral peak before, and both trails are excellent if not a little remote.  After a year off of substantial biking due to a knee injury, words can't really describe how grateful I am to be able to reliably bike.  For effort, I pushed a little too hard all day (above aerobic threshold), and returned to the car pretty whooped.  But happy.  For stats, a little under 50 miles, I think, and about 7k vert, done in just under 8 hours car to car.