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Grass Lake Loop: A Great Early Season Mountain Run for Athletes Getting Back In Shape
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Due to a myriad of pathetic excuses, I have not been running much the past few summers. My running came to a crashing halt when I hurt my foot last fall. It took a while for me to notice that my typical happy self had faded, and I had officially become an angry person. It was an especially dark month last April, when the entire Eastside was exploding with wildflowers. The running and backcountry skiing were peaking, and I wasn’t getting any of it. I finally had enough, and started running again, doing some of my favorite short loops, really short, and my mental heath skyrocketed. Five mountain runs behind me, I actually recognize myself again. This post is dedicated to those of you who need a kick in the pants and want to do some big mountain days this summer. The Grass Lake Loop is a perfect place to start. This three mile loop will get your heart rate up and your stoke on.
- Distance: 3.1 Miles
- Elevation Gain: 763 ft
- Location: North Lake
- Time of Year: Late May – Mid Oct (until first snow)
- Directions from Bishop: 168 (West Line St.) through Aspendell; turn right on dirt road to North Lake; Parking is on far end of lake near pack station
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The road immediately crosses a creek. Just past the creek, you will see a sign of a person riding a horse. At the sign, duck under the barbed wire fence and hop on an obvious trail heading south.
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The trail immediately gets steep, and most of the elevation gain is in the first mile. After approximately 1.1 miles from the fence, the trail hits a creek. Cross the creek here over a series of logs. Grass Lake is just ahead in the distance. Parallel Grass Lake for a half mile until you reach an obvious trail that takes you north. Continue north back to the North Lake campground and back to the parking lot.