Escaping The Nutshell

2015-01-18 Divide from Moraine Park

Parking at the Cub Lake Trailhead, we started hiking at about 11:45, going up the trail about 2/10 of a mile before leaving it, turning right and scrambling on the rocky ridge that runs between the Cub Lake Trail and the Fern Lake Trail. This ridge was scoured smooth by an ice age glacier flowing from the Divide to Moraine Park. Its topography is wonderfully complex, making it fun to navigate. There are great views of Moraine Park and the Divide from some of the knobs.

2015-01-18 Moraine Park from ridge between Fern and Cub Lake Trails

When we'd had enough scrambling, we descended to the Cub Lake Trail and headed west to Cub Lake. Being totally frozen over, the lake was an icy view, with a strong cold wind coming off the Divide. Continuing past Cub Lake, we passed over the ridge, and down the other side, finally reaching the Fern Lake Trailhead. This part is on a sunless north facing slope, and so was the snowiest and coldest. But there were hard-packed tracks that made it easy to travel over. We headed back on the Fern Lake Trail, and returned to the Cub Lake parking area at 15:46.

2015-01-18 Cub Lake

GPS Tracks

2015-01-18 Elevation profile: Rock scramble and Cub Lake Loop