One of the highlights of a
hike to Dipper Lake is breaking out of the forest and crossing the Rockslike
Trail. Here at the base of towering cliffs, volunteers and youth crews have
painstakenly built a path across the steep talus slope and past gigantic
lichen-covered boulders. Whitetail Valley lies below you and ahead is the pass
between Bear and North Star Mountains. Picas have been heard here and western
skinks have been found sunning themselves on rocks.
The
trail across the rockslide was
built mainly by hand and though it is
flat and safe, sturdy shoes are an
asset as you are walking on chunks
of talus. At one point a retired
miner was asked to come in and
blast some of the larger rocks
in order make the trail hikeable.
In recent years the west end
of the trail was rerouted to make
it easier for cross-country skiers
to make the trip up to Dipper Lake.
The
west end of the Rockslide Trail winds between some
pretty impressive lichen-covered boulders.
