The south side of Leigh Lake is quite a bushwhack. If you don't canoe across the lake then the north side is a little nicer. It goes past Bearpaw Lake and is longer in distance but is probably worth it.
Great story. It took me two times also after getting sick as a dog on our summit day on our first attempt. Wow...I would never cross that lake in anything but a canoe or real boat. How was the lake level on Leigh? If the lake level is down a bit, you can hike along the rocky shore in either direction instead of using that old abandoned trail. Anyway, good luck on your next attempt.
I'm not sure what the level is normally like, but it seemed decently high. We did try that sometimes, and it would work for a while, mabye 10 or 15 feet at a time... and then we would have to wade around the shrubs. After a while it turned into a cold wet bushwhack IN the water, and we gave up on the shore and went back into the woods. You're right, I wouldn't ever try to cross that without a real boat again.
mountaingazelle - Apr 6, 2006 7:00 pm - Voted 10/10
Learning experienceThe south side of Leigh Lake is quite a bushwhack. If you don't canoe across the lake then the north side is a little nicer. It goes past Bearpaw Lake and is longer in distance but is probably worth it.
Anneka - Apr 6, 2006 8:58 pm - Hasn't voted
North SideWhen John went down he decided to try the north side of Leigh Lake. He said it was a little better and the bushwhack was a little shorter.
Alan Ellis - Apr 16, 2006 3:53 pm - Voted 10/10
Lake Level?Great story. It took me two times also after getting sick as a dog on our summit day on our first attempt. Wow...I would never cross that lake in anything but a canoe or real boat. How was the lake level on Leigh? If the lake level is down a bit, you can hike along the rocky shore in either direction instead of using that old abandoned trail. Anyway, good luck on your next attempt.
Anneka - Apr 18, 2006 9:28 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Lake Level?I'm not sure what the level is normally like, but it seemed decently high. We did try that sometimes, and it would work for a while, mabye 10 or 15 feet at a time... and then we would have to wade around the shrubs. After a while it turned into a cold wet bushwhack IN the water, and we gave up on the shore and went back into the woods. You're right, I wouldn't ever try to cross that without a real boat again.