Just an update to this thread... I had a wild hair and I went up and hiked into Coal lake today. This was a very late start in the day, so it was only an hour fish time. I didn't even start the hike until 2:45 pm. but I can give some updates to the trail/area etc.
First off, when I posted earlier about the Big Four Ice Caves, and I said that the bridge was out due to storm damage etc. Well... yes it still is,, but about 1/4 miles down the river there is a log that crosses the river and acts as the new bridge. I read of a family who had their 5 y/o crossing it, and a 3 y/o who held moms' hand. (Take that for whatever you want... but it souinds like def. a couple of adults would be safe)
About 1000' past Big Four Caves is the turn off to Coal lake Rd. You can take it up exactly 1.8 miles, and then there is room to park about 3 or 4 vehicles.
From there I would say it was a 2 mile hike. It is all on a pretty decent graveled logging road, but there are a few trees across it, and the alder trees are starting to encroach. The wash out in the road is really bad. I just don't see how the Forest Service, or who ever does this stuff can have the funds to repair this section of road.
The walk from the car took me 55 minutes. I was way over loaded for the time I actually had at the lake. I was carrying a Super Fat Cat float tube inflated on my back, right hand carried a back pack with numerous items including 4 reels, and way to much tackle. Left hand carried a pvc pipe rod carrier with both a fly rod and a spinning rod. When I finally got to the lake it started raining, and the cloud cover was about 20' above the lake, very drizzly weather.
I put the tube in and floated the entire lake sticking about 20' off of shore. I am not much of a fly fisherman, I mean that I have all the stuff... but I don't really know what I'm doing, and I'm not usually successful. However I only fished two flies, and all the action was on an olive wooly bugger.
I had strikes on my first cast with my new Orvis travel rod, that was cool. I wound up catching 3 brookies all of 7". whoo hoo. They are such a pretty trout though. I had numerous hits from fish who just couldn't deal with the size of the fly.
There is a pit toilet, and probably 4-5 tent spots. The lake is pretty accessible from shore, I was wrong in my first post in saying that it was not. I think that you could hoof it around the whole lake. If anyone goes, you've got to scramble over to the opposite side of the lake and fish from the rock slide. The water is pure alpine lake water, with incredible visability. 15-20'.
The water was cold as **** I tubed it in shorts, OMG. probably not the safest thing being by myself. If I had an accident, I don't think that you can function after even 2 minutes in water that is prob. 40 deg, even hiked in wearing a PFD. There were a couple of snow field at the lake, but not any issue at all.
Anyway, sorry for the ramble, but I really dig this area, and I was intrigued to see a thread from Kevinb about maybe going up there.
Oh yeah... My brand newly bought on the way there.... (blankin') digital camera came with dead batteries. I was so looking forward to some pics. for the alpine lake photos section.