Steve G. Bisig, Photographer

Just outside the Northwest corner of Mt Rainier National Park is a mountain lake called Coplay Lake. From the bridge that crosses the Carbon River, a forest service road leads to the lake. During typical days in late December, the lake is not accessible by four wheeled vehicles, however, this year, the snow pack in this area is a little late coming and I was still able to drive my Land Cruiser to the lake (doubtful on the day I am writing this because of a winter storm in the mountains).

On the day I visited Coplay Lake, it was late in the afternoon on a sunny winter day. The lake was frozen over enough for other visitors to venture out onto the lake (something I wouldn’t do because I know the potential consequences from my past rescue training).

Along one side of the lake, I found this grove of trees that must have died from a raised water level. The last rays of the sun were shining on the hill side beyond the lake. The snow over the ice provided a smooth, clean foreground. My dog contributed a few paw prints to the image.

I had wished I enough time to explore a few more vantage points around the lake, but the sun was dropping fast and I didn’t want to be last vehicle on the mountain, so I will have visit the lake another day.

Related posts:

1. Coplay Lake Under a Blanket of Snow
2. Winter’s First Snow
3. Seasonal Lake at South Prairie
4. Foggy Winter Day in the Kittitas Valley
5. Winter Day in the Kittitas Valley