Courtenay Schurman
After the print edition of our magazine, we recognized the implications of using terms like “bagging” which are associated with a culture of conquest over nature. Shifting our language and recreation frameworks is an ongoing journey. Learn more about how to experience the joys of recreating mindfully at alpine lakes.
I love visiting alpine lakes in any season. Last summer, I waded in Olallie Lake’s frigid waters and in the winter, I got to enjoy a snowy walk across its frozen surface with my daughter. Alpine lakes offer a refreshing respite during summer adventures, but they can be a trek to reach. Here are some tips and tricks on how to prepare for a lake bagging trip, so you can take the plunge with ease.
Physical training needs
Getting to most alpine lakes, especially remote ones, will involve significant elevation gain. You’ll need to practice gradually increasing your pack-carrying capacity the longer and more involved your trips will be. This means including cardiovascular and strength training that works the large muscles in your core, legs, and upper body.
Accessing lakes often means encountering uneven terrain. Prepare your legs and core with squats, step ups, planks, and deadlifts, so you have the leg drive to get over downed logs and boulders. If you do any bushwacking, expect the trail to be rocky and unforgiving. Incorporating balance and flexibility training will improve your overall stability and help prevent slips and falls as you navigate over and under downed branches.
Training suggestions
If you’ve never plunged into an alpine lake, know that they are cold, even in the middle of summer. In anticipation, try swimming in a local lake not too far from home (like Lake Washington in Seattle) before venturing to the mountains. If you plan to swim across a lake, be aware of your physical limits and include swimming in your weekly training regimen. If you can’t find a suitable exit, you may have to swim all the way back, which means double the distance.
To train, begin with shorter hikes and gradually add distance, elevation gain, and pack weight – not more than ten percent per week – to prepare for the lakes you’d like to visit.
Anticipated difficulties
Unlike well-trodden paths to popular peaks, the routes to secluded lakes may not be well marked. Know how to use a map and compass. Practice orienteering in familiar surroundings before you have to rely on them in the wild. Update your route-finding skills if you anticipate GPS won’t work wherever you’re headed.
Terrain on the way to lakes can vary from rocky paths to gravel slopes to muddy, rush-filled edges. Bring a pair of lake shoes to protect your feet from murky mud, brambles, and unseen snags, so you don’t injure your feet getting in and out of the water.
While your goal may be to swim in cool, sun-dappled, emerald-green water on a hot day, expect rapid change in weather, especially in the mountains. Bring appropriate, warm clothing
and gear so that you don’t experience hypothermia if the weather catches you off guard.
Finally, remember that lakes are sources of habitat and water for wildlife. You are a visitor in their home. Research what wildlife you might encounter so you can stay alert and prepared.
With the proper preparation, you can make lake bagging a memorable and rewarding experience. Think ahead of what your end goal will be – distance, elevation gain, time in the
water – and build your training program accordingly. Then, get out and take a swim!
Courtenay Schurman is an NSCA-CSCS certified personal trainer, Precision Nutrition Level 2 Certified Nutrition Supercoach, and co-owner of Body Results and Thrive Clues. She specializes in holistic coaching for outdoor athletes. For more how-to exercises or health and wellness tips, visit her websites at www.bodyresults.com and thriveclues.com or send a question to court@bodyresults.com.
This article originally appeared in our summer 2024 issue of Mountaineer magazine. To view the original article in magazine form and read more stories from our publication, visit our magazine archive.
