This was actually a 3 day backpack trip, with camp set up at Little Lake Caroline. The trail up to Little Caroline is in a good shape. A few blow-downs to get around, but nothing major. This part of the hike is very enjoyable and passes through some beautiful meadows. Fire has swept through parts of the area in the last year or so, it looked like. We set up camp towards the north end of Little Caroline on a little nob overlooking the lake. Camp was set up by 1 PM, so we kicked back, took an afternoon nap, watched a pair of ducks on the lake, and just relaxed and enjoyed the scenic, peaceful setting for the rest of the day. After we settled into our tent for the evening, it actually hailed for a bit. Of course, though, it is never great weather here on the 4th of July! Summer really starts the day AFTER and, true to form, July 5 was a georgeous day! We left our camp in the morning for a day hike up to Windy Pass, following the trail until it hit the slope directly below the pass. At this point, it was snow covered and we kick-stepped our way up to the ridge line. What views! We walked along the ridge towards Mt. Cashmere with tentative thoughts to scramble to the top if we felt up to it and it didn't look too difficult. When we got there, it looked a bit more work than we wanted to do. So, we hung out on the ridge near the base of Cashmere and enjoyed some absolutely incredible vews - Mt. Stuart and Mt. Rainier to the South and Mt. Baker and Glacier Peak to the North. When we got back to camp, the bugs were out in greater numbers, but that didn't stop us from thoroughly enjoying ourselves. We got up before the bugs the next morning, but it didn't take them long to realize we were out of the tent! We packed up in short order and headed out! The hike out was great through the meadows and down to Little Eightmile like, but after that we just couldn't wait to get back the car! An awesome trip overall. This is a beautiful area and we felt like we had been away for much longer than three days.

Flowers from the parking lot all the way up on this hike! Lupine, yarrow, queen's cup, columbine, paintbrush, tiger lily, etc. down low and shooting star, balsamroot, glacier lily higher up. Lots of others too...

The trail up to Little Eightmile is in fine shape, a little mud but no big deal. After the turnoff there's some brushiness and blowdowns. Lost the trail at one point just above a flat area and below a large rock (maybe halfway up the hill); fortunately I was familar enough with the trail to re-locate it (and on the way back down was able to see where I missed the switchback due to blowdown + confused hikers).

There are a few patches of snow still at Lake Caroline, and some longer stretches between there and Little Caroline. Nothing too serious though -- there is enough trail and bootprints showing to not get lost. Above Little Caroline the trail is in great shape, with a couple of snow patches and a little bit of meltwater in the trail. I stopped about halfway between the little lake and Windy Pass. From what I could see, the pass may still be socked-in. But I didn't round the corner far enough to see the trail route itself.

Weather on the east side was good this weekend. Scattered clouds Saturday, a little drizzle/sleet/snow Sunday morning, and patchy clouds by lunchtime. A wonderful cool breeze all weekend. No bugs.

Pack Pup (AKA: my wife) and I took a great day hike to Little Lake Caroline. This was the last of five training hikes before we leave for our six-day backpacking trip to the Golden Lakes Loop 6/30/02. The trail to Little Eightmile Lake has been logged out. From there to just before Lake Caroline expect lots of blow downs, but all are fairly easy to navigate around. No snow on the trail until Lake Caroline. Lake Caroline is 80 percent covered with a thin coat of ice. Basin area is melting fast and portions of the trail are visible. Trail to Little Lake Caroline mostly snow free until just before the lake. Little Lake Caroline is 50 percent covered with thin ice. Several usable campsites at Lake Caroline and one good site open at Little Lake Caroline. Stayed at Leavenworth for the night. Much nicer than driving straight home!

Clouds east and west of the crest this day. Destination Icicle country. Cashmere, and I am not talking about fabric. Snow is melting fast, not fast enough. Anxious for Summer, anxious for sun, mostly anxious to try out my new bivy. Trail reports said mostly snow-free to Eightmile Lake and the lake is thawed, so I figured partially snow-free up towards Lake Caroline. I never imagined it would be 6,000 ft before I hit continuous snow. The lake Caroline trail heads up through a burn affording plenty of views of the surrounding area including a view out to frozen Eightmile lake. Patchy snow started around 5,500 ft. and there were plenty of blow downs to navigate around. I was just happy to be hiking on dirt for I knew there would be plenty of snow to be had later. I encountered another person on the trail who was not as happy as I, for he had skis strapped to his back, ones he had hoped would be on his feet by now. Lake Caroline was still completely frozen over and there was 5-6 ft. of snow on the ground.

Up till now the weather looked like it was improving. That changed very quickly as it started to snow. All the peaks dissappeared into the white so I decided to dissappear into a nap. The Bibler tripod bivy was suprisingly roomy and not clostraphobic at all. I found myself quickly falling asleep. Upon waking I found the clouds to be lifting, I decided this was my chance for the summit. Quickly throwing my gear together I was off.

By now the snow was soft out in the open so I restricted my travel to the trees as much as possible. As I traversed northeast patches of blue sky appeared and the sun started to poke through. Was this a good omen or just a sucker hole? Once on the ridge views began to open up. Down in the valley the sun was shimmering intensely. I could see the frozen flat of Colchuck lake and the rugged peaks that surround it. Stuart came partially into view although the summit was still obscured by clouds. Behind the row of peaks to the southwest I could see a line of dark black clouds building.The peaks were like a dam holdiing the water back but I could tell that dam was about to break. I pushed even harder trying to reach the summit but the battle was already lost. ""Sucker holes""; I said to myself, they get me everytime. By the time I reached the saddle at 8,000 ft I was in a white-out and the snow was blowing sideways. 500 ft below the summit and I couldn`t see but ten feet in any direction. I huddled down behind a rock in hopes of waiting it out. After an hour there was no change and my window of opportunity had come and gone. Back at camp the clouds started to break up just as the sun was setting and I was treated to a spectacular display of alpenglow. Looking at Cashmere it became painfully obvious how close I was to the summit. Sitting there drinking hot chocholate I became intriqued with the idea of an early morning ascent. I retreated to my bivy for the night eager to see what the morning brings..... 4:00 AM, I can hear the sound of drizzle on my bivy. I zip open and see I am socked in. Cashmere will have to wait till another day.