Garland Peak, Larch Lakes, Cow Creek Meadows
Sep 26, 2008
by
wolfwoman
—
last modified
Sep 29, 2008 10:58 PM
- Type of Outing
- Multi-night backpack
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Garland Peak
- Region: Central Cascades
- Agency: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, Wenatchee River Ranger District, Leavenworth
- Trails: Garland Peak (#1408)
- Avg Rating: 3.00
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Larch Lake
- Region: Central Cascades -- Entiat Mountains
- Agency: Okanogan-Wenatchee Natiomal Forest, Wenatchee River Ranger District, Leavenworth
- Trails: Larch Lakes (#1430)
- Avg Rating: 3.50
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Cow Creek Meadows
- Region: Central Cascades -- Entiat Mountains
- Trails: Cow Creek Meadows (#1404)
- Avg Rating: 3.75
- Why You Should Go Now
- Fall foliage
- Be Aware Of
- Bridge out
This was the annual larch trip for the usual gang including Blissman, Skip, Ace, Cisco, The Transporter and Maria. the best crew you could ask for on this end-of-the-season trip. We began on the Entiat River trail and the trail up to Larch Lakes. The weather was cloudy, but began to rain just before we got into camp. We lucked out though when the rain stopped just in time for dinner. We would have fantastic weather for the remainder of the trip.
Next day we packed up and headed to Raven Roost camp about 1.5 miles past Fifth of July Pass on the Garland Peak trail. The trail becomes very scenic once you get above the evergreens and into the larch! We dropped our packs at Fifth of July Pass and half of our crew scrambled Fifth of July Peak. This is fairly easy with slight exposure on top. Lots of rock, but easy going with a little use of hands. Fabulous views of Glacier Peak, Old Gib, Chiwawa, Buck Mt., Maude, 7 Finger Jack and to the east, Pyramid Mt., Saska, Emerald and lots of stuff I haven't figured out yet. From the pass we dropped down about 1000' into Raven Roost camp. It's the only camp on the ridge with sure water although there is a good stream near the junction of the Cow Creek Meadows trail if you could find a spot to pitch a bivy. No real campsites though. Raven Roost Camp is in a deep basin, but is pleasant enough with a little meadow and a nice talus back drop complete with squeaking pikas. The sun doesn't stay in the basin long though.
Our third day was a layover day with plans to explore and scramble the area to our southwest on the Garland peak trail. Cisco and Transporter had to be cut loose to have their own crazy adventure on Devil's Smokestack. Blissman, Ace and myself went off to scramble Rampart Mt. while Maria relaxed the day away on a high ridge. Rampart Mt. is a fairly easy scramble, but includes some loose rock and use of hands in spots. These peaks all seem to be of similar stuff -- easy approaches with crumbly rock summits. We then ambled on through fabulous pumice fields with stupendous views. Really beautiful. We then rounded a corner and got our first views of the approach to Garland Peak which included a drop of about 300' before heading up the pumice slopes to the summit. At this point, Ace thought better of the whole thing and left Blissman and me to do this one on our own. It looked like a butt kicker, but really went very well. It's just a long walk up that isn't nearly as long as it looks. This was my favorite summit of all. Maybe because I knew it was the last for this trip and maybe because the views were wonderful as it juts out into the valley with fabulous larch basins below and a dramatic view of Devil's Smokestack above, and also, pretty much the rest of this part of the world. Just as we were thinking of heading down we were joined by Cisco and the Transporter who told us of their adventures on Devil's Smokestack confirming to us that we made the right choice to skip that one! Apparently, it is very challenging and they did not summit. Knowing these guys, it must have been pretty tough if they didn't make it.
Our last day included climbing back up the 1000' or so to Fifth of July Pass and then down the Cow Creek trail to the Entiat River trail and to our cars. In Cow Creek Meadows I ran into my old friend Cathy L. who was camping with her dog buddy Cedar. After a nice chat we headed for home. Dinner at Gustav's of course!
A few notes on the route: the trail gets very sketchy in places after leaving Fifth of July Pass, but it is very doable if you realize this and pay attention. However, it looks like the Garland Peak trail is being deserted by the Forest Service and I don't think any maintenance has been done in a long while. Huckleberry and little trees are taking over and you will not be able to find it for long. It is very sad since this is one of the more scenic backpacks around in my opinion. It is also very enjoyable because there are so few people around. We only saw one couple, a solo hiker, and Cathy during the entire trip. We saw very little wildlife. However, the couple that we spoke with reported seeing bears at Larch Lake and goats at Cow Creek Meadows. Also, the Larch Lake trail includes a river ford that you can avoid if you take the trail to Cow Creek Meadows where there is a great bridge over the Entiat River. You then follow the connector trail over to the Larch Lakes trail. This is not on my Green Trails map, but I understand it is shown on newer maps. Larch is half gold, but getting there fast! Hike this trail now and ask the Forest Service to keep it open!
Next day we packed up and headed to Raven Roost camp about 1.5 miles past Fifth of July Pass on the Garland Peak trail. The trail becomes very scenic once you get above the evergreens and into the larch! We dropped our packs at Fifth of July Pass and half of our crew scrambled Fifth of July Peak. This is fairly easy with slight exposure on top. Lots of rock, but easy going with a little use of hands. Fabulous views of Glacier Peak, Old Gib, Chiwawa, Buck Mt., Maude, 7 Finger Jack and to the east, Pyramid Mt., Saska, Emerald and lots of stuff I haven't figured out yet. From the pass we dropped down about 1000' into Raven Roost camp. It's the only camp on the ridge with sure water although there is a good stream near the junction of the Cow Creek Meadows trail if you could find a spot to pitch a bivy. No real campsites though. Raven Roost Camp is in a deep basin, but is pleasant enough with a little meadow and a nice talus back drop complete with squeaking pikas. The sun doesn't stay in the basin long though.
Our third day was a layover day with plans to explore and scramble the area to our southwest on the Garland peak trail. Cisco and Transporter had to be cut loose to have their own crazy adventure on Devil's Smokestack. Blissman, Ace and myself went off to scramble Rampart Mt. while Maria relaxed the day away on a high ridge. Rampart Mt. is a fairly easy scramble, but includes some loose rock and use of hands in spots. These peaks all seem to be of similar stuff -- easy approaches with crumbly rock summits. We then ambled on through fabulous pumice fields with stupendous views. Really beautiful. We then rounded a corner and got our first views of the approach to Garland Peak which included a drop of about 300' before heading up the pumice slopes to the summit. At this point, Ace thought better of the whole thing and left Blissman and me to do this one on our own. It looked like a butt kicker, but really went very well. It's just a long walk up that isn't nearly as long as it looks. This was my favorite summit of all. Maybe because I knew it was the last for this trip and maybe because the views were wonderful as it juts out into the valley with fabulous larch basins below and a dramatic view of Devil's Smokestack above, and also, pretty much the rest of this part of the world. Just as we were thinking of heading down we were joined by Cisco and the Transporter who told us of their adventures on Devil's Smokestack confirming to us that we made the right choice to skip that one! Apparently, it is very challenging and they did not summit. Knowing these guys, it must have been pretty tough if they didn't make it.
Our last day included climbing back up the 1000' or so to Fifth of July Pass and then down the Cow Creek trail to the Entiat River trail and to our cars. In Cow Creek Meadows I ran into my old friend Cathy L. who was camping with her dog buddy Cedar. After a nice chat we headed for home. Dinner at Gustav's of course!
A few notes on the route: the trail gets very sketchy in places after leaving Fifth of July Pass, but it is very doable if you realize this and pay attention. However, it looks like the Garland Peak trail is being deserted by the Forest Service and I don't think any maintenance has been done in a long while. Huckleberry and little trees are taking over and you will not be able to find it for long. It is very sad since this is one of the more scenic backpacks around in my opinion. It is also very enjoyable because there are so few people around. We only saw one couple, a solo hiker, and Cathy during the entire trip. We saw very little wildlife. However, the couple that we spoke with reported seeing bears at Larch Lake and goats at Cow Creek Meadows. Also, the Larch Lake trail includes a river ford that you can avoid if you take the trail to Cow Creek Meadows where there is a great bridge over the Entiat River. You then follow the connector trail over to the Larch Lakes trail. This is not on my Green Trails map, but I understand it is shown on newer maps. Larch is half gold, but getting there fast! Hike this trail now and ask the Forest Service to keep it open!
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