Carne Mountain
Jul 17, 2009
by
D. Inscho
—
last modified
Jul 21, 2009 09:31 PM
- Type of Outing
- Multi-night backpack
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Carne Mountain
- Region: Central Cascades -- Stevens Pass - East
- Agency: Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest
- Trails: Carne Mountain (#1508)
- Avg Rating: 4.08
Living Room
Starting new in a familiar place; that was the theme for this trip to my beloved Entiat Mountains. Last year’s explorations revealed lovely camps on the ridge NE of Carne Mountain. They are located at about 6600’ where the ridge broadens and levels briefly, between spines of rock, before ascending into the austere alpine zone. The very snow that melted in my pots for water defined this luxuriant retreat. Winter snows, blown from slopes below on each side, accumulates deeply on the ridge top. A thin curtain of trees just beyond the crest on each side created an intimate feeling; a sort of meadow hallway of grasses and wildflowers. I mined one of these remnant drifts, cold and pure, for my water. Bodhran used another as a frosty lounge in the sun.
The hike gains about 3100’ to the pass between Carne Mtn. and the former Carne Mtn. LO site, then loses 200’, climbs 150’ to exit Rock Creek drainage north on the Leroy High Route. After dropping again it leaves the Leroy route at a switchback, shortly traversing talus from the spiny ridge above to the east. After the talus the track becomes murky. One must scramble upward to a narrow gap where the track re-appears, having been clawed by beast and hiker alike I imagine. From the ridge one must puzzle around a few more spines to the softness of The Destination. You will know when you have arrived; your body will not let you to continue. Total gain is about 3800’. It took me about 3.25 hours in 70 degree heat. There are some signs of historical usage, but not very recent, including an arrow shaped from rocks deeply embedded in the grass.
I pitched the tent in the shade of a whitebark pine for cool afternoon siestas, crucial relief from sun, heat, and bugs (mostly tiny vicious mosquitoes). Wind kept bugs from being too much of a bother, although I still had to apply 95% DEET Friday and Saturday. Both nights brought cool air and brilliant stars in near-moonless skies. Delightful metallic bug sounds serenaded sleep. Saturday night was below freezing, solving the bug problem Sunday morning. The camp had easy views of Maude, Glacier, Fortress, Chiwawa, Buck, Carne, Old Gib, and the grand Rock Creek drainage. I have finally traded my old Nikons for digital so can include some images of the trip.
A forest fire flared suddenly in the Suiattle drainage Friday at about 4:30p, somewhere near Triad creek I figured. A helicopter reconnoitered the blaze briefly around 6 and flew off. I did not see it on subsequent days so it is likely back in sleep mode. Other excitement included Bodhran’s meet-n-greet with a coyote on Saturday morning. I was preparing for a day-hike near the tent; he was doing dog things around camp like sniffing and acting hungry. When I came out from around some small trees I saw him just outside of camp advancing cautiously toward a healthy looking coyote; the coyote was also cautiously advancing. They were about 10 feet apart. The coyote (casually) ran when I blundered onto the scene. No time for me to be alarmed. I would like to think I would have allowed the encounter had I had the choice. He outweighed the coyote by 10 pounds. Without malice or pressing hunger there would have only been curiosity I imagine, “Where do you live?” “What have you been eating?” I thank coyote for the encounter none-the-less; it is good to be reminded of one’s visitor status. There were lots of bird varieties as well: Evening Grosbeaks; hummingbirds; Hermit thrush; Swanson’s thrush; Western Tanagers; and one Audubon’s Warbler. I should also note the companionable razzing presence of the Clark’s Nutcracker.
We did summit point 7968 on our day hike, Bodhran and I. It commanded views of Maude, Ice Lakes and the Chelan group of mountains. A bonus exploration of the route indicated by the rock arrow revealed, disappointingly, that it only descended, poorly I might add, to the lower Leroy High route. One more question answered though. Given the climactic avalanche destruction at the head of Rock Creek valley, I doubt there is much of anything that might be called a trail anymore. Snow scoured rock, old trees, and dirt from the heights to a proper mess in the valley bottom, some tracks a mile long, even curving up the other side.
I have been to this area many times over the years, almost consecutively; it was a joy to see it in a new way, with novel encounters. I think it bodes well for this season of travel, if not life itself. Happy Trails!
The hike gains about 3100’ to the pass between Carne Mtn. and the former Carne Mtn. LO site, then loses 200’, climbs 150’ to exit Rock Creek drainage north on the Leroy High Route. After dropping again it leaves the Leroy route at a switchback, shortly traversing talus from the spiny ridge above to the east. After the talus the track becomes murky. One must scramble upward to a narrow gap where the track re-appears, having been clawed by beast and hiker alike I imagine. From the ridge one must puzzle around a few more spines to the softness of The Destination. You will know when you have arrived; your body will not let you to continue. Total gain is about 3800’. It took me about 3.25 hours in 70 degree heat. There are some signs of historical usage, but not very recent, including an arrow shaped from rocks deeply embedded in the grass.
I pitched the tent in the shade of a whitebark pine for cool afternoon siestas, crucial relief from sun, heat, and bugs (mostly tiny vicious mosquitoes). Wind kept bugs from being too much of a bother, although I still had to apply 95% DEET Friday and Saturday. Both nights brought cool air and brilliant stars in near-moonless skies. Delightful metallic bug sounds serenaded sleep. Saturday night was below freezing, solving the bug problem Sunday morning. The camp had easy views of Maude, Glacier, Fortress, Chiwawa, Buck, Carne, Old Gib, and the grand Rock Creek drainage. I have finally traded my old Nikons for digital so can include some images of the trip.
A forest fire flared suddenly in the Suiattle drainage Friday at about 4:30p, somewhere near Triad creek I figured. A helicopter reconnoitered the blaze briefly around 6 and flew off. I did not see it on subsequent days so it is likely back in sleep mode. Other excitement included Bodhran’s meet-n-greet with a coyote on Saturday morning. I was preparing for a day-hike near the tent; he was doing dog things around camp like sniffing and acting hungry. When I came out from around some small trees I saw him just outside of camp advancing cautiously toward a healthy looking coyote; the coyote was also cautiously advancing. They were about 10 feet apart. The coyote (casually) ran when I blundered onto the scene. No time for me to be alarmed. I would like to think I would have allowed the encounter had I had the choice. He outweighed the coyote by 10 pounds. Without malice or pressing hunger there would have only been curiosity I imagine, “Where do you live?” “What have you been eating?” I thank coyote for the encounter none-the-less; it is good to be reminded of one’s visitor status. There were lots of bird varieties as well: Evening Grosbeaks; hummingbirds; Hermit thrush; Swanson’s thrush; Western Tanagers; and one Audubon’s Warbler. I should also note the companionable razzing presence of the Clark’s Nutcracker.
We did summit point 7968 on our day hike, Bodhran and I. It commanded views of Maude, Ice Lakes and the Chelan group of mountains. A bonus exploration of the route indicated by the rock arrow revealed, disappointingly, that it only descended, poorly I might add, to the lower Leroy High route. One more question answered though. Given the climactic avalanche destruction at the head of Rock Creek valley, I doubt there is much of anything that might be called a trail anymore. Snow scoured rock, old trees, and dirt from the heights to a proper mess in the valley bottom, some tracks a mile long, even curving up the other side.
I have been to this area many times over the years, almost consecutively; it was a joy to see it in a new way, with novel encounters. I think it bodes well for this season of travel, if not life itself. Happy Trails!
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Whitebark Pine
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Rock Creek valley from camp
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Mt. Maude and Ice Lakes from 7968' peak
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