Spider Gap, Lyman Lakes, Cloudy Pass to Holden
Sep 05, 2009
by
amyriley
—
last modified
Sep 15, 2010 02:51 PM
- Type of Outing
- Multi-night backpack
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Spider Gap
- Region: North Cascades -- Suiattle River
- Avg Rating: 3.50
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Spider Gap - Buck Creek Pass Loop
- Region: Central Cascades -- Stevens Pass - East
- Agency: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, Wenatchee River Ranger District, Leavenworth
- Trails: Phelps Creek Trail (#1511), (#1256B), (#1256), (#1279), PCT (#2000), (#789), Buck Creek (#1513)
- Avg Rating: 3.89
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Lyman Lakes
- Region: Central Cascades -- Entiat Mountains
- Avg Rating: 3.00
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Cloudy Pass to Holden
- Region: Central Cascades -- Entiat Mountains
- Avg Rating: 3.00
- Why You Should Go Now
- Ripe berries
- Be Aware Of
- Water on trail
This was an awesome hike and it rained practically the whole time...so that says something (helps to like your backpacking partner). The 5 mile walk in to Spider Meadow is easy and lovely and the meadow is ridiculously scenic.
Walking up to Larch Knob from the far end of the meadow you gain some elevation via quick switchbacks...we camped at the knob the first night, at the base of Spider Glacier. Great site, fun to roam around there, a great destination even if you're not hiking through the gap. Rain started this night.
Next day walked up Spider Glacier and then down Lyman Glacier...both very straightforward, we only had poles (no ax) which was fine for this time of year.
Negotiating around Upper Lyman Lake is a little circuitous...look for cairns, then descending to Lower Lyman Lakes is SO COOL...the transition from moonscape to forest was lovely, blueberries everywhere! Camped at Lower Lyman...not along the west shore but in the wooded camp area west of the lake which provided pretty good protection from the elements.
Day 3 hiked up to Cloudy and Suiattle Passes, through rain and snow, but still got great views at nearby impressive peaks, saw some deer, ate blueberries. The walk on the Cloudy Pass hiker trail through the granite slope was really cool. Turned back before Image Lake because it was so socked in and we were SOAKED.
Hiked out from Lower Lyman to Holden the last day - about 9 miles, the first couple descend pretty rapidly through brushy stuff which soaked our already drenched gear. The waterfall views are AMAZING, I've never seen anything like it in the N. Cascades.
Bus from Holden to boat at Lucerne to Chelan. YAY! Can't wait to do it again in nice weather. Gaitors, rain gear, pack covers and a tarp over the tent made all the difference on this trip.
Walking up to Larch Knob from the far end of the meadow you gain some elevation via quick switchbacks...we camped at the knob the first night, at the base of Spider Glacier. Great site, fun to roam around there, a great destination even if you're not hiking through the gap. Rain started this night.
Next day walked up Spider Glacier and then down Lyman Glacier...both very straightforward, we only had poles (no ax) which was fine for this time of year.
Negotiating around Upper Lyman Lake is a little circuitous...look for cairns, then descending to Lower Lyman Lakes is SO COOL...the transition from moonscape to forest was lovely, blueberries everywhere! Camped at Lower Lyman...not along the west shore but in the wooded camp area west of the lake which provided pretty good protection from the elements.
Day 3 hiked up to Cloudy and Suiattle Passes, through rain and snow, but still got great views at nearby impressive peaks, saw some deer, ate blueberries. The walk on the Cloudy Pass hiker trail through the granite slope was really cool. Turned back before Image Lake because it was so socked in and we were SOAKED.
Hiked out from Lower Lyman to Holden the last day - about 9 miles, the first couple descend pretty rapidly through brushy stuff which soaked our already drenched gear. The waterfall views are AMAZING, I've never seen anything like it in the N. Cascades.
Bus from Holden to boat at Lucerne to Chelan. YAY! Can't wait to do it again in nice weather. Gaitors, rain gear, pack covers and a tarp over the tent made all the difference on this trip.
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