Carne Mountain

Zion called last year so I missed what had become an annual hike to Carne Mt and its larches. Zion was excellent but this is another spot in an overwhelming array of PARADISES.

It was a crisp clear day as we drove up from Leavenworth via Plain. The road is long and seemed even longer on the way out as we kept looking for the pavement to start again. A passenger car is adequate but take a few of the rougher portions slowly.

The trail starts off UP and continues that way to the basin. It was very dry and the our footfalls created waves of dust almost the entire way to the top and more so down.

The trail switchbacks through the woods and climbs quickly through some upper woods, hits open slopes and switchbacks some more before entering the sublime basis with a small creek. The creek was partially frozen. You pass through the meadow (where some folks were camping) and then switchback up through larches and more larches. The sun filtering through those golden and pale green soft trees is unrivaled and while I was pretty tired, it definitely lifted my spirits. Pay homage as you hike up from the basin to the fallen "largest larch" - it was a beaut in its day. You switchback and traverse up to the left and a small saddle and the hike up to the summit. Views in all directions, Rock Creek below on one side and Trinity and Phelps Creek below on the other, the basin, Glacier, Clark, Maude, Seven Fingers, Spider Glacier, Chiwawa, Buck, Fortress and more.

The larches were not entirely turned even with the chill weather. This week will probably conclude their seasonal display but a strong storm could end it quickly.

It is worth the return trip and another return trip and ..... Larches are MAGICAL.