Ingalls Creek
May 13, 2012
by
DestinationUp
—
last modified
May 17, 2012 10:46 PM
- Type of Outing
- Day hike
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Ingalls Creek
- Region: Central Cascades -- Blewett Pass
- Agency: Wenatchee Okanogan National Forest, Wenatchee River Ranger District
- Trails: Ingalls Creek (#1215)
- Avg Rating: 3.57
- Hiking Companions
- Hiked with a dog
- Why You Should Go Now
- Wildflowers blooming
- Be Aware Of
- Mudholes
- Water on trail
- Snow on trail
Ingalls Creek, near the trailhead. Photo by DestinationUp.
What a way to spend Mothers’ Day! My 15YO son and I, accompanied by our faithful Wonder Pup, headed out to Ingalls Creek on Sunday. The weather, of course, was incredible, and the trail was remarkably uncrowded. There were maybe ten cars at the TH when we arrived, but most of those were backpackers.
The creek is definitely running high and cold, so save your splashing for the side streams. We filtered out of one of them, with zero sediment problems.
There are mudholes and running water along the trail, after about mile 3, and growing more frequent. It’s obvious that the last couple of miles have only melted out in the last week or two.
The trail is snow free until maybe mile 4. The last half mile (5 to 5.5) was snow-covered in all directions, and appeared to have melted out underneath. Deciding that twisted knees were not the best way to end the day, we headed back down the trail and found a great lunch spot.
Wildflowers are springing up in all directions…especially trillium.
Critter note: At about mile 2, we came across a rattler as big around as my forearm, only three feet off the trail, and rattling eight ways from Sunday. The Wonder Pup thought it would be fun to examine (I disabused him of this notion), and the rest of us butchered Leave No Trace by scrambling off the trail on the opposite side. Yes, this is rattler country, and there are holes on and alongside the trail.
The creek is definitely running high and cold, so save your splashing for the side streams. We filtered out of one of them, with zero sediment problems.
There are mudholes and running water along the trail, after about mile 3, and growing more frequent. It’s obvious that the last couple of miles have only melted out in the last week or two.
The trail is snow free until maybe mile 4. The last half mile (5 to 5.5) was snow-covered in all directions, and appeared to have melted out underneath. Deciding that twisted knees were not the best way to end the day, we headed back down the trail and found a great lunch spot.
Wildflowers are springing up in all directions…especially trillium.
Critter note: At about mile 2, we came across a rattler as big around as my forearm, only three feet off the trail, and rattling eight ways from Sunday. The Wonder Pup thought it would be fun to examine (I disabused him of this notion), and the rest of us butchered Leave No Trace by scrambling off the trail on the opposite side. Yes, this is rattler country, and there are holes on and alongside the trail.
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Western Diamondback Rattlesnake, just off the trail. Photo by DestinationUp (using a zoom lens!)
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Snow field over the last half mile. Photo by DestinationUp.
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Talus slope on the Ingalls Creek Trail. Photo by DestinationUp.
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Ingalls Creek