West Fork Foss River and Lakes, East Fork Foss - Necklace Valley, alpine lakes high route

I have been looking at the alpine lakes high route and the area N of Big Snow mountain for years, and after an abortive attempt to reach there about 5 years ago via the Lake Dorothy inlet stream, we decided to give it another go from the Foss Lakes trail. This time our objective was to follow the route description from the end of the Foss Lakes trail to the end of the Necklace valley trail.

Day 1: Stashed a mountain bike at the Necklace valley trail for the return. Did not hit the trail until 2 - made it up to Copper Lake for the night.

Day 2: Headed up the trail past Little Heart Lk to Big Heart (BH). There is a breathtaking view off the precipice to Delta lake and the waterfall outlet from Angeline on the way - not to be missed. We started to get into serious snow on the approach to BH, and the lake itself remained mostly under ice. At the maintained trail end we found evidence of the fisherman trail that we thought headed for Chetwoot. unfortunately we later learned we were following the trace to Angeline - not realizing the error until near the outlet stream. After some debate about continuing on the E side of Angeline, we decided to return to the original plan to go to the tarn above Chetwoot from the rib between Angeline and BH. We were fully on snow at this point and gave up trying to find evidence of a trail. It was all map and compass work from this point to Tank Lakes at the other end. Camped on snow near the (frozen) tarn.

Day 3: Follwed the route description to ice-covered Chetwoot, then down to Azure and Azurite Lakes (saw two otters). The snow was patchy by the time we got down to Azurite and found our way around the E side. Some route finding challenges from there to the two small lakes below Iron Cap pass. From the last lake it was all snow up to the pass. Great views of the middle fork peaks from our camp above the pass. That night we had the pleasure of riding out a ferocious thunderstorm with raging winds, lightning, and pounding sleet. Fortunately the tent held up and we did not get zinged.

Day 4: Woke to continued thunder and whiteout. The thunder dissipated by 10 and we packed up and headed out in the fog under map and compass to find our way to Tank Lakes and down to Necklace Valley. We got caught in another intense sleet squall shortly after leaving, but were able to navigate our way to Tank Lakes in reasonable time. The entire area is still blanketed in deep snow, and the lakes are all frozen. Quite a change from about 6 years ago when last in here. It was a summer playground then. As we descended from Tank Lakes we dropped under the clouds and were finally able to see Necklace Valley - looking very snowy and damp. Saw our first person since day 1 (Mike) as we were leaving Emerald Lake. Mike told us that the trail around the E side of Opal was under water and how he had to scramble around the W side. He was right so we followed his lead - no real problems getting around that side. We made it down the trail to the E fork crossing on the Valley floor that night for a final camp.

Day 5: Slept in and walked out the last 5 miles to the trailhead, where I found the bike and pedaled the 2.5 miles back to the starting point.

All in all quite an adventure. We had ice axes but no rope or crampons and had no problems.