Trip Reports

“I don’t have good summit luck with Beth” I mused to myself when she suggested Cashmere Mtn as a destination for the weekend. But, I reminded myself that I have awesome flower luck when we head out. So, with that in mind the two of us settled on Cashmere Mtn as the destination. We met at the Monroe P&R at 8:30AM for our drive to the TH off Icicle Creek Rd. We got there in plenty of time. We’d have plenty of time to hike the trail slowly and gawk at all the wildflowers we KNEW we’d see. But first, I lighted my load by eating lunch…heck, it was already 11:30AM.

So we started up the Eightmile trail in clear blue sunny skies. It was such a delight hiking the trail compared to the death march in near 100 degree temps last weekend (Robinson Mtn). There were so many flowers out…lewisia, mariposa lilies, coltsfoot, jacob’s ladder, and lousewort. Beth and I planned a slow hike just so we could search out the wildflowers. At one point, just below Little Eightmile Lk I pointed at a flower I wasn’t sure of and Beth assured me it was a Lewisia Columbia. I love those cute little flowers. Abundant wildflowers were the standard fare all the way to the little lake. Just past the lake we picked up trail 1554 which switches back up the hillside as it takes it’s aim at Caroline Lk.

Not ten minutes from the trail junction I saw a shape dart in a blur across the trail. I was moving fast. I knew it wasn’t a marmot because it wasn’t wobbling. I suspected a weasel. So, I stopped and looked around. Then I saw it. The weasel had climbed a tree just downhill from where we stood. It climbed about 20’ up the tree and looked at us just as intently as we were looking back at it. (I determined after getting home that this was a Long Tailed Weasel). After a few minutes of grinning at our find Beth and I continued up the trail. I have to say I was stunned by the flower show. Out came columbine, lupine, wallflower, jacob’s ladder, anemones and so many shooting stars I thought I was going to overdose on them! We identified a total of three different shootingstars on the trail including an all white version.

Up the trail Beth and I continued to about 6300’ and then we began about a 150’ drop down to Caroline Lk. The trail skirts the right (east side) of the lake and continues on to Little Caroline Lk. When we got to the second lake we were surprised to find that we were the only group there. We had our pick of campsites (there appear to be 3) so we took the far one because it had a nice view of the lake. Eventually two other groups arrived at the lake, one group of three fisherman, and the other a pair of climbers also intent on climbing Cashmere in the morning. We put up our tents, made dinner, and eventually turned in about 8PM.

During the night, something didn’t seem right…

I awoke once in a haze thinking…gosh, that’s a lot of condensation on the inside of the fly. Then, fully awake I realized it was raining. No problem I thought to myself, it will improve by the morning. How wrong…about 5AM I heard pinging on my tent. I was just light enough and as I looked out the one window of my tent I thought “gosh it got cold last night, that rain froze”. Then I rolled over and looked at the ground just outside the fly and realized that pinging was SNOW! Beth asked what I wanted to do. Should we continue with our plans to climb Cashmere or not? Beth is a wonderful mountain companion, she knows my tolerance for exposure. Cashmere on a good day might test my limits. On a cold, cloud shrouded, windy, snowy day…I had to say no. The other climbing group did end up going but there were better prepared having brought helmets, ice axes, and even crampons. So Beth and I made breakfast, packed up our soaking wet tents, and headed back down. Once we were out of the basin area of the lakes it did warm up a bit but our hike out was filled with a light snowfall broken by rain. All those gorgeous wildflowers from the previous day were blanketed by a light dusting of snow.

Lessons learned from this trip: 1) if I hike with Beth odds are that I won’t summit, and 2) I will see tremendous amounts of wildflowers.

We were back at the car by 12:30PM and at the 59er Diner by 2PM…just in time to catch a late lunch complete with the famous shakes!

Well it was time to see if the backpacking season had started early this year because of the lack of snow last winter. It certainly has! Since Jonathan had to drive up from Portland Friday night, we decided to not rush our departure and were on the road at the crack of 8:00. From my house on Phinny Ridge the trail head is 130 miles one way. After the required stop at the Espresso Chalet (truly excellant Latte) and the drive up to the Eight Mile Lake Trail parking lot we still managed to get an early Alpine start up the trail at 11:06. The 1994 fire on the east side has really not recovered as much as I would have thought. It is very interesting to walk through a relatively recent burn. We felt a little silly carrying our snowshoes in the low elevation heat, but they did prove to be very useful. The trail is in great condition with a few blow-downs to negotiate. Real snow does not exist until 6,000'. We had to put them on and off a few times as the trail had melted out on the south facing slopes and was still fairly deep on the north facing ones. At the pass coming up from Lake Caroline we crossed some very fresh bear tracks. Each track was about 7"" long with the claws clearly visible. We dropped down to the lake and decided against just walking across the snow. We also decided to head up to Windy Pass for the night and had an excellant snow shoe tour up to the pass and then to Point 7380 just south of the pass where we camped for the night. The weather improved and we had steller views in all directions as the sun lit up the whole world with a red and orange glow. Soon the stars were out and so was I. From the car to the top in an easy 6 1/2 hours with several stops. 3 1/2 hours down.

My friend Bruce and I dayhiked up to Lake Caroline on Saturday, July 31. Temps must have been in the 90s, and practically the entire path from the trailhead to the top of the ridge above Caroline is in the sun. Then when we got to Caroline we were mobbed by MANY MANY flies. Bruce said there were mosquitoes too, but I left too fast to verify. Wow. we warned the overnighters coming in as we were heading down the ridge, but they of course were undeterred. We each consumed two full waterbottles and could have used more. Travel time was three hours in, three hours out. Trail is in good shape. No issues other than bad bugs.

TUESDAY, JULY 9, 2002 – EIGHTMILE LAKE / LAKE CAROLINE GT MAP Chiwakum Mountains

I’ve long wanted to hike up into this area of the Icicle Creek region as I’ve hiked so very little over in these parts. The upcoming bridge closure over Icicle Creek which will block access off to this region after the 15th was reason enough to finally get myself there for a very perfect hike. To beat the heat (and to get me back home by a 3:00pm curfew) I was on the way to the trailhead at 3:15am and was hiking up from the trailhead in the cold 5:40am air. To say the least the trailhead was pretty quiet with only one rig there from overnighters I saw later on. As I started hiking, I pondered why Eightmile Road, Eightmile Creek, and so on are not called “Eightmile-and-four-tenths” Creek since the turn-off is 8.4 miles up the Icicle Creek Road. I came to the conclusion the creek must enter Icicle Creek eight miles up, or the surveyors 100 years ago didn’t have satellite based GPS units to help them : )

The steep trail the first ½ mile is in constant ear-shot of roaring Eightmile Creek. The flower display began almost immediately and was constant for the entire day! I think the first thing to pop me in the eyes were some stunning masses of tiger lilies, some over five feet tall! This initial open area also was active with three woodpecker species: Hairy, Downy, and Norther Flickers. A later sighting of a more uncommon Black-backed Woodpecker near Little Eightmile Lake gave me a four woodpecker day. The trail to Little Eightmile Lake went quickly and is in fine shape—sure, some masses of thimbleberry clog up the trail when laden with early morning dew, but who cares. Just after the view of the lake is the junction with trail #1552 that heads up to Lake Caroline, and if it were not for the sign on the tree marking it I would have NEVER found it. This trail was so overgrown right in the first 300 yards I actually had to LOOK for it even after seeing the sign. This first climb from 4400 feet to 5000 feet was the worst part where the eight years since the 1994 fires burned the tree canopy has allowed thick undergrowth of native shrubs to thrive! Pretty for the flowers and smells, hard on keeping the trail. I hope this first mile of the Lake Caroline Trail can be listed to get work soon or I fear that another five years will really make it difficult. The views across Eightmile Lake with increasing elevation through the silver snags of dead trees was magical. Each stand of living trees was an island of bird life within it too! Half a dozen of them supported very active flocks of Western Tanagers—I must have seen 20 during the day! Hummingbirds were almost on me all day as well since my red shirt got them all hyper. Twice I had one almost land on my shoulder! The trail was very clear and open from 5000 feet to the 6300 foot pass above Lake Caroline with only one log to step over. There was still a couple small snow patches heading down to the 6104 foot lake but not on the trail, and past the lake only patches of snow existed. Windy Pass would have a few large snow areas but nothing difficult. The reflection of the mountains in Lake Caroline was magical while a mating pair of Common Mergansers slowly eased across the waters. Photography was exceptional!! I ate a slight “lunch” here at 9:45am while listening to the Clark’s Nutcrackers move through the tree stands looking for food—they have long been one of my most loved birds of our high mountain zones! Hiking back out I spent more time photographing more flowers that were too breezy in the earlier winds, and I startled a Ruffed Grouse who went up into a tree only 30’ from me. I photographed the rascal for 15 minutes while it waited for me to part ways! I slowly backed away then, and within 30 seconds of leaving it was casually on the ground again. A good encounter for both of us!

I hiked quickly out the 2.8 miles on trail #1554 to get back to the trailhead by 12:15pm. Just then in the last mile did people start really showing up. Surprising for a weekday, but all were doing as I in getting in to this area while the getting was good! Flower species for the spectacular day included tiger lily, Jeffery shooting stars, small-flowered penstemon, red columbine, queens cup (carpets of it along the Eightmile Creek area!), asters, stonecrop, glacier lilies, balsamroot, pink monkey flower, nine-leaf desert parsley, paintbrush, two species of lupines, fireweed, thimbleberry, wood rose, bluebells, cow parsnip, Columbia lewisia, twinflower, creeping Oregon grape, and “a bunch of yellows I can’t remember”. Flowering shrubs included vast areas of red-flowering current, deerbrush, mountain ash, and oceanspray. Oh, and the butterflies were thick as the skeeters in wet muddy areas of the trail! Alan L. Bauer 07/09/2002

This was actually a 3 day backpack trip, with camp set up at Little Lake Caroline. The trail up to Little Caroline is in a good shape. A few blow-downs to get around, but nothing major. This part of the hike is very enjoyable and passes through some beautiful meadows. Fire has swept through parts of the area in the last year or so, it looked like. We set up camp towards the north end of Little Caroline on a little nob overlooking the lake. Camp was set up by 1 PM, so we kicked back, took an afternoon nap, watched a pair of ducks on the lake, and just relaxed and enjoyed the scenic, peaceful setting for the rest of the day. After we settled into our tent for the evening, it actually hailed for a bit. Of course, though, it is never great weather here on the 4th of July! Summer really starts the day AFTER and, true to form, July 5 was a georgeous day! We left our camp in the morning for a day hike up to Windy Pass, following the trail until it hit the slope directly below the pass. At this point, it was snow covered and we kick-stepped our way up to the ridge line. What views! We walked along the ridge towards Mt. Cashmere with tentative thoughts to scramble to the top if we felt up to it and it didn't look too difficult. When we got there, it looked a bit more work than we wanted to do. So, we hung out on the ridge near the base of Cashmere and enjoyed some absolutely incredible vews - Mt. Stuart and Mt. Rainier to the South and Mt. Baker and Glacier Peak to the North. When we got back to camp, the bugs were out in greater numbers, but that didn't stop us from thoroughly enjoying ourselves. We got up before the bugs the next morning, but it didn't take them long to realize we were out of the tent! We packed up in short order and headed out! The hike out was great through the meadows and down to Little Eightmile like, but after that we just couldn't wait to get back the car! An awesome trip overall. This is a beautiful area and we felt like we had been away for much longer than three days.

Flowers from the parking lot all the way up on this hike! Lupine, yarrow, queen's cup, columbine, paintbrush, tiger lily, etc. down low and shooting star, balsamroot, glacier lily higher up. Lots of others too...

The trail up to Little Eightmile is in fine shape, a little mud but no big deal. After the turnoff there's some brushiness and blowdowns. Lost the trail at one point just above a flat area and below a large rock (maybe halfway up the hill); fortunately I was familar enough with the trail to re-locate it (and on the way back down was able to see where I missed the switchback due to blowdown + confused hikers).

There are a few patches of snow still at Lake Caroline, and some longer stretches between there and Little Caroline. Nothing too serious though -- there is enough trail and bootprints showing to not get lost. Above Little Caroline the trail is in great shape, with a couple of snow patches and a little bit of meltwater in the trail. I stopped about halfway between the little lake and Windy Pass. From what I could see, the pass may still be socked-in. But I didn't round the corner far enough to see the trail route itself.

Weather on the east side was good this weekend. Scattered clouds Saturday, a little drizzle/sleet/snow Sunday morning, and patchy clouds by lunchtime. A wonderful cool breeze all weekend. No bugs.

Pack Pup (AKA: my wife) and I took a great day hike to Little Lake Caroline. This was the last of five training hikes before we leave for our six-day backpacking trip to the Golden Lakes Loop 6/30/02. The trail to Little Eightmile Lake has been logged out. From there to just before Lake Caroline expect lots of blow downs, but all are fairly easy to navigate around. No snow on the trail until Lake Caroline. Lake Caroline is 80 percent covered with a thin coat of ice. Basin area is melting fast and portions of the trail are visible. Trail to Little Lake Caroline mostly snow free until just before the lake. Little Lake Caroline is 50 percent covered with thin ice. Several usable campsites at Lake Caroline and one good site open at Little Lake Caroline. Stayed at Leavenworth for the night. Much nicer than driving straight home!

Clouds east and west of the crest this day. Destination Icicle country. Cashmere, and I am not talking about fabric. Snow is melting fast, not fast enough. Anxious for Summer, anxious for sun, mostly anxious to try out my new bivy. Trail reports said mostly snow-free to Eightmile Lake and the lake is thawed, so I figured partially snow-free up towards Lake Caroline. I never imagined it would be 6,000 ft before I hit continuous snow. The lake Caroline trail heads up through a burn affording plenty of views of the surrounding area including a view out to frozen Eightmile lake. Patchy snow started around 5,500 ft. and there were plenty of blow downs to navigate around. I was just happy to be hiking on dirt for I knew there would be plenty of snow to be had later. I encountered another person on the trail who was not as happy as I, for he had skis strapped to his back, ones he had hoped would be on his feet by now. Lake Caroline was still completely frozen over and there was 5-6 ft. of snow on the ground.

Up till now the weather looked like it was improving. That changed very quickly as it started to snow. All the peaks dissappeared into the white so I decided to dissappear into a nap. The Bibler tripod bivy was suprisingly roomy and not clostraphobic at all. I found myself quickly falling asleep. Upon waking I found the clouds to be lifting, I decided this was my chance for the summit. Quickly throwing my gear together I was off.

By now the snow was soft out in the open so I restricted my travel to the trees as much as possible. As I traversed northeast patches of blue sky appeared and the sun started to poke through. Was this a good omen or just a sucker hole? Once on the ridge views began to open up. Down in the valley the sun was shimmering intensely. I could see the frozen flat of Colchuck lake and the rugged peaks that surround it. Stuart came partially into view although the summit was still obscured by clouds. Behind the row of peaks to the southwest I could see a line of dark black clouds building.The peaks were like a dam holdiing the water back but I could tell that dam was about to break. I pushed even harder trying to reach the summit but the battle was already lost. ""Sucker holes""; I said to myself, they get me everytime. By the time I reached the saddle at 8,000 ft I was in a white-out and the snow was blowing sideways. 500 ft below the summit and I couldn`t see but ten feet in any direction. I huddled down behind a rock in hopes of waiting it out. After an hour there was no change and my window of opportunity had come and gone. Back at camp the clouds started to break up just as the sun was setting and I was treated to a spectacular display of alpenglow. Looking at Cashmere it became painfully obvious how close I was to the summit. Sitting there drinking hot chocholate I became intriqued with the idea of an early morning ascent. I retreated to my bivy for the night eager to see what the morning brings..... 4:00 AM, I can hear the sound of drizzle on my bivy. I zip open and see I am socked in. Cashmere will have to wait till another day.

Hiked up to Lake Caroline and then beyond to Windy Pass. It was a great day, the sky was vey clear. Trail conditions quite good. I did see bear scat in several places along the trail past Lake Caroline.

Trail is in good shape all the way to the lake, and it is real buggy in spots, just hope for a breeze. Views are superb. Trail is a bit brushy in spots but definitely in good shape. There are still little creeklets all along the way so don't worry about extra water, at least for another month. Marmots and picas everywhere.

Trail is snow-free and logged to Windy Pass. There is a bit of mud on parts of the trail, but it should all be dry within the next couple of weeks. Hot, dry, dusty in stretches. Very nice.

In search of fairer
weather we chose the Caroline Lakes as our destination (rather than a planned westside destination) at the last minute. When we got to the trailhead we we were surprised to find we had to purchase an overnight pass at the Leavenworth Ranger Station. (Silly us! We don't usually venture to the eastside and didn't realize this was part of the pay permit area.) Luckily, there were permits still available but we got off to a rather late start in the heat of the day. After Little Eightmile Lake the trail heads uphill very (!!!) steeply. The ""100 Hikes"" book doesn't exagerate. This area was badly hit in the fires of two years ago, but it makes for interesting scenery in its own way and there are acres of fireweed (which were just about to come into bloom). The trail itself was in good shape, though the lack of shade through the burn-out combined with the steepness of the trail was gruelling. We were able to filter water from a small creek about 2/3's of the way up. Our edition of the book suggested that there were better campsites at Little Lake Caroline so we went there. I don't think we would agree with that. After breaking camp in the morning we took a sidetrip up the trail as far as Windy Pass. Well worth it!!!