The Garland Peak Trail mentioned as a larch hike in Washington Trails for Sep indeed abounds with larches, sweeping vistas, an abundant variety of wildflowers many unique to the eastern Cascades, and four scrambles up 8ooo plus ft peaks. However, the trail from the junction with Cow Creek trail #1404 to Shetipo Creek trail #1429 is unmaintained, largely dry, and in places quite hard to follow. There are two small avalance debris depoosits and numerous small logs to step over. Camp at the 7200' saddle S. of Rampart Mt offered sunset views, flowers from Douglasia nivialis to Gentians and snow for water. The Shetipo trail has been drastically gutted by motor cycles and sports about 25 large blow downs in its 5 miles. Was it worth the effort? Absolutely! Does GPT need and deserve work?? Yes, it does! djaecks

This was the annual larch trip for the usual gang including Blissman, Skip, Ace, Cisco, The Transporter and Maria. the best crew you could ask for on this end-of-the-season trip. We began on the Entiat River trail and the trail up to Larch Lakes. The weather was cloudy, but began to rain just before we got into camp. We lucked out though when the rain stopped just in time for dinner. We would have fantastic weather for the remainder of the trip.

Next day we packed up and headed to Raven Roost camp about 1.5 miles past Fifth of July Pass on the Garland Peak trail. The trail becomes very scenic once you get above the evergreens and into the larch! We dropped our packs at Fifth of July Pass and half of our crew scrambled Fifth of July Peak. This is fairly easy with slight exposure on top. Lots of rock, but easy going with a little use of hands. Fabulous views of Glacier Peak, Old Gib, Chiwawa, Buck Mt., Maude, 7 Finger Jack and to the east, Pyramid Mt., Saska, Emerald and lots of stuff I haven't figured out yet. From the pass we dropped down about 1000' into Raven Roost camp. It's the only camp on the ridge with sure water although there is a good stream near the junction of the Cow Creek Meadows trail if you could find a spot to pitch a bivy. No real campsites though. Raven Roost Camp is in a deep basin, but is pleasant enough with a little meadow and a nice talus back drop complete with squeaking pikas. The sun doesn't stay in the basin long though.

Our third day was a layover day with plans to explore and scramble the area to our southwest on the Garland peak trail. Cisco and Transporter had to be cut loose to have their own crazy adventure on Devil's Smokestack. Blissman, Ace and myself went off to scramble Rampart Mt. while Maria relaxed the day away on a high ridge. Rampart Mt. is a fairly easy scramble, but includes some loose rock and use of hands in spots. These peaks all seem to be of similar stuff -- easy approaches with crumbly rock summits. We then ambled on through fabulous pumice fields with stupendous views. Really beautiful. We then rounded a corner and got our first views of the approach to Garland Peak which included a drop of about 300' before heading up the pumice slopes to the summit. At this point, Ace thought better of the whole thing and left Blissman and me to do this one on our own. It looked like a butt kicker, but really went very well. It's just a long walk up that isn't nearly as long as it looks. This was my favorite summit of all. Maybe because I knew it was the last for this trip and maybe because the views were wonderful as it juts out into the valley with fabulous larch basins below and a dramatic view of Devil's Smokestack above, and also, pretty much the rest of this part of the world. Just as we were thinking of heading down we were joined by Cisco and the Transporter who told us of their adventures on Devil's Smokestack confirming to us that we made the right choice to skip that one! Apparently, it is very challenging and they did not summit. Knowing these guys, it must have been pretty tough if they didn't make it.

Our last day included climbing back up the 1000' or so to Fifth of July Pass and then down the Cow Creek trail to the Entiat River trail and to our cars. In Cow Creek Meadows I ran into my old friend Cathy L. who was camping with her dog buddy Cedar. After a nice chat we headed for home. Dinner at Gustav's of course!

A few notes on the route: the trail gets very sketchy in places after leaving Fifth of July Pass, but it is very doable if you realize this and pay attention. However, it looks like the Garland Peak trail is being deserted by the Forest Service and I don't think any maintenance has been done in a long while. Huckleberry and little trees are taking over and you will not be able to find it for long. It is very sad since this is one of the more scenic backpacks around in my opinion. It is also very enjoyable because there are so few people around. We only saw one couple, a solo hiker, and Cathy during the entire trip. We saw very little wildlife. However, the couple that we spoke with reported seeing bears at Larch Lake and goats at Cow Creek Meadows. Also, the Larch Lake trail includes a river ford that you can avoid if you take the trail to Cow Creek Meadows where there is a great bridge over the Entiat River. You then follow the connector trail over to the Larch Lakes trail. This is not on my Green Trails map, but I understand it is shown on newer maps. Larch is half gold, but getting there fast! Hike this trail now and ask the Forest Service to keep it open!

Moms hit the trail for the third year in a row. This year we anxiously scanned the weather reports hoping for sun and warmth in a forecast than sounded cold and rainy. The Entiat River area turned out to be a great choice when the west side looked gloomy.

We started up the Entiat River trail about 3pm and stopped to chat with several heavily laden hunters heading down from Ice Lakes. Clouds of dust billowed around us as we walked the well used trail. Thankfully, #1404 took us up out of the dust and upwards to Cow Creek Meadows for the night. The trail is clear and the meadows were painted with fall colored vaccinium and craggy peaks. No other tents in the area.
  
The next morning, after a leisurely breakfast, we headed up towards our next camp at Larch Lake. As recommended in a guidebook, we thankfully dropped our packs at the junction of Garland Peak trail and 'floated' our way up to the awesome views on Fifth of July Mtn. Ominous clouds filled the western views, but for the time-being we were in mostly sun. Allow at least 1-1/2 to 2hours for this worthwhile side trip.

Onwards down to Upper Larch Lake for the night. The next day we did a lovely day hike up towards Pomas Pass. We were buffeted by cold winds from the north but rewarded with dramatic views across Rock Creek valley below and shrouded Glacier Peak. A bright orange clad hunter in tennis shoes materialized along the trail ahead and mentioned that six bears had been seen at Lower Larch Lake the day before. We turned around at the high point above the pass to seek shelter from the cold wind at lunch time.

The next morning we awoke to a light dusting of snow on the ground and a blanket of white on the ridges above. No color on the larches yet, but the cold weather should bring it on soon. We shed layers as we hiked down the Larch Lakes trail #1430 in the warming day and waded our way in the swirling dust back along the Entiat River trail. This is a great loop trail in good condition throughout.