We set out to do the Alpine Lakes High Route as a multi-day backpacking trip starting July 1. We shuttled on the front end with an old mountain bike, so we were able to leave the car at the Necklace Valley Trailhead without much additional effort. 

West Fork Foss trail is in great shape, save for one very large downed tree other hikers have mentioned. It is easy to climb over, even with packs—just look for the foot and handholds carved into the trunk towards the downhill side of the trail. 

We saw our first snow patch at Little Heart Lake (but didn't end up having to navigate snow until after Chetwoot Lake, which is completely melted out). The trail began to peter out as we ascended to the ridge between Big Heart and Angeline and routefinding would have been a bit of a challenge without good maps and a GPX of the route. We made our way to Chetwoot and had the place to ourselves that night—in fact, we didn't see anyone for the vast majority of this trip. 

We traversed between Chetwoot and Necklace Valley the following morning. Maybe 20% of our travel was on snowfields, which were largely helpful and offered a relief from boulder-hopping. We had to be thoughtful about our entrances and exits from the snowfields but had no issues with postholing, and never needed to use the axes/crampons we'd brought along just in case. Snow was melting fast, though, and we were lucky with temperatures: cool enough to be solid, not cold enough to be scary firm.

There are ample cairns throughout this stretch that were typically helpful, though under Iron Cap peak several routes are marked by cairns which could get confusing. We climbed a bit higher than what I believe to be the standard route, crossing above an obvious cliff-band to avoid traversing a steep slope that ended in a cliff. This route was nice—no major exposure, easy and interesting travel. 

Descending from Iron Cap is an honest bushwhack, then travel got easy once we dropped closer to the valley bottom. Seems to be a fairly obvious footpath through here, and ample cairns. Once we hit Iron Cap Gap, we were able to consistently follow an obvious trail.

Tank Lakes were maybe 50% melted out and swimmable, and there are clear, dry campsites available there. We descended into the valley (with the help of a few last snowfields) and camped among the lakes, then hiked out the next morning. Necklace Valley trail is in good shape. Maybe 5 downed trees but none that posed a big problem, and some slightly overgrown spots that might be a bother in early morning dew. Saw just a handful of hikers once we hit valley bottom. 

Bugs were bad enough throughout the trip that we were grateful for the deet and headnets we'd brought along. 

Headliner, though I know budget cuts are a crisis – miles 2-5 need a little love or a lot of traffic to keep them from being swallowed up! The footing itself is in excellent shape there, but in many stretches you’re getting brushed head to toe by undergrowth, feeling your way along the path below the plants.

Thank you to previous reports for recommending pants and long sleeves. If you’re going early, make them waterproof! Thanks to the dew, I was quite wet by the time I passed mile 5 and started climbing. After that point, the undergrowth is gone and you can concentrate on the steep rocks and roots!

Road: last 3 miles unpaved; first 2 in great shape, last 1 has some (mostly avoidable) potholes. Close to the trailhead, you’ll come to a fork; stay right.
Bathroom: clean and stocked.
Bugs: come prepared. They’re everywhere.
Crossings: my feet got wet, but only because of the dewy undergrowth! No tricky crossings.
Climb: hard, but not as bad as I thought. The ridiculously steep sections leave room for some short but mercifully flat ones in between.
Lakes: Jade was jade, Emerald was orange (didn’t look healthy), and Ilswoot was turquoise! So close and so completely different. Ilswoot was stunning, but had yellow residue on the shore.
Navigation: between lakes, the many boot paths really were a maze. Even with Gaia, which showed some but not all of them, it got confusing.

Snow: none on the trail. I realized I’d forgotten my phone charger, I so turned around after those three lakes, just to play it safe.
People: ran into people four times. Two cars at 7:20 AM; six when I got back at 5:15 PM.

Flat, overgrown 5 miles: 2 hours
Climb to Jade: 2.5 hours
Rested and explored between lakes: 2 hours.
Descent: 2 hours
The 5 miles again: 1.5 hours.

I just got back and I already can’t wait to visit this trail again! Hoping to make it to La Bohn Gap next time, or somewhere near there.

Had a nice 1 night backpack to Jade & Emerald Lake. Nearly snow free, the snow really began after Emerald Lake so we stopped there. Some mosquitoes on and off during the hike. Would recommend wearing pants for first four miles as there was a very narrow path with lots of stinging nettle. Nice to get out this early in the season!

I day hiked 6 miles in - Lovely trail, a little overgown in spots as others have mentioned. Just after mile 4 there were stinging nettles on the left side of the trail- they got me going and coming.  The bridge across the creek is slighlt washed out - you have to go off trail and climb over some obstacles to get to it without getting wet feet but it is possible.  trail starts climbing after that crossing. No snow on trail till mile 6 - looking at snow map looks almost free all the way to Jade Lake.   

Oh - spider webs/strands almost constantly going and coming - productive little guys 

The trail is snow free for at least the first 5 miles, with a few blow downs that are not difficult to navigate. Trilliums are in perfect full bloom. Bleeding hearts and fairy slippers are showing foliage, but not blooming just yet. Great day! We turned around at the 5 mile mark where the bridge crosses the river.