Decided on Ingalls Creek as a one night backpacking trip, we started our day late, getting to the trailhead at 4:00pm, knowing that there are a variety of sites along the trail we set out with the plan to get to the fire pit site 5.5 miles in. The first 3 miles were beautiful, hiking through wildflowers next the rushing and powerful Ingalls creek, passing a variety of amazing campsites along the edge of the water (spoiler alert we wish we would have picked one of these sites). At around 3 miles in we started to encounter some sections of huge puddles on the trail, not impassable, then the sections of snow came. The Snow on the trail is intermittent but consistent, with the depth being between 1 and 3 feet covering the trail at times. As we continued our hike through the snow, we noticed horse prints and the occasional bobcat print. We arrived at camp as the sun was setting, and with the snow as it was wished that we had chosen one of the sites within the first 3 miles. But it was beautiful and the fast flowing water made for excellent white noise while we slept!

NOTE: The toilet at the trailhead is locked for the season.

Last week I had broken the trail to about 3.5km. Today, the trail had become well established to that point, but no further.

I continued breaking the trail from about 3.5km to 7km. There are lots of branches down across the trail that require walking around or under. Multiple places where the snow/ice is at a steep lateral angle, so be sure your snowshoes have decent traction.

At about 6km there is a stream crossing. The snow was about 3 feet deep, so the crossing required breaking snow loose on both sides to create ramps down and up. 

Where I turned back at 7km is another stream crossing. It was a bit wider and deeper snow, so it will be more difficult to cross.

I'll be back next week to break more trail.

P.S. don't forget to sign on the clipboard at the trailhead. If the volume of winter hikers and snowshoers is accurately documented the trail might receive more upkeep.

I’ve hiked this trail countless times the last twenty-five years. It never disappoints. 

Emerald pools, cascading waterfalls were framed by gorgeous fall color from cottonwoods, red twig dogwood, big leaf maple, bracken fern, huckleberry and so much more in every shade of gold, orange, red and pinks imaginable.

If you do this hike, stop, breathe and take it all in every chance you get.

Well, after 3 or 4 years of futile attempts to hike the entirety of this trail, my spouse and I finally did it. Initial hike to camp was about 9 miles in (about a quarter mile or so before Hardscrabble Creek). Day 2 we hiked from camp to Stuart Pass and back, and day 3 we hiked out. We encountered a total of 133 logs of varying complexities and configurations. There are a number of larger ones, but most are 12in in diameter or less. I had planned to take pics and make waypoints of each one, only to realize that my phone was out of juice on day 2, and I had forgotten my solar panel charger. So, the best I could do was indicate how many logs are down in each section of the trail. I figure that’s better than nothing, especially since it appears parts of the trail are difficult to access. 

For organizational purposes I’ve broken the trail down into 7 sections.

-  Trailhead to Falls Creek Trail (5.9 miles) 9 logs total. We took out 3 small ones (6in diameter or less) within the first 3 miles, then decided to curtail our efforts, because we needed to make it to camp. Only so much daylight this time of year. There are 6 logs remaining after the 3 mile mark, one of which is really large.  

-  Falls Creek Trail to Cascade Creek Trail (2 miles) 8 logs down. Right before the Cascade Creek Trail junction, there is a creek crossing with remnants of an old bridge that can be navigated later in the season. Last time we were here early season we had to use a downed log on the upslope of the trail to cross the creek. It could be kind of sketchy if you aren’t sure footed. A new bridge here could be cool and may even survive several years.   

-  Cascade Creek Trail to Hardscrabble Creek Trail (1.3 miles) 3 logs down initially, but we took one out since it was small and basically just laying across the trail. There is also a section right before our campsite where the creek is taking over the trail. A few years ago early season it was completely overtaken with rushing water, and we had to turn around. Though the creek was still running over the trail, we could still navigate. 

- Hardscrabble Creek Trail to Fourth Creek Trail (1.7 miles) This is where things get kind of dicey. Route finding skills are necessary to get past Hardscrabble creek. It’s one of those areas that is subject to change each season and has forced us to turn back more than once. A bridge would be nice, but I sense it would be totally pointless. This creek has its own agenda. Immediately after the creek crossing the trail disappears into an overgrown washout of tall brush, rock, and sand. It’s easy to get turned around here, as it appears there are several trails, and they all look the same. Once you get past this, there are 30 logs of various sizes and configurations further awaiting your perseverance. Aside from downed logs, there are also several precarious leaners that will either come down this winter or will require some future discussion and problem solving. 

- Fourth Creek Trail to Beverly Turnpike Trail (1.7 miles) Ugh. This section was utterly demoralizing. The trail itself should be easy, but with 70 logs of all sorts, shapes, sizes, configurations, and complexities, it was exhausting. Maybe I would have felt better if I could’ve taken some of them out, but there’s only so much daylight, and we were determined to complete the trail! Note there will probably be more logs next season as there are a few leaners in this section as well.

- Beverly Turnpike Trail to Longs Pass Trail (.5 miles) Sweet relief! I think this section is actually receiving regular maintenance, probably because there are a few mountaineering trails leading up to Stuart here. That said, we still encountered 8 logs, but they were much easier to navigate.  

- Longs Pass Trail to Stuart Pass (1.2 miles) We actually ran into some people (2 on the way up and 1 on the way down) after going all day seeing no one. The trail itself is alright, lots of loose rock in places, though certainly better maintained than the other sections. And there was actually a small bridge made from milled wood in relatively good condition! I’m still scratching my head about that one. The trail climbs about 1200 feet out of the treeline and up to the pass. We only encountered 5 logs. And we FINALLY made it to Stuart pass!

Great option for a 1 or 2 night loop for those wanting to spend overnight time in Alpine Lakes.

We backpacked it as a one night loop up up up and over Longs Pass, up Ingalls Creek (gotta a bit lost here since map app had two trail options and northern option is better), stop at Lake Ingalls for a brisk swim, and then find campsite off Ingalls Way trail. Next morning over Ingalls Pass and around about to complete the loop and back to the trailhead. About 8 miles the first day and 4 miles the second and 4000' ascent total for the trip.

No shortage of views, a few tasty ripening salmon berries, and interesting rock geology.