Mount Hinman Summit 9/1 to 9/3/2017

A 25 mile trip with 7200’ of total vertical up the East Fork Foss River Trail, including a summit of Mount Hinman, that we did over a comfortable three days and two nights. We were on the trail around noon on Friday after a half-day work and decided to camp at a great spot just past the old cabin overlooking Emerald Lake. Our summit day was a bit longer with our chosen camp site but we had a lighter trip than those that choose to make the climb to La Bohn Lakes to camp.

The smoke from the various Washington and Oregon fires was held to the east by a gentle west wind giving us clear air and blue skies. Our summit route was up the climbers trail to the right of the water fall rather than La Bohn Gap.  The route was easily established by following the cairns clearly marking the way.  Although the climb looks pretty steep from the end of Necklace Valley, it really wasn't too bad.  Once at the top of the falls we hiked south on a boot path around the upper La Bohn Lake and large tarn which is close to the top of La Bohn Gap. 

Facing east and looking at the cliffs and rocks we followed the concept of “choose the path of least resistance” which worked out well. Once into the rocks, more cairns became visible and occasionally a path where there was some dirt on the lower part of the ascent.  The route up was mostly variable large rocks that were pretty solid (an occasional wobble), some slab and then later snow travel around the false summit.  We had our crampons and ice axe for the snow travel but it wasn’t too steep or icy (warm conditions) so we could have hiked the snow without them and still been comfortable. 

We eventually reached the NW ridge peak of Mount Hinman and climbed the steeper section of rocks to call it our Hinman summit. Apparently another pile of rocks about ¼ mile away to the south east, along the Hinman ridge, is slightly higher and considered the true summit; oh well, the whole thing seems to be piles of rocks falling apart so maybe our summit will be the higher in a few years. 

Gorgeous views of the rocky scoured basins, alpine lakes and tarns, rocky peaks, snow fields and glacier made it impossible to really capture the beauty and feeling of the area with a camera. It’s a fun climb that is not technically demanding; just a matter of making choices for the route (part of the fun) and moving carefully on the large rocks that are solid for the most part and not sliding as some have indicated.

Lake Liswoot is AMAZING! Was not expecting such a great place because there was not a ton of information about it on this site. Despite the lack of information, the lake was easy to find. We just skirted the east side of Jade lake until we got to the next lake. Then headed east down a saddle to the lake. Lots of great campsites, especially since the water level is lower this time of year.

 

What a wonderful backpack. Hiked into Jade Lake the first day. The previous trail reports of a long gentle start and a rather steep uphill end were correct. The trail to the lakes was in remarkably good shape, no issues. There were very few bugs. The lake was a bit cold, but warm enough for one member of the party to go swimming while the rest of us bathed with a washcloth and soap. The second day we day hiked up toward Tank Lake. The trail dissolves into many and we needed to do some boulder hopping, but we found the trail again on right/northwest side. We turned back at the snow level because the weather conditions- too much midst and limited visibility. Spent the day looking around the lakes: Cloudy, Emerald, Ilswoot.. The juicy and ripe blueberries and huckleberries were everywhere. We stayed 3 days in the very scenic, beautiful setting. See attached photos

We did a two night backpack trip up to the necklace valley, never having been there before.

The first five miles of the trail are in the river valley, fairly flat and pretty easy.  Once you cross the Foss, however, the trail completely changes to its ugly alter-ego.  This last three miles are very difficult.  They are not only steep, but involve lots of rock clamboring and poor trail design.  Several of the backpackers we met actually stayed overnight near the river crossing so they could take two days to hike the eight miles in.

We first got to Emerald Lake but the only good campsite there was occupied. As it was now getting late, we stopped at the next lake we could find, Emerald Lake.  It was a good campsite but it was kinda buggy and Emerald is not real scenic.

The next morning some departing hikers recommended we go to Ilswoot Lake, which they said was less buggy.  They also very nicely explained how to get there.  So we did move to Ilswoot which was much prettier but not bug-free as promised.  But the bugs were manageable.

We also day-hiked around the area that day to try to find many other lakes.  We were not too sucessful as the trail system there consists entirely of many unmarked and unofficial trails so you just had to keep trying the ones that looked good and see where they went.  This seemed to be a common complaint of many other campers that we talked to, they just coudn't find the lakes they were trying to get to.  The entire area is very hilly and treed, so you can't easily see lakes in the distance.

This seems to be a good destination for strong hikers who know where they are going (or have good directions) and like to rock scramble.  The fishermen we met were also enjoying themselves, and it is a great destination in mid-week for solitude seekers.  But for the casual backpackers we didn't see a lot of appeal.  Of the many backpack trips we have taken around the state, this was one of our least favorite as the payoff didn't justify the grueling trail to get there.

Day hiked up to La Bohn lakes. Snow free all the way up. Cairns are few and far between on the initial ascent to La Bohn Lakes, but if you stay to the left edge along the tree line you'll find the path. Once you're in the trees it's easy to follow. All in all, 24miles, left the car at 10:00am, back at 9:00pm.