On August 3, we went to Spray Park. There were only 17 cars at the trailhead and about 3/4 of the walk-in camp ground was still covered with some snow. Snow covers most of the trail beginning about a quarter mile from where you cross the creek just as the trail opens up as you enter the lower park. The main basin is about 3/4 covered with snow. Route finding isn't difficult in the Park. Just follow the "dirty" boot tracks made by folks who have been there before. Snow conditions appear to be more like the first week in July rather than August. There are a few early flowers but "prime time" is at least two weeks away. This is a great hike for relatively little work and the light on the mountain only gets better as afternoon turns to evening. There is no place in the Cascades I have been to more often than Spray Park.

We hiked 3.9 miles from Mowich Lake (el. 4,900 ft) past Spray Falls and up through Spray Park to the ridge at 6,400 ft (and to a promontory point at 6,360 ft just beyond). Soft, packed snow started as we entered the meadow and ranged from 3-15 ft deep, slushy on the way down in bright sun. Great views of the Central Cascade range up to Glacier Peak and beyond (scattered low clouds hid Mt. Baker). Lots of green islands w/ spring growth at the edges. At least 2 - 3 more weeks before the majority of the snow is gone. With all the snow melt, the falls were impressive.

7/21 hiked in to Ipsut and camped there (5 mi) 7/22-23 camped at Carbon River camp & did day hikes from there towards Mystic and Spray Park 7/24 – after lunch hiked out from Carbon R. Camp to Carbon R. Ranger Station (8.5 mi/3 hrs) Overall - NPS-quality trails with recently installed stringers over every water course, newly worked drainage, and excellent signage. This is an amazing area with few visitors, lots of snow-free destinations (even this year!), and all the flowers, mountain views, stream/creek/river beauty, and wildlife you could possibly absorb. Ranger Station to Ipsut – totally clear and well maintained – a lot of bicycles this sunny weekend so watch for that. Most bikers were very good about yelling as they approached which was nice with the sound of the river making it otherwise hard to hear. Campground is also well maintained and had few other campers the Thurs night we were there. Pit toilets and bear poles for food provided. Ipsut to Carbon River Camp – the trail on the west side of Carbon River is closed, so you must cross the river to the trail that runs parallel on the east side. This adds only ½ mile total and allows you to cross the amazing suspension bridge more often! The trail is completely snow free with no issues all the way. Carbon River Camp had no other campers Friday, but someone left a tent in Site #2 – if it was you, the Ranger, Kyle, was going to go get it, so give him a call. Nice camp but tent areas are small (some site support only one tent) and the nearest water source is Cataract Creek a little way down trail – bring a water hang bag if you have one. Carbon River Camp has a toilet and bear poles, which are really rodent poles as a bear could knock them over with a sneeze. However, we saw only one very shy black bear and several NOT shy rodents, so the poles seem adequate. The chipmunks and mice do show up every meal like long-lost relatives hearing of a lottery win, so guard and hang your food! I turned my back for a second to find a very cute mouse rustling in my food bag. Carbon River Camp toward Cataract and Spray Park – if you like Glacier Lilies, is this the trail for you!! They carpet the woods like I’ve never seen, along with numerous other wildflowers. There are a few downed trees/debris on the trail before Cataract Valley Camp, easily negotiable. A WCC crew was working this trail when we were there and had been for 9 days. The sections they have worked are stunning – textbook tread and drainage maintenance and improvements – thank you so much!!!! Cataract Camp was NOT melted out in 4/6 sites as of 7/22. One site that was not entirely snow had a substantial pool of standing water and was basically a marsh. The one dry site was in the very back against the scree field - #6 maybe? Pics of several sites on Flickr link below. Back on the trail toward Spray Park, solid snow starts shortly after Cataract Camp, so we turned back there. Carbon River Bridge towards Mystic via glacier and Dick Creek – trail snow-free until about 1.3 miles past Dick Creek with no other issues except some mud/water on trail in a few spots. The views are spectacular of both the mountain and the glacier, as well as surrounding crags. Wildflowers, pika, and cool insects abound (mosquitoes not too bad yet, though) on this indescribably beautiful section of trail. Dick Creek is completely melted out and in good shape. Snow starts in earnest about 1.3 miles after that. We encountered some hikers coming down from staying at Mystic. They were camped on snow, but the lake was starting to melt out and they hiked without crampons, reporting it wasn’t bad. We went only a bit past the snow to catch some views from the ridge. All in all, this is a fantastic option for this crazy late-melt year. There are several destinations completely snow-free (in addition to those described, day hikes could include Yellowstone Cliffs and soon to Spray Park and Mystic Lake), no avalanche danger, and very few visitors. Link to full photos (which I’m posting as I can – keep checking back for more! I’ve got most of the described spots pictured at least some): http://www.flickr.com/photos/51278183@N05/sets/72157627277132302/detail/

CAUTION - This trail is closed for at least another month the ranger told us when we went to walk it on 7/1/2011. It was a beautiful day so we walked the flat old road beyond the ranger station and took the Green Lake trail (kind of steep 1.8 trail). The old growth trees are beyond words. Truly impressive.

Spray Park provided a nice no hunting zone for a sunny fall hike. Compared to summer, plentiful parking. Sunshiney day in Spray Park, warm enough if not in shade, not much wind. Hiked in via Knapsack and out via regular trail. Went up Mount Pleasant and down the ridge to the saddle between Pleasant and Hessong, rather than the usual way that goes higher in Spray Park. The lower reaches of Knapsack trail had giant frost heaves and even some water ice but still manageable. Still a few small several times frozen berries available near Knapsack. Main trail that was in official Park was pretty muddy from the melted frost but that cleared up once out of the Park. While the views and scenery are always spectacular, there really is not much fall color going on in these areas, which was a little disappointing. Oh well. Saw a small herd of goats on the "back side" of Fay Peak, as viewed from Hessong-Pleasant saddle.