Trails for everyone, forever

Home Go Hiking Trip Reports East Fork Foss - Necklace Valley, Tank Lakes

Trip Report

East Fork Foss - Necklace Valley, Tank Lakes — Saturday, Jul. 24, 2021

Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West
view from Otter point

This area already has a fair number of trip reports so just a few notes:

1. there are a lot of blowdowns between around 2800 to 3000 in the more open avy terrain on the way up. We stopped counting them eventually and they are fairly annoying.

2. to Ilswoot lake: at the cabin look for a social trail headed left (east). your goal is to cross the outlet stream of emerald and then bear slightly right (south) to a gap in the rock lumps (around 47.5811, -121.2543). Head down the gap and the first campsite is right there. There is a second less spacious campsite to the left (north) with room for one tent near the small peninsula. You must go through the first camp to get to the second camp. There is also an excellent camp right at the outlet to emerald lake if both are taken.

3. at the head of the valley it begins to be very easy to get lost. Just do your best over the talus and head generally towards the farthest right talus field (if headed to tank) the way gets easier to navigate as the trees disappear. The tracks I saw went up the ridge to the right be we found it easier to sweep around the lowest point, looking for the path of least resistance.

4. to otter point: the way is fairly obvious at first. Head towards the "foehn lake" basin area then gain the ridge near 47.5725, -121.2671. follow the ridge up until you hit some car sized boulders just below the summit. You can either chimney up these or for an easier option go around to the right towards what looks like an airy dead end. Once around the corner though, you find it is not and the way becomes obvious again. This was my favorite view of the trip.

5. there are so many more campsites at tank lake basin than I expected. You may not be able to set up right by the lake but you will find something if you make the trek, the basin is large and mostly rock so durable surfaces. It might be a good idea to bring a blue bag as there is nowhere good to dig a cat hole.

ilswoot lake
stream crossing at outlet of emerald on the way to ilswoot
the route to tank lakes from the head of the valley
Did you find this trip report helpful?

Comments