Left Seattle at 8:30 and arrived at the trail head (with a stop at the Carbon River Ranger Station to pick up campsite pass) at 10:30. Parking lot was packed but it appeared to be mostly day hikers heading out to Spray park.
Travelled the loop clockwise over Ipsut pass with overnight stays at Ipsut campground (which has bear boxes) and Cataract campground (which has bear poles). This was a great first backpacking trip for a friend as the 1st day was approximately 5 miles (all downhill), second day was a bit over 5 miles (with a partial climb back up) and third day was 7 miles (continued climb up) with the "dessert" of the wonderful traverse through Spray Park and then back to Mowich Lake (with a refreshing stop at Spray Falls). Only one small (flat) snow traverse in Seattle Park and the mosquitos were maneagable. I would suggest the clockwise route as climbing up and over Ipsut pass at the end of the trip just doesn't make sense.
All in all a perfect trip with beautiful weather, fresh blueberries, red & black huckleberries (for the oatmeal!) and a great variety of wild flowers. Closure of one section of the Carbon River trail will have you cross to the east side of the Carbon River (log crossing) returning back to the west side about a mile later across a nice suspension bridge. The log crossing may make you a bit nervous but just take it slowly --- it's a robust piece of wood.
Comments