East Fork Foss - Necklace Valley — Monday, Aug. 30, 2021

    Necklace Valley Trail was one of the most challenging trails I’ve ever been on with a fully loaded 30+ pound backpack. The first 5 miles were relatively easy until you crossed the Foss River and started the climb to Jade Lake, first of the Necklace Valley lake chain. The trail is relentless with stretches of granite Boulder fields, interspersed with treed sections filled with roots, large step ups, overgrown vine maple and 14 downed trees you you have to climb over, crawl under or go around.
     The trailhead signage and guidebook mileage don’t jive with All Trails and Fitness Apps. If you are relatively new to backpacking don’t consider hiking here. I would compare this hike to hiking up to Robin & Tucks from the PCT or going up Asgard Pass from Colchuck Lake. We also experienced the first rain and low clouds filling the valley in quite some time which diminished the whole sub Alpine and above tree line experience. No views beyond a couple hundred feet and snow fell overnight at Tank Lake when rain started falling down lower in the valley. The powder dry and dusty trail on our ascent turned into a slippery, muddy and potholed trail on the descent. Fall colored foliage was starting to appear, blueberries and blue huckleberry are ripe for the picking and giant mushrooms / fungi are sprouting up everywhere. We felt lucky to have our vehicle untouched when we returned to the TH filled with glass shards from recent break ins.  We passed several groups descending who were completing the entire loop, on 5 - 7 day treks starting on the West Fork Foss River road and hiking up from the last lake up around Iron Cap. They ALL mentioned the difficult route finding and strenuous hiking!  Another great, although soggy, experience out in nature with friends!