We parked on the highway along with many other cars at the Barlow Pass trailhead at about 8:30am. The trail is definitely steep after the flat approach, and scrambly in places, but overall not as rough as I was expecting from the description. We made it to the basin around 11:30 and there were several spots still available. We were pleasantly surprised at the relative lack of bugs - only a few bites over the weekend and no need for bug spray or nets. We climbed Del Campo peak in the afternoon, following the boot path around the right side of Foggy Lake. We asked a couple descending groups the best way to reach the summit (stay left out of the gully divot, maintain multiple points of contact, don't look down!). The 360 view from the top was gorgeous! The climb is non-technical, but I would recommend confidence in scrambling skills near edges.
Several dozen more campers hiked in that we saw, and as one other trip reporter noted, not everyone was following best practice of setting up camp on durable and/or existing sites, which is valuable for protecting the ecosystem. I also didn't love the bright lights and music a group next to us brought in, especially because we were trying to watch the meteor shower, but I also wasn't going to be a Karen about it. Something to be aware of when considering visiting this very busy area for a weekend backpack - people from all walks of life are out enjoying the wilderness together with different perspectives on etiquette.
We had an uneventful hike out the next day, but unfortunately thieves had tried to steal our car overnight. They didn't succeed in taking it, but they destroyed the ignition and rendered the car undrivable. I wanted to share this in case anyone might have seen something, and also to warn others about this possibility. Our car is an older Honda. We had a club on the wheel and left virtually nothing inside. HUGE thank you to Don, a kind stranger and fellow hiker, who very generously gave us a ride down the highway to cell service so we could troubleshoot getting the car and ourselves back home.
Comments
So sorry for your car situation—that sucks! And the music thing is so sad. I’ve never encountered that while backpacking, so will try to stick to remote, difficult hikes. Hope you managed to get your car out!
Posted by:
judyvla on Aug 16, 2024 11:18 AM
Please be a Karen people. There is no reason to tolerate bad behavior on the trail. You don’t have to go in super aggressive—just calmly ask folks to turn the music down, and turn the lights down so everyone can enjoy the nature you’re out there to enjoy. I’ve found people to be very accommodating when asked. Don’t suffer in silence. You have every right to enjoy yourself too.
Posted by:
Donna on Sep 03, 2024 08:23 AM