Carne Mountain High Route, Ice Creek - Ice Lakes — Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024

I hiked up Carne Mountain and then continued along the Carne Mountain High Route trail to Ice Lakes on Thursday, October 3rd 2024. It was difficult but absolutely beautiful! Most of the larches around Carne Mountain were still a bit green, but many of them along the High Route trail were in full color. Ice Lakes was in keeping with its name. The ground was frozen and the air was bitter cold. The biggest issue was the wind. It started in the middle of the night and only increased. By morning, the side of my tent was banging into me. I got out of the tent and it almost flew away. I grabbed it with one hand and the wind picked it up like a kite! Fortunately, I managed to grab some photos of the incredible sunrise before heading out on Friday, October 4th. I exited by way of the Leroy Creek trail. The route I took to reach Ice Lakes was difficult and treacherous (see warnings below). The route coming from the Leroy Creek side was easier to follow but also very steep and sketchy in a few places. It started to snow as I was hiking out. The ground was already frozen so the snow stuck and started to accumulate. Fortunately, I made it off the really steep parts of the trail before there was much snow.

WARNING: The High Route "trail" is easy enough to follow from Carne Mountain as far as Box Creek, but that's as far as it goes. After that, I wouldn't really call it a "trail" any more. It disappears entirely in places, which means you have to use your map and some mountaineering skills to navigate the terrain. At times, the "trail" becomes visible again, but it is no more than a social trail. The route climbs a rock slide area which is very high, very steep, and somewhat treacherous because the gravel is loose and the rocks give way under foot. After that, the path becomes visible again, but it is very narrow (inches wide) as it cuts across another rocky slope. Then it climbs up to Freezer Pass and down to Ice Lakes. It is one of the more difficult routes I've taken. Again, it was beautiful, but if you are going to attempt it, then you should know what's in store. Check the weather forecast (snow or mud could make this route much more dangerous), and give yourself plenty of extra time.