Icicle Creek, Josephine Lake — Sunday, Jul. 14, 2013

Central Cascades > Leavenworth Area

Wonderful through hike from Icicle Creek/French Creek trail head to Stevens Pass. Hiked 6.5 miles in to the Leland Creek crossing (which is crossable with poles) and camped at an ideal site right next to the river, LOTS of bugs bring the DEET. Set out the next morning for the Pass. Hit a large avalanche section with many huge downed trees about 2 miles from camp. Had to look carefully for the orange tape marking the trail. This section requires much scrambling over very large downed trees etc. bring your balance. Past that the trail is home free all the way to our lunch at Josephine lake, again MANY bugs, and up and over to the pass. All in all a great outing minus the pint of blood we each donated to the mosquito population of the Central Cascades. Maintenance of the Aquarius ski run was going on during our hike. Huge cranes and lots of workers at the crest building another ski platform?? Kind of cool to watch.