Lake Edna, Chatter Creek, Larch Lake, Icicle Ridge, Chiwaukum Creek & Lake Ethel — Tuesday, May. 17, 2016

Central Cascades > Leavenworth Area

Who: Daniel & David Tveten What: Chiwaukum Ski Tour When: May 17-18th 2016 (30 hrs) Note: Although this TR describes a ski tour, I've made special effort to describe information relevant to hiking and snowshoeing in the region. David and I got a late start up Chatter Creek trail (4pm) to our camp at Lake Edna. The trail is in good condition, the stream crossing near the top has an easy ford just downstream, and snow doesn't start until above 5,000ft—and even then it's just short patches. The switchbacks were nearly snow-free until you reach a solid snow field 6,200ft, which we followed straight up on our skis, leaving the trail which continues traversing to the left. We skied all the way over to Lake Edna (on what would be the Icicle Ridge trail) and camped. Wednesday we left at 7am and skied through the col North of the Lake (also would-be Icicle Ridge trail). We maintained our elevation, skiing over the upper reaches of Chiwaukum Creek trail and staying left of Lake Brigham and Lake Flora. (If you are climbing the Chiwaukum Creek trail to get to Brigham and Flora, patchy snow will start at 5,200ft, ~0.3 miles from the lakes, which lie at 5,700 ft and are mostly frozen over). We continued northward, traversing the southeastern flanks of Snowgrass Mountain to the stony ridge above Lake Charles. We packed our skis through an exposed scramble, after which we descended toward frozen Lake Charles, and then continued northward around Big Chiwaukum. We gained the ridge above Cup Lake, and left sudden white-out conditions for a fun descent with a few very minor wet-slides. We passed the lake and stayed left, and climbed back into the clouds via the snow on the far ridge. From there, we maintained elevation with excellent views of the Scottish High Lakes area—Chiwaukum Lake, Loch Eileen, Lake Julius, Lake Ethel. Look at the picture of Cup and Larch Lake for an Idea of snow conditions. Lakes Ethel, Eileen, and Julius are 700-1,200ft lower than this, and from what I remember were pretty accesible with only patchy snow. We reached a steep slide path, referred to as The Swath, and followed the ridge left a couple hundred feet till we found a more appealing shoot. After a (horrendous, epic, painful) brush battle, we followed a deteriorating logging "road" back to our ride on White Pine Road. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To ask questions, just leave a comment below. Or text me. For more info on the route, see Backcountry Ski Routes Washington by Martin Volken, published by Mountaineers Books: https://www.rei.com/product/873427/backcounty-ski-and-snowboard-routes-washington?cm_mmc=cse_PLA_GOOG-_-8734270001&CAWELAID=120217890000846831&lsft=cm_mmc:cse_PLA_GOOG (I requested it from the library) Look fun? I'm always looking for skiing/rock climbing/mountaineering partners, so if you have anything like this for which you want a skilled, fit partner, just text me beta and your plans. Here are a few trips I'd like to do if I can find partners: Dakobed Traverse (3-4 day ski traverse with summit of Glacier Peak) Ingalls Peak south ridge 5.6 rock climb, and/or nearby Mt Stuart Mt Rainer, Ski Furher Finger or Emmons Glacier, or climb Liberty Ridge Mt Hood, ski and/or climb. Anything epic - text me your plans! Beautiful backpacking trips/ultra runs included. Peak-bagging - ditto! Any climbing on Leavenworth granite! (It is my home town) Maybe Prusik Peak West ridge? *Text My Cell: (50nine) 8six0-062zero I live in Leavenworth on Ski Hill Drive! Happy trails! Daniel Tveten