Carne Mountain High Route, Spider Meadow and Phelps Basin — Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017

The larches are beautifully golden and light green now. I'd definitely recommend the Carne High Route as a top destination for larches (and stunning mountain views in the fall). The trail is dusty (at least it was before the rain/snow) and dry (no water) until you reach the first basin above the many switchbacks. Past Carne Mountain, the trail is relatively easy to follow when it goes through the woods or meadows and harder to follow across rocky slopes and basins. There's plenty of water at stream crossings in several larch-filled basins as you head towards Mt Maude. There's a few steep slopes that you'll traverse but nothing that feels sketchy (especially without snow on the trail). When I got off trail (a few times), I found that, heading towards Mt. Maude, the trail trended upwards (sometimes steeply upwards) when it disappeared in the rocky basins. Look for cairns and faint trails over the rocks. After the highest saddle (looking down at Ice Lake) the trail trends downward (very steeply at first). Follow the cairns below the first saddle to traverse across a rocky slope (where there's a deep gully to cross). Another hiker used GAIA GPS on his phone and it showed him the trail. My Green Trail Map wasn't as helpful to show the specific route.

I camped for two nights in the larch-filled basins, once under starry skies and the next night with rain and snow. There were some beautiful camping spots along the trail (some that were/are obviously used by horses), with views out to Glacier peak, surrounding mountains and valleys below. 

Spider meadow and the view from the glacier was gorgeous (even in the snow). It snowed/rained for two days. Most of the snow melted in the valley, while the glacier got up to 6 inches of fresh powder.

The long dirt road to the trailhead is rocky, pot holed and (especially from the last turnoff) extremely rutted for long stretches. I made it with my older Subaru legacy (lower clearance) wagon, but barely. I would be wary of driving it with anything but high clearance or all wheel drive. (And leave yourself plenty of time).