East Fork Foss - Necklace Valley — Sunday, May. 26, 2019

This was a wonderful and much needed respite for the dogs and I this weekend, though my adventure quickly depreciated when I got back to my truck to find someone had broken into it :( they attempted first to pry open my door with a crowbar, severely damaging the column, before giving up and then breaking out the rear passenger window.  They rifled through every nook and cranny and took everything (mostly tools), including trash and old receipts.  Normally I leave my vehicle empty and unlocked, but I figured this trail was out-of-the-way enough for me to simply keep all items of value out of plain sight.  I filed a police report.

Anyway! Here is my report despite my misfortune:

Trail Conditions

The trail is in good condition with only three downed trees between the trailhead and Necklace Valley. 

Snow-free from the trailhead to the valley, though snow does still circle the lake, which is also partially frozen over.  Another hiker ahead of me attempted to get to the southern edge of the lake but fell in because the trail was nonexistent (he was fine).

Sections throughout were somewhat muddy with streams running along the trail, but nothing some decent boots couldn't handle.  Gaiters may be desired only due to the overgrown stretches about halfway to the river crossing. My pants did well enough with DWR.

Campsites

An observant backpacker will be able to find many campsites interspersed along the length of the trail, though space is often at a premium.  I begrudgingly carry a 3-person tent with a substantial footprint, limiting my options somewhat...  A 2-person or solo tent would fit most spots, and hammock users will find a multitude of available locations. 

Trail Traffic

It was a fairly quiet and peaceful day on the trail. There were only 6 vehicles at the trailhead when I arrived late in the day (2:00pm), and I think I was the last for the day. I was the only one who had dogs from what I saw.