Fortune Ponds, Pear Lake via Meadow Creek — Saturday, Jul. 16, 2022

Overnight hike to Fortune Ponds with scramble up Fortune Mountain.

Two other cars at the trailhead when we arrived Saturday evening and one when we left Sunday evening. However, we didn't meet anyone on trail, and the snow on trail didn't look like anyone had come through super-recently.

After a late start (6 pm) and encountering a decent amount of snow in the valley around 3800' we decided to camp at Fortune Pass rather than push on and risk arriving at snowed-in ponds in the dark. That was a bit of a bummer because on Sunday the lower pond turned out to be gorgeous, snow-free, and had several nice dry campsites. Blooming heather and bog laurel next to the outlet. Oh well, the pass wasn't terrible either with the creek winding through a marshy meadow, flowers out (shooting star, white marsh marigold, trillium, ...) and peek-a-boo views of West Cady Ridge.

Trail conditions:

• Generally decent tread. The first set of switchbacks may actually be the rockiest part of the trail - and that really isn't bad either considering how little traffic it gets.
• Large patches of snow linger between the two Meadow Creek crossings, in the forest above ~4600', and when continuing past Fortune Ponds on the approach to Frozen Finger Gap. Not steep, and with a bit of experience it's not too difficult to pick up the trail again after each patch - but if you get nervous when the trail disappear under snow you may want to give it another couple of weeks. Only post-holed once, but that was thigh-deep and tripped me up solidly.
• About 30 blowdowns on the trail, the majority within ~0.5 mi of Fortune Pass. Don't let that number deter you, most are easy to step over. A few easy scrambles, the first is a double-blowdown maybe 0.5 mi after entering HM Jackson Wilderness.
• Most creek crossings are very easy rock-hopping or step-over affairs at this time. However, the first crossing of Meadow Creek proper may give you wet feet unless you have waterproof boots or opt for a thick but angled log 100' upstream of the crossing.
• The approach to Fortune ponds has a section with standing water on the trail, maybe up to 5" deep. While the worst can easily be circumnavigated, this is another area where waterproof shoes pay off.
• Mosquitoes were out and biting during our Saturday evening ascent, much less on Sunday.
• We didn't check out the trail over Frozen Finger Gap to Pear Lake, but passed the approach to the gap on our way down from the mountain. That still had some larger snowfields. Wouldn't be surprised if there's more on the eastern side of the gap.
• Peach Lake shores, as viewed from Fortune Mountain, were still dominantly white, except for rocks and trees. Not sure about Pear Lake campsites.
• As other have noted, trail location isn't accurate on maps. Forest Service map is better than Gaia or Caltopo but also not quite there.

Scramble notes

Upper Fortune Pond did not have any dry spots yet but was also beautiful. In the melting-out slopes above there are some pretty waterfalls. The direct approach to the summit from the ponds turned out a bit dicier than expected with very steep heather and snow fields that would have called for an ice axe. Our descent via the ridge towards Frozen Finger Gap was much more mellow.