Sunrise Lake, Angel Staircase, Copper Glance Lake, Foggy Dew Creek & Chelan Summit — Monday, Jul. 15, 2002

North Cascades > Methow/Sawtooth

Starting Saturday 7/13 I did a 4 day hike in the Sawtooth Ridge area northeast of Lake Chelan. This is a great ‘early season’ high country hike. This whole area (above around 6500 ft.) is mostly meadow with rocky peaks. While the alpine meadows of the main Cascades are still under snow this area is essentially snow free, with just enough snow left to make great pictures. The access road was in very good shape, paved to within about 4 miles of the trailhead. Access is off the Methow Valley highway a little north of the ‘town’ of Methow. The first day was up Foggy Dew Creek trail (#417 & #429) to camp at Cooney Lake for two nights (7-8 mi. 3700 ft elev. gain). Sunday was day hiking to explore the Cooney Lake area and hiking over the ridge toward Merchants Basin (trail #434), down Angels Staircase to Chelan Summit trail (#1259), then south to East Fork Prince Creek. Monday was moving camp from Cooney Lake up over the ridge to upper Merchants Basin, exploring Merchants Basin and hiking to Sunrise Lake (#417B). Tuesday was hiking out Merchants Basin trail to Foggy Dew trail and the trailhead. Cooney Lake and Sunrise Lake are at about 7200 ft. elevation and very picturesque. The hike was made easier with my pack goats to carry the load. There were lots of wildflowers, particularly in Merchants Basin and along the section of the Chelan Summit trail I hiked. This area is also beautiful in the fall when the Larch are golden. The trails were all snow free except two moderately steep snow patches on the trail from Cooney Lake over the ridge to Merchant basin, one a little above the lake and the other at the ridge crest, both were passable. The main trails (Foggy Dew, Chelan Summit, Martin Creek) in this area are open to motorcycles. As a result, these trails are very well graded and maintained thanks to our state gas tax dollars. There were a few trees down across the Sunrise Lake trail, but they were no problem. In the 4 days I met two motorcyclists on the trail, two horse parties and 4 hikers.