East Fork Foss - Necklace Valley, Alpine Lookout & Lake Dorothy - Lake Bear - Lake Deer — Tuesday, Jul. 31, 2007

Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West

I came across this idea one night while pouring over the Beckey guide. A little hatched trail, marked, ""Alpine Lakes High Route"", jumped out at me. I sent out an email to the usual suspects and then a week or so later I was lucky enough to heading up #1062 to the Necklace Valley. Low valley woods kept us cool and mushroom hunting kept our minds busy. We found a few old logging remnants, berries galor and an amazing crop of King Boletes. The upper end of the valley was quite buggy and heavy in blueberries. We headed past the cabin at Emerald and up to the basin below La Bohn gap. The official trial ends and one must pay a little bit of attention. Before the basin itself turn right up a scree gully (cairned). Gain a thousand plus and you are above treeline in fantastic alpine country. Tarns and small tanks are littered about complete with stocked fish. The hiking the following day is an orienteering challenge but really not too bad. Head to the gap east of Iron Cap and soak in the views of Summit Chief, Burnt Boot etc. Head down creek towards Otter (or was it Angeline?) until a couple hundred feet above the lake. Bear left up the slope towards the creek from Azurite. A feint trail sidehills steeply. All the while keep your eyes open for more mushrooms. Azurite is beautiful with some steep cliffs along the lake. Go around the south side until forced up. A hundred yards off the lake a ramp takes you thru the cliffs and on to another climb to Azure Lake. I could go on and on (as this trip does, 35+ miles all together). But that would take the fun out of your own orienteering. Be assured their is plenty of bushwacking, some great trail and a good amount of Alpine/Sub-Alpine cross-country. Their is ample water through out and plenty of places to bail out early if you need to. Shoot me an email if you want more details (austineats@yahoo.com)