Another beautiful backpacking in Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington.
Actually this was the first overnight backpacking before we did the Enchantments during our 2024 summer Washington trip. It was pretty, but at the same time, unforgettably tough camping situation. Below is the story.
Day1: Chatter Creek Trailhead to Lake Edna
5.8 miles, 4900 feet elevation gain
The previous day we arrived midnight in Seattle and this day we shopped at REI and Walmart for fuel, freeze-dried backpacking food, trail mix, bars, and so on. Then we had to drive to the trailhead. Due to that our start time was around 3 p.m. It was a super hot day at least 30C+ (at least 86F or above). Several hikers who were shirtless on the top, came down to the trailhead said to us, "Stay cool"
Without much shade, I got quite tired after 2000 feet elevation gain. There we found a nice shade in the forest with stream and took a break and got water. We saw some nice camp spots around there and thought about stopping for the day, but then we would have to hike more than 18 miles on the next day. So we pushed ourselves for another 2900 feet elevation climb. Luckily the daylight is long in August. In the evening we made it to the Lake Edna.
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| Lake Edna |
We pitched a tent and I took pictures of evening sky (above picture). Pretty! I was happy until this sky observing. Then we were about to prepare dinner. Then we heard the sounds of thunders. Not a good sign. It seems clouds were rolling in. We just ate bars and quickly brushed teeth and went to bed. Storm got closer. Seconds between thunder lightning and sounds got closer and closer and sounds got louder and louder. Inside the tent got wet every minute, because we had a single-wall tent. At one point, we noticed that our crocks were floating in the pond, meaning our tent is in the pond. Apparently we pitched a tent in the lower place where all the water streamed in. We had to get out in the middle of night and had to move the tent to the slightly higher place. In the process, everything got wet. Even after the first storm had gone, the another one came. Then the third one came. Mr.N got really cold and he had to warm water and put in a water bottle and put it in the armpit to avoid hypothermia several rounds. Luckily I had very high quality down jacket from Montbell. This is extremely warm in the very cold environment. (I am not related to Montbell business).
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| sunrise |
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| time to dry everything |
Finally a little after the third storm, clouds went away and sun rose. Can you see the picture in the left, water is accumulated in the lower place? Our tent was even lower place than that. Once sun came in, we were happy that we could dry things out. You can see in the picture 1) how we spread out all the things to dry, and 2) how tent is wet by opened vestibule stick to the tent, 3) my warm Montbell down jacket inside the tent. We went down to Lake Edna to get water and we saw a backpacker also getting water. Her group had to move their tent too due to the storm. We celebrated the fact we survived. Lake Edna in the morning was really pretty and it was grateful to see blue sky reflecting on it (below picture).
Day2: Lake Edna to trailhead
~15 miles, 500 feet up, 4100 feet loss
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| Lake Edna |
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| Lake Edna |
After we took time packing up, we started hiking towards Ladies Pass. Yes, this area's lakes are all ladies names. We saw Lake Edna, Ladies Pass, Upper and Lower Florence Lakes, Lake Mary, Lake Margaret. We didn't pass by, but there are Lake Grace, Lake Alice, Loch Eileen, Lake Ethel in the nearby area. Now Lake Edna is below (left picture).
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Ladies Pass
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After a little climb, little down to the Ladies pass. What a spectacular view! It was a nice exception going to the pass by downhill. I take it.
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| Marmot family |
We saw marmot family. Look at the left picture. Babies are quarreling. Mother marmot is looking at them like, "sigh, again" I asked if it was Mr.N and Mr.F and their mother Ms.L.
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| Upper Florence Lake |
We took a 0.4 mile spur trail to Upper Florence lake. It was great green. How mesmerizing. We had some snack here to enjoy the color.
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| Upper Florence Lake |
Looking back Upper Florence was wonderful sight, too. Worth the 0.8 mile walk effort!
Then we enjoyed Lake Mary and Lake Margaret.
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| Lake Mary |
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| Lake Margaret |
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| Icicle creek |
When we came to the point to cross Icicle creek, we saw a broken bridge. There was no sign to prohibit crossing it. It did not look safe. We looked for the place to ford, but the river was big. We saw two hikers taking break nearby and asked where they crossed the river. The guy said, "Oh we just crossed the bridge"
Oh ohhhhh kaaaay. We crossed, but it was ridiculous Washington forest service did not do anything about this. The trailhead at the end is not the starting point and we had a choice. 3 mile road walk or hitch hike. We decided to do this way: Mr.N hike 3 miles without backpacks bring a car, and I wait at the trailhead at the end and guard the packs. Luckily Mr.N got a hitch 1 minute after he started walking by very nice local hikers.
Overall, great scenery with terrible camping night.
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