In 2023 summer, we planned to backpack Spider Meadow-Buck Pass loop, but didn't do because of road closure.
In 2024 summer, the road was open, but the trail beyond Spider Meadow was closed due to wildfire.
So we decided to modify the route and did Spider Meadow-Mount Maude backpacking. Someday we will do Spider Meadow-Back Pass loop or even bigger loop, Glacier Peak loop.
On day1, we started around 5 p.m. at Phelps Creek trailhead, and hiked 3.5 miles to the junction to the Mount Maude. The reason why we started so late was that we hiked down all the way from Core zone of Enchantments (4000 feet hike down) then, drove, purchased a head lamp in the town (Mr.N's headlamp got broken), then started hiking. Only 650 feet elevation gain in 3.5 miles, so it was easy. On the way we heard noise in the bush and stopped to see what it was. I saw a black bear noticed us and run away. We found a nice dispersed campsite and had a good sleep.
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| Upper Ice Lake |
On day2, carrying only a day pack and headed for Mount Maude. The trail is abandoned. At the junction there is a USFS sign saying the trail is not maintained. Since this is not a popular trail, bush is overgrown many areas and trail got faint time to time. Positive side was that there were sooooooooo many huckleberries all the way. Each berry was very very big! "BIG more than ever seen" was confirmed by Mr.N who grew up in Montana. Negative side of overgrown was our cloths got soaked, because plants were super wet by recent rain. After 3500 feet elevation gain, we reached at Freezer Pass. As the name indicates, it was cold, but spectacular view of upper Ice Lake was had (above picture). Someday I want to camp by Ice Lake. Another 1500 feet elevation gain from Ice Lake, we summited Mount Maude. Unfortunately, we heard thunder on the way to the summit, and it was approaching and there was no view at the top. We stayed literally 1 minute at the top and went down to the Ice Lake. Luckily once we came down, the thunder was going away, we were able to take a break with great view of lake. We came back to our campsite around 5 p.m. It was an intense day hike of +/- 5000 feet. Then we thought we still have energy to hike 2 more miles to the Spider Meadow to camp there.
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| Spider Meadow |
Really pretty meadow. Unfortunately all the night it kept raining. Our tent was single wall and it was raining inside the tent. It was my first time using single wall tent and I really hate it. By morning we got everything wet. We were too wet and still it was raining in the morning and no hope to be cleared up by looking thick clouds, so we decided to hike out. We will come back for the longer loop someday.
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