11 - Mt. Rainier National Park to Leavenworth, WA
with visit to Alpine Lakes Wilderness
Friday, August 16, 1996

I headed for the Alpine Lakes Wilderness in the Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest south of the North Cascades area. The route took me through Yakima where I stopped for supplies, then since I wanted to stay off freeways, I decided to take a back road number 821, except I didn't look it up (knowing it was 8xx) - so, I ended up starting on 823 which turned into a county road which turned into a gravel road.

The gravel road was good and it was going through a state wildlife refuge so I blindly stayed on it. Finally arrived at Ellensburg where I picked up highway 97, then 2 to Leavenworth.

I expected a small little town, but it turns out to be the Bavarian capital of Washington with all sorts of fancy motel/hotels and restaurants. Being a Friday evening, it was busy like a zoo. I escaped up Icicle Canyon and started looking for a campsite. Found a nice one in Upper Johnny Creek (a relatively new campground). It filled up for the weekend.

Saturday, August 17, 1996

I just laid around and got organized for this new area. It was kind of cloudy and blustery anyway.

Sunday, August 18, 1996

I drove to the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Stuart Lake trailhead and hiked first to Stuart Lake (5.5 miles). Very pretty lake with Mt. Stuart and other peaks.

Talked to a party that had climbed Stuart on Saturday. Saw a very tame deer busy standing in the lake eating fresh green grass shoots.

Mt. Stuart, Stuart Lake Trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Mt. Stuart, Stuart Lake Trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Stuart Lake, Stuart Lake Trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Stuart Lake, Stuart Lake Trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington

Deer feeding in Stuart Lake, Stuart Lake Trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Deer feeding in Stuart Lake, Stuart Lake Trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Deer in Stuart Lake, Stuart Lake Trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Deer in Stuart Lake, Stuart Lake Trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington

Decided to go to Colchuck Lake. Required retracing 2.5 miles, then 2.5 miles to the lake which is 500 feet higher than Stuart. The trail is very rough in spots making it a huffer puffer.

Colchuck was not too exciting. It has a large bathtub ring because it has been dammed for an irrigation district.

Retraced the 2.5 miles back to the main trail and 3 miles to the car. Total 16 miles. Weather was breezy, scattered clouds and cool but very nice

Colchuck Lake off Stuart Lake Trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Colchuck Lake off Stuart Lake Trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Monday, August 19, 1996

Spent the day at Upper Johnny Creek campground just resting up and relaxing.

Tuesday, August 20, 1996

I headed back into the Alpine Lakes Wilderness in the Wenatchee National Forest and hiked first to Eight-mile Lake, then back tracked a half mile and hiked to Caroline Lake.

Total elevation change 2400 feet, 12 miles. This was an interesting hike because the area had been hit by a major forest fire in 1994.

Lots of dead trees but lots of wild flowers growing on the now open slopes. Very pretty. Also great views of the Stuart Range.

The trail was pretty well graded so the long climb wasn't too bad. Only problem was the weather - sort of blustery but the sun came out from time to time.

On the way down, I was standing in sunshine while it rained pretty steadily on me. The showers came and went so it wasn't a real problem.

Carolyn Lake, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Carolyn Lake, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Flower on Carolyn Lake Trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Flower on Carolyn Lake Trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Flower on Carolyn Lake Trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington
Flower on Carolyn Lake Trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington

Click for more Alpine Lakes Wilderness

Back to Upper Johnny Campground for the night.

Wednesday, August 21, 1996

Relaxed at the campground for a while, then checked into a motel in Leavenworth. Spent the afternoon catching up on e-mail, etc.