Seeing the larches in the fall has been our bucket list for awhile and it seemed like a good excuse to make a foray outside of the Olympics. The weather Gods provided a brief opportunity to get over there and avoid the worst of the traffic and crowds on Sunday and Monday. We enjoyed a late, leisurely start around noon on Sunday and camped at Beverely campground that evening. There was no mention on the USFS site but a controlled burn was happening right across the road from us but the wind, fortunately, blew the smoke away from us and the fire crew seemed on top of it. Heard crackling all night long and a loud crash in the middle of the night as some large snag must have come down.
Controlled burn across the road from Beverly Campsites
North Fork Teanaway River
It froze overnight but our quilts were up to the task and we got up at first light for an early start at the trail. The parking lot was mostly empty, a few hunters and a single hiker were there as we headed up the trail, with views opening up almost immediately. Approaching the pass we ran into a family of 6 mountain goats grazing next to the trail. They ignored us completely and we were able to take a shortcut past them.
Ridgeline surrounding Esmeralda Basin
Ridgeline surrounding Esmeralda Basin
Mountain Goats
Nearing the pass the views opened up further with snow dusted mountains and ridges and distant views of WA volcanoes. And we saw our first larches right at the pass.
Mt Rainier behind Esmeralda Peaks
Our first ever glimpse of larches!
Ingalls Pass
The view on the other side was stupendous and made the whole trip worthwhile. After a short debate about whether to go on to the lake we proceeded grateful for both our microspikes and the bootpath through the snow others had created.
Mt Stuart from Ingalls Pass
Ingalls peak and basin
Ingalls basin
Sunlight through the larches
Ferns enjoying one last day in the warm sun
The final scramble up to the lake was snow free and well worth the effort.
Ingalls Basin
Lake Ingalls and Mt Stuart
Lake Ingalls
Lunch Time
After enjoying lunch at the lake with only one other hiker we started heading back at which point we ran into numerous day hikers heading into the lake or just too the pass, all of us glad to be there enjoying a stupendous fall day in the mountains.
Ingalls basin from Lake Ingalls
Snow sculptures
Ingalls basin
Mt Stuart
Ingalls basin
Mt Ranier
Mt Rainier and Adams?
More mountain goats
UFO?
All in all an awesome introduction to the Eastern Cascades and we will definitely be back!
FF
Stupid isn't illegal...but sure comes with consequences.
Famous last words: 'Here, hold my beer and watch this.'
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Stupid isn't illegal...but sure comes with consequences.
Famous last words: 'Here, hold my beer and watch this.'
Good for you guys. It's my back yard and Im glad you had a good time. The more the merrier.
"If destruction be our lot we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen we must live through all time or die by suicide."
— Abraham Lincoln
0
"If destruction be our lot we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen we must live through all time or die by suicide."
— Abraham Lincoln
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but the wind, fortunately, blew the smoke away from us and the fire crew seemed on top of it. Heard crackling all night long and a loud crash in the middle of the night as some large snag must have come down.
