[Tom]

I used to think this was a fairly "easy" route (NFK Snoqualmie).  Funny how everything 15 years ago seemed so easy and now "who am I kidding"?   The Mountaineers have a short route description for Lennox Mountain that is fairly accurate, other than neglecting to mention the scrub on the rib is more perverse than the initial brush.  For Coney I prefer to get off the rib and hop talus to the pass at 4800', then traverse the backside of Lennox.  Coney wasn't as pretty today with weather rolling in but still worth the effort.  Only had 30 minutes to savor to make it back before dark.  In hindsight should have made it an overnight.  Left the car at 10:15 AM and back by 7:45 PM.  The NFK is legendary for its brush should you get the least bit off route and my legs can attest.

Lone NFK victim

Good luck with that

Logging survivors

Initial brush easing

Tall firs

Open forest (much steeper than it looks)

Jumping off the rib at first opportunity

Natural pergola

Talus river

Phelps

Approaching pass

Talus backside

Rock meadows

Slabby goodness

Crosby to Baring from slabs

Coney pano

Upper pot

Views to SE

Pano from upper pot

Weather

Leaving upper pot

Colorful slippery slab

Crosby to Townsend

Phelps from high talus return

[Fletcher]

Cool Tom! I’ve only been to Coney Lake in April when it was all snowed in, but your pictures remind me that I’d like to get back there during summer sometime.

[neek]

Same here, been to that side of Lennox 4 times, but always in snow. Always took the Miller River route.  Thanks!

[RichP]

Very nice. I've only seen it mostly frozen over too and in late summer. Pic from Sept 8, 2011.

Coney Lake still frozen in.

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[Bootpathguy]

It is, my all time favorite destination. Hopefully the Thunder Mountain Lakes crowd won't find their way in there

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Experience is what'cha get, when you get what'cha don't want

[fffej50]

I've only done it via Kanim and it was a serious workout 40 years ago.... but gorgeous then and now.

[Type E]

I don’t think I have ever seen a picture of Coney without snow


E

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[Backpacker Joe]

Ive been in via Bear Mountain lakes.  I wonder which route is easier?  On the Bear route there is no brush, although it might be a bit longer.  I need to get back in there.  Nice work Tom.  My only question would have been the late start.  Thanks for the report.

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"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

[Nancyann]

Nice pictures of the lake, Tom. Did you use your Pixel for those?

[Tom]

Nancy, yes, all with the Pixel 3.  Can't beat the convenience and the processing is so good (especially the auto HDR+ not blowing out highlights) I don't bother to pull out the fancy camera much.

BPG, I don't think it will become a TML.  Most prefer to climb Lennox early season due to the brush and scrub.  There is no trail or even an obvious bootpath - someone that doesn't know what they are doing is going to get swallowed by the NFK's finest.  I wouldn't bring anyone that isn't OK with bushwhacking, steep XC travel, veggie belay, duff, and hopping a lot of talus.

BPJ, the forecast indicated a chance of rain early morning. I figured there would be dew even if it hadn't rained so didn't want to get soaked by brush starting too early.  I didn't think it would take me as long as it did.  Original plan was to return via Lennox but I didn't want to risk navigating down solo in the dark.  If you don't hit the end of the road just right you get swallowed by brush.  As far as preferred route, I think I liked the way I did it the first time going in via Paradise Lakes and looping back via Lennox, just for variety.

[Gimpilator]

Great to see a few reports from you after the long break.   

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Keep climbing mountains and don't slip!

[lopper]

97Coney1

97Lennox

Thanks for the report and pics.....  Coney has been a favorite hike for many years.   I think the traverse from the Bare Mtn ridge is longer but more enjoyable.  Here are two pics from September 1997 via that route.

[Sky Hiker]

Did you see any fish in the lake surfacing or swimming by?

[Sky Hiker]

The thing is like so many Trip reports there could almost be a disclaimer as some people wont realize what they are getting in for. I Have been there 3 times in different routes and you can like almost anywhere get yourself in a predicament. A lot of times the fish don't last long in this lake weather it be to very late thaw out or lake of food. Great write up and pictures thanks for posting.