[tigermn]

The goal not to be realized was Kelcema Lake.

Kelcema Lake routes.

Got a nice look at Baker on Highway 9 in the valley.

Mt Baker view from Highway 9 in flats before Snohomish.

Drove out the Mountain Loop highway. Road bare and dry. Was at the road head around 09:00. There were a few other vehicles and the gate was actually open. I was hopeful some other people might have broken trail.

Parking area at Deer Creek road.

The gate was actually open and there were tire tracks. I would start heading up. I put the snowshoes on at the car because I could and it was a little icy anyway. Surely didn't need them here as the snow wasn't very deep. I followed boot/tire tracks up. Quite a bit less snow than two years ago. I suspect before the big snow it would have been a snow free walk initially or close to it. This was the gate on 04/28/2008

Snow Play gate at start of Deer Creek road.

This was 04/10/2010

Starting up Deer Creek road.

Gate at Deer Creek road actually open with tire tracks headin gup.

A little less than 3/4 of a mile up there were 3 vehicles parked.

Where the cars stopped basically on Deer Creek road. Maybe .7 miles up the road.

I would continue up as the boot tracks continued. Some early views a little further up.

Continuing up Deer Creek road, More snow.

First views from Deer Creek road.

First views from Deer Creek road.

First views from Deer Creek road.

First views from Deer Creek road.

First views from Deer Creek road.

Maybe 1 1/2 miles up or so the tracks stopped. Well so much for easy going.

No more tracks about 1.5 miles up. Will be breaking trail the rest of the way.

I would being the slog and a slog it was. The snow was not consolidated to speak of. The going got slower as the snow slowly got deeper. Still some viewspots on the way up.

Water below Deer Creek road.

Views from Deer Creek road.

Various little creeks and such on the side that I think two years ago were covered.

Little waterfall off of Deer Creek road.

I also ran into, well actually smelled skunk cabbage then looked over and found it at about 2400 feet.

Skunk cabbage off of Deer Creek road.

Continued the increasingly slow going slog breaking trail. Some views to at least for a bit take your mind off off the effort.

Views from Deer Creek road.

Views from Deer Creek road.

Then you get the view of big 4. My favorite view of the trip. I would take more shots of this on the way down.

Big 4 from Deer Creek road.

Big 4 from Deer Creek road.

I continued up to the bend where it turns right to head up more towards the lake cutoff. Periodic views through the trees.

Heading west on Deer Creek road. Snow getting deep and going slow.

Views from Deer Creek road.

Views from Deer Creek road.

Views from Deer Creek road.

The last 100 yards or so to where I was going to stop seemed like a crawl. Now I was sinking deeper and I was pooped. After a little over 3 hours from the car the last 2 1/2 hours of slow slogging I decided I had enough so I stopped, ate lunch and started to head down.

Following tracks back down in snow on Deer Creek road.

Still some scenery on the way back. The sun had moved so some shots better.

Views from Deer Creek road.

Views from Deer Creek road.

Views from Deer Creek road.

Back at the Big 4 view spot.

Views from Deer Creek road. Big 4 coming into view.

Big 4 favorite camera spot from Deer Creek road.

Big 4 favorite camera spot from Deer Creek road.

A few more shots. I still hadn't seen a person all day.

Views from Deer Creek road.

Views from Deer Creek road.

I found a dropped bar wrapper and stashed it away for disposal.

Someone dropped a bar wrapper on Deer Creek road.

There is a lower gate (which I didn't see last time probably covered in snow). It looked a bit brushy but appeared to have some tracks. Maybe heads to one of the mines.

An old gate maybe 1.8 miles up the road. Saw a few tracks heading this way but looked kind of brushy.

A few more views.

Views from Deer Creek road.

Views from Deer Creek road.

Views from Deer Creek road.

Views from Deer Creek road.

Just before the cars parking someone had left their car in the middle of the road.

Nice parking job right in middle of Deer Creek road. Just above the spot where the other 3 cars parked properly.

Soon after I was back at the car. Still cars there and a few people around but I had not seen anyone. Obviously there must be other routes people are taking from that parking area.

Back to Deer Creek parking area.

I would go check out Big 4 and Barlow Pass for fun.

Barlow Pass.

Some shots of Big 4 from the picnic area (not plowed)

Big 4 from Big 4 picnic area.

Big 4 from Big 4 picnic area.

Big 4 from Big 4 picnic area.

I would also see a chopper in the picnic area. I had heard it earlier.

Chopper at Big 4 picnic area.

[Highwalker's Daughter]

I got into Kelcema Lake last year as a solo - a lot more snow then - highway was gated off and lots of sledders at the bottom. However, there were already tracks for my trek that day so I had a much easier time than you did as I just stepped in the tracks and later met the 3-4 people who had made the tracks. It's a nice snowshoe.

[tigermn]

It is nice if you at least have some tracks. I recall 2 years ago when I did it there were at least partial tracks until I left the road to head the last 1/3 of a mile or less to the lake. More snow but it was at least as consolidated as it hadn't been recent. What I wonder is where were all those other people/cars going? Maybe a half a dozen by the highway and another 4 maybe 3/4 mile up the road. I never say anyone at all. basically 5 hours+ of total isolation which in itself isn't a bad thing but it would have been nice to have someone else up there to help break trail. I suspect it was the fact of how recent all the new snow was that no one had been up there. Well I left my elephant prints at least to the bend up and down so whoever went next might have had something.

[puzzlr]

At the risk of being out of line, I'm driven by curiosity to ask what the point is of posting these out of focus photos?

[tigermn]

[Madonna]

[Chief Joseph]

Update: we camped near DCR yesterday and I walked the road about 1.5 miles and it was almost totally clear. I was unsure if you are allowed to drive the road. On the way out I noticed a sign saying street legal vehicles only, so I suppose you could. How far up deer creek road is the Kelcema lake TH? Also beyond Monte Cristo the road is choked full of snow, although we did watch a guy in a 4 wheel drive struggle up the hill, we turned around and drove until it was snow free, just prior to deer creek road.

[tigermn]

[rossb]

Thanks for the trip report. I especially appreciate the 2008 picture. I have very fond memories of that winter. I skied that road (and many others) where I took some of my better pictures, including these, close to the lake:

more pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rossbl/sets/72157603884380086/

[Chief Joseph]

Very cool pics there sir! Anyone know how the fishing is in Kelcema?

[tigermn]

Yes cool pics from 2008. I was there 2+ months later that y ear. It looked a lot cooler/more interesting in February. I can tell you on the way back it would have been a lot more fun with skis (well if I owned any and knew how to ski). Lots of untouched snow you could have used for sure.