[GaliWalker]

July 26th, 2008: Lake Ida – Carter Lake – Lake Edna loop Two years ago, I had visited both Lake Edna and Lake Ida on two separate trips, both using the Chatter Creek trail. I had thought then about a loop connecting these two lakes – finally, this trip happened. Glorious meadow walking, with a couple of my favorite lakes thrown in to put the icing on the cake…but I really had to work for this one. Knowing that I had a long day in front of me I was up early, all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. 5:00am had me at the Icicle Road barrier, and ~1.75mi of road/trail walking had me past the Icicle River washout (boy, was that a pain on the way back!) and at the Chatter Creek trailhead. The Chatter Creek trail was its usual steep self. I made good time though and was at the Chatter Creek crossing before I knew it. Then, it was goodbye to the Chatter Creek trail (for a good long time) as I traversed over to gain the lip of the talus-strewn valley, just one ridge over from the Chatter Creek basin. About an hour later I reached the beautiful, precious basin at the head of the valley - my favorite part of the section to Lake Ida.

1 label

1 - Morning ascent

2 - Cashmere

3 - Precious basin

4 - Sunlit (...not beargrass)

Without much time to linger I headed over to the high point of the ridge (and the trip) guarding Lake Ida. The views were superb from this vantage point high in the sky: serious mountains/meadows overload! ...And all capped by really, really beautiful Lake Ida. The setting is just gorgeous: Big Lou, a gentle, grassy slope to the east; Mt Cashmere, across the valley to the south; the lush Painter Creek Valley stretching off to the north. The lake is no slouch either: flowery, lush green surroundings on one side and granite slopes ringing the other.

5 - Rainier

3 labels

6 - Painter Creek valley

7 - Big Lou

8 - Lake Ida

9 - Lake Ida

10 - Lake Ida

11 - Lake Ida

12 - Lake Ida

13 - Lake Ida

14 - Lake Ida

I spent about 20min at the lake, before embarking on the next section of the trip: down into the Painter Creek Valley. Big Lou’s steeper side rose high on my right while gentler slopes rose up on my left. Snow-melt streams kept me company as beautiful meadow-walking had me at not so beautiful Carter Lake.

15 - Flowery meadow

16 - Meadows galore

17 - Carter Lake

Then began the “spot the trail” game, as I picked up the Icicle Ridge trail and headed westward. Pretty (though squishy) meadows, flowers galore and larch groves were my companions, as I crested a saddle above Carter Lake - for me, the most beautiful part of the Icicle Ridge trail to Lake Edna. A garden of flowers gentled my footsteps, while the full-on views of jagged Snowgrass Mountain took the breath away. Far, far off in the distance I could see Cape Horn; somewhere beneath which lay Lake Edna, my final destination.

18 - Big Jim

19 - Flowers and Snowgrass

First though, I began the long, brushy 1,500ft descent into the densely forested Index Creek Valley. Not very inspiring hiking had me at a 4,850ft low point, where I crossed Index Creek and gratefully resumed upward progress towards more fragrant pastures. A short while later I was out of the trees to bask in the gorgeous views of Big Lou and Big Jim Mountains. Floating on air, I intersected familiar territory and the Chatter Creek trail to Lake Edna. I hurried over to greet Lady Edna, that most aloof, but all the more intriguing, of the Mormon Lakes. Best of all…I had her to myself!

20 - Old boardwalk

21 - Meadows below Lake Edna

22 - Looking back at my route

In her own perplexing way Lady Edna was most welcoming. A cold wind blew through the small rocky area…but this only kept the mosquitoes and other flying beasties away. The shores and hillocks ringing the lake were as barren as ever…but also as smoothly curvaceous as always. Cape Horn rose sternly above me…but the views of Big Lou and Grindstone Mountain from its slopes were a stunning backdrop for the lake. I love this lake!

23 - Lake Edna

24 - Lake Edna

25 - Lake Edna

26 - Lake Edna

27 - Lake Edna

28 - Lake Edna

29 - Lake Edna

30 - Lake Edna

After spending about 40min at the lake, I was ready to head back. Vending my way past some snow patches I headed back along the Chatter Creek trail. A final short climb signaled the end of any more significant elevation gain as I reached the saddle overlooking the Chatter Creek basin. I enjoyed the awesome views of Cashmere Mountain and Mt Stuart in the distance, as well as the cliffs of Grindstone Mountain of course, and headed down into Chatter Creek basin. The rest of the journey was a miserable slog on protesting legs, but the smile on my face could not be stricken off.

31 - Grindstone

32 - Snow-melt pool

33 - The long descent

(Best guess) Stats: • Elevation gain: 8,100ft. (High point: 7,300ft) • Distance: 20mi (+/- 2mi?), including a 3.5mi road walk • Hiking time: 13.5hrs • Trip time: 19hrs Trip/conditions notes: • Patchy snow near Lake Edna (only one slope potentially dangerous, which I avoided by descending/ascending talus) • The Icicle Ridge trail tread between Lake Carter and Lake Edna is faint to non-existent for 50% of its length, though strategically placed cairns (ducks) help. • Extremely surprised to see a party of 4 backpackers on the remotest part of the Icicle Ridge trail

[Backpacker Joe]

All as a day hike!?!? Wow, nice work.

[silly_traveler]

Nice loop, LONG day hike I like picture #16 and ones of Ida and Edna

[Movenhike]

What a DAY!! Very impressive! nice to see people going somewhere besides colchuck lake. Icicle Ridge trail is marvelous and underused(maybe that's a good thing though). I'm more and more tempted to get up to Ida. PM me sometime for an Leavenworth region dayhike. It seems we think a bit alike. That kind of trip is right up my alley.

[Ingunn]

Beautiful - and impressive! Even if I split that into two days I would be completely spent.

[GaliWalker]

Thanks guys. This was more of a spur of the moment trip: the rest of the hikes on my 2008 list still need a bit more time to melt out, and I have always wanted to do this one so... (Plus, Get Out and Go's recent trip to the area was a timely reminder.) I had originally wanted to head all the way over to Upper Florence Lake (another favorite), but ran out of oomph and time. No matter, it was a trip to remember and savor. movenhike, Icicle Ridge is a favorite of mine. I remember reading (at least) 2 of your hikes in the area with great interest. While, like you, I would like more boots there to make the tread a bit more defined, it would also prevent enjoyment of this variety of 'trail':

Yup, that's the trail

[Bad Dog]

Very pretty! My type of hiking (miles and elevation).

[bertman]

Holy! That is impressive. Do you know if there are any camping spots on this loop? Permit requirements? I wouldn't mind doing it as an overnight backpacking trip. Bertman

[forest gnome]

GNOME says .....very good work.

[Mark Griffith]

Wow 19 miles in one day is a long long day. Looks like some beautiful countryside, those meadows were gorgeous.

[GaliWalker]

[Perry]

Great hike, pictures and TR. Lake Ida is one of my favorites

[Quark]

GaliDude - what a feat. That would kill me. Last year, I didn't even make it to Edna in one day, let alone all that you did! Could have, but found a great camp below the final push up, but still, we were more than happy to stop for the night and finish exploring Edna and beyond the next day. By the way your beargrass is anenome in it's final, blown stage. Love the pic of them all lit up. Looks like Ida is a gorgeous lake.

[GaliWalker]

[wildernessed]

Makes my feet hurt, I think I see a blister . I'm hoping to go through there late summer - fallish and do Big C and Snowgrass car to car as a 3 day.