[Tim Hagan]

My brother and I completed a 4-day loop up the Whitepine Creek and Wildhorse Creek trails to Lake Grace and Frosty Pass, then over to Doelle Lakes and back down Whitepine Creek. Day 1 was a long but easy jaunt up the Whitepine Creek and Wildhorse Creek trails (east of Stevens Pass). The latter was a bit brushy in places but otherwise in pretty good shape as far as the Lake Grace turnoff. However, it did have too many downhill stretches for our liking. The trail to Lake Grace was also in fine shape and included a short but delightful section paved with dried mud. After we had set up camp my brother remarked how nice it was to have the whole place to ourselves. Five seconds later, the first of another party of three appeared over the ridge.

Sap-covered Game Reserve sign on Wildhorse Creek trail. It reads: "Game Reserve / Guns, traps and dogs prohibited / State of Washington / Department of Game".

On the Wildhorse trail.

The trail forks just beyond this little waterfall. The left fork climbs to Deadhorse Pass -- avoid it unless you REALLY want to go there.

Lewis's Monkeyflower.

Ripped up tree on the Wildhorse trail.

Porcupine activity? They look like teeth marks.

We had heard that the Lake Grace trail was very difficult to find. Fortunately, this sign pointed us in the right direction.

At the Lake Grace trail junction.

On the Lake Grace trail -- pretty much an uphill grunt at this point.

Lake Grace (there's actually two of 'em, not including Upper Grace Lake).

Camp at Lake Grace.

Dusk from Lake Grace outlet stream.

Day 2 was a leisurely stroll back down to the Wildhorse trail and up to Frosty Pass. We continued east past Lake Mary towards Upper Florence Lake. Beyond the 6800-ft saddle above Mary Lake we descended the trail to Upper Florence Lake, then climbed back up to Point 7052 SW of Mary Pass. We had noticed a snow patch near the summit as a possible water supply for our camp. There was a spectacular 359-degree view from the top (partially blocked by my brother standing nearby).

Grouse on Frosty Pass trail.

On Point 7052 SW of Mary Pass.

Lazy-boy.

Relaxing (Part 1).

Relaxing (Part 2).

Jack Creek fire ten miles to the south obscuring Mt Stuart.

Jack Creek fire.

Snowgrass Mountain from Point 7052.

Our water supply.

Wildflowers and spires at dusk.

Hazy waves.

Moonrise over Grindstone Mountain.

Mt Baring at sunset.

Sunset sundog.

Day 3 was mellow saunter back to Frosty Pass, then along the little known but well-travelled trail to Doelle Lakes. Now, is it pronounced "Do-lee" or "Do-ell"? Whatever the case, we got there with no mishaps and enjoyed some beautiful views along the way. The trail is pretty obvious. From Frosty Pass, follow the sign for the Horse Camp and just keep going. The lack of photographs on this section of the route was a failing on my part. I was too busy looking at the scenery.

Fishing for lunkers at lower Doelle Lake.

The view SE from Point 5800 NE of Doelle Lakes.

Our mosquito-infested camp at lower Doelle Lake.

Lower Dolle Lake.

Lupines at upper Doelle Lake.

Upper Doelle Lake.

Pond reflection above upper Doelle Lake.

Lone Partridgefoot at lower Doelle Lake.

Bull's Tooth at dusk.

Day 4 was a pleasant wander back to the car. We packed up camp early to escape the mosquitoes and followed the trail to the Horse Camp, which we had reconnoitered the previous day. The trail descends into the Mule Creek drainage north of Doelle Lakes. After following this superb trail for a mile or so, it disappeared into an extensive quagmire and was never seen again. So, we bush-whacked straight down towards Mule Creek and angled northwards to Whitepine Creek. We knew that the Whitepine trail would be easy after some hellish brush-fighting. We were wrong. The Whitepine Creek trail is the worst trail either of us have come across in over thirty years of hiking. It is brushy beyond belief and numerous avalanche swathes have left a maze of downed trees to contend with. Shortly after wading Whitepine Creek, we picked up the maintained portion of the trail to complete the loop. Note: It is worth hiking the short distance from the Wildhorse trail junction to the Whitepine Creek crossing just to see the gigantic triple-trunk cedar tree that lives there. It is truly amazing.

Bull's Tooth (Teeth?).

On the Mule Creek trail before we lost it.

Stock Driveway sign near the junction of Mule Creek and Whitepine Creek.

Sorry there are no more photos but my batteries gave out. Here's a topo map showing the GPS track I recorded:

Doelle Lakes Loop GPS Track (ignore the long straight-line segment near the bottom)

[Backpacker Joe]

Great pics and report. Did you think of getting up to Upper Grace Lake?

[Slide Alder Slayer]

Great trail report and pictures! Glad to see those were not hand gang signs and that you were smoking a cigar!

[Get Out and Go]

I've taken a look at Whitepine beyond the Wildhorse junction. I think that it's been abandoned for years now. Good job of pioneering down Mule and out. And nice campsite off of Mary's Pass.

[Tim Hagan]

[Backpacker Joe]

How about a picture of that amazing tree!

[Tim Hagan]

[mdm]

I can't tell for sure, but I think you guys made a mistake dropping down to Mule Crk where you did. You should have kept contouring. There is a trail that we came across last year, after bushwacking out of the White Pine Crk valley. It traverses the east side of the basin and enters the trees at around the 4800 ft contour as it decends to White Pine Crk. We didn't see for sure the condition further down, as we came from Josephine Lake. But when we popped out of the brush at about treeline there was a bow hunting couple calling for us that the trail was right here - I'm sure they had heard my cursing from 1000 ft away. The trail they were sitting on was in very fine shape, and they indicated that it was fine all the way down to the valley. I can't believe it could peter out too quick, since it was in such good shape there and the couple were obviously not big hikers. I remember the section of White Pine Crk trail where you joined, and it's pretty much like that all the way up to the saddle above Icicle Crk. How far down before the trail improves?

[Conrad]

We just hiked the Doelle-Frosty section the opposite direction from you, W to E. We totally lost the trail in a little meadow basin 1 crow-mile NW of Frosty Pass, where it then (on my GT map) contours SSE across a steep brushy slope. We ended up having to drop off-trail to another basin at 5600' and then climb back up to refind the trail closer to Frosty Pass. I'd be curious to know if the trail disappears (apparently not by your not mentioning it) at the same point if you're heading NW, or if it's easy to stay on going that way.

[Tim Hagan]

[Tim Hagan]

mdm - We lost the trail in a huge bog at 4800 ft and couldn't figure out where it continued in the brush on the other side. There was a steep-sided stream beyond the brush (to the N) which was also very brushy, so we descended fairly open slopes south of the stream towards Mule Creek instead. Here's my GPS track of that portion of the route:

GPS track

The Whitepine Creek trail does not improve until you after you cross the creek (no bridge) near the Wildhorse trail junction. The follow-up on your email: We saw no obvious trail taking off from the Whitepine trail towards the trail we had (partially) descended from Doelle Lakes. In fact, we didn't see much of the Whitepine trail either and we were on the dang thing!

[Conrad]