[Sadie's Driver]

OML (Oh My Larch) -OMA (Oh My Aspen) -OML-OMA read on!

. . . ahh Larch

Leavenworth NOAA weather prediction for Saturday: Partly cloudy; scattered showers until 11:00 a.m. (ahh yes, the magical 11:00 a.m. predictions. (bless their little errant hearts!) Reality: 8:00 a.m. on Icicle Creek Road:

Larch lurking in the morning

Early morning glimpse of Larch

More than happy to have them wrong - very wrong!

Note all of the clouds and rain!

More clouds and rain!

Barry and I (and Gus) agreed on setting our sights on Grindstone and/or Lake Edna for Saturday. Everyone else seemed to have other plans, so we were on our own. We knew that Sunday was supposed to be the better weather day, but we decided to take our chances. Since the daylight hours are getting fewer and fewer, we decided an early start was in order. It seemed heading out for Leavenworth on Friday made sense, so we could get to the end of Icicle Road good and early, because there was another 1.75 miles added (each way) to the Chatter Creek trailhead start when the road washed out. Traffic wasn't too bad heading east on Friday and we made Leavenworth around 7:00 p.m. - didn't find the Geo-Schmidts' Mexican restaurant - but we found a reasonably good place in the "heart" of downtown Leavenworth. No camping - but we did get a nice early start this morning and arrived at the end of Icicle Road by about 7:40 a.m. (daylight - but the sun wasn't over the ridge yet). We were feeling pretty smug, because the temperature along Icicle was 50 degrees. At the end of the road turn-around, the temperature was 46 - not bad, actually. There was only one other vehicle - two guys unloading FIVE horses for a week-long trek into the mountains. I tried to convince them to give us a ride, but they were heading in a different direction!

Two guys heading out for a week in the mountains

So, off we headed. Be aware, the route diversion isn't really marked - just go to the gated dirt road to the north of the old Icicle Road (which is now covered in water). You take that about a mile or so until it dumps you back onto Icicle Creek Road (you have the option of taking a trail right at the end or staying on the road - doesn't really matter, you end up back on Icicle regardless!)

Trail junction on Icicle Road

Gus loved this route, because it meant that he could go jump in Icicle Creek at several points. Pure heaven for him. (Unlike the Geo-Schmidts last weekend and having to leave their 4-pawed friends home, this was a sanctioned dog hike.) Meanwhile, Barry and I were taking in (gawking!) at the marvelous Larch.

Hillside ablaze with Larch

Soon, however, we were at the new Chatter Creek trailhead

Chatter Creek trailhead

This starts out gently enough - no killer elevation gain, at least, not until you get to the crossing of Chatter Creek.

Gus visiting Chatter Creek

Approaching bridge crossing of Chatter Creek

From here on out, it's a steady uphill grind (so to speak). Pretty steep in some spots. No snow until we hit about 4000' - then it's pretty spotty. After a few small creek crossings, you break back into the open.

Barry eyeing our destination - Grindstone

We still had a couple of miles to go before we would get close to the "exit" for Grindstone. Meanwhile, we took in some more scenery.

Red Berries - Blue Skies

Heading to the Pass and looking down at Chatter Creek Basin with snow

The higher we climbed, the windier it got! Plus, as we climbed higher, the minimal snow (1 - 2" below 5000'; 3 - 4" above) turned from snow to ice disguised as snow. I began to worry about the footing going up Grindstone, because there was a thin coating of the same stuff.

A slippery slope, indeed! North flank/ridge of Grindstone

Gus lovin' the snow

Soon, we would come on a decision point of whether or not to make a try for Grindstone. Jim K has a good description of the route up Grindstone from his 2005 report on his Website (www.kuresman.com).

Barry viewing the Pass

When we reached the switchback, the wind had really kicked up and we both agreed that wind and ice were not a great combination, so we opted to head to Lake Edna instead. On we trudged towards the Pass (it seemed to take quite a while to get to the Pass, but in actuality, we had made really good time and reached the Pass in 2 1/2 hours). We were thinking that the wind would die down some once we reached the Pass and dropped over the other side and headed to Edna - it didn't happen! In fact, I was truly worried that I would be pushed off the Pass by the incredibly strong wind! But still, the views were awesome.

From Grindstone Pass looking out North/Northwest across the Chiwaukums

At the Pass looking west

We looked down at the route towards Lake Edna and it didn't look promising! Also icy and with the wind . . . well, we decided that we would settle for a Pass! Grindstone Pass. Mainly, we wanted to get out of the wind. We both had plenty of layers to pull out of the pack and pile on before we headed down. It was amazing what a few hundred feet drop would do for temperature and wind. We decided to grab some lunch on some rocks in the sun, with very little wind and some great views.

Looking south to the Enchantments

Snow/ice on the trail

Grindstone and a few lonely Larch

After unloading a few layers, we started back down our route up.

Looking up to Icicle Ridge

Shortly, we met up with three guys on their way to do Grindstone. We briefed them on the conditions we had found - they didn't have "spikes" but did have ice axes, although those wouldn't do them much good on the limited amount of snow covering boulders. Hopefully, the wind died down for them and they were successful. They told us that there was a group of five behind them who were headed to Lake Edna. However, we never saw that group! We wished them well and continued our descent. The lower we got, the warmer it got! In fact, we decided it was downright balmy!

Grindstone attempt Oct. 25, 2008 .

In shorts!

The rest of the trip was uneventful, but we did see lots and lots of people coming in to walk Icicle Road. Truly, the colors were spectacular!

More Larch

and more Larch

Walking from Chatter Creek trailhead back to Icicle Creek Road

Fall foliage

A little variety in Fall color

We got back to our original start - and now there were almost a dozen cars lined up! We took a break and let Gus enjoy the colors and creek!

Gus and the quaking Aspen along Icicle Creek

Gus wading in Icicle Creek

We were back on the road by 2:15 p.m. getting back to Seattle before 5:00 p.m. Gorgeous day. Pack up the family in the ol' SUV (gas is "cheap" in Sultan - $2.61.9 at the Chevron on the west side of Sultan; $2.63.9 at the Shell on the east side of Sultan.) - Highway 2 is splendiferous - The Aspen are absolutely flaming and the Larch on the south side of Icicle Creek are marvelous!!! Won't last long! Stats: About 13 - 14 miles roundtrip; 4100' of gain (missed Grindstone summit by about a mile and 1000' - and Lake Edna by about a mile, too) The driver

[EastKing]

Great photos and TR!! And to think that I would actually miss the New England fall season when I moved here last year! I am loving and eating up every bit of this fall! And I have only hit the golden larches once on Earl Peak. This year has been an awesome fall!!!

[TrailPair]

We are headed to the Chiwawa area today....probably icy there, too! Yikes!

[Middle E]

The route to Grindstone traverses below the ridgeline in both photos below, and it wasn't obvious whether the snow would help or hinder. Without the wind we might have ventured further...

Route to Grindstone

Route to Grindstone

There was more snow on the north side of the pass, however it would have been feasible to get to Lake Edna, absent the cold wind.

Suzanne and Gusto blowing off the pass

1 label

Lake Edna is there somewhere

Nevertheless it was a beautiful fall day. I think the aspen are winning out over the larch for color. There were also hillsides thick with red and orange mountain ash berries.

Mountain ash

[Sadie's Driver]