Joined: 12 Dec 2006 Posts: 1921 | TRs | Pics Location: Kirkland WA
Sun Jun 14, 2009 8:44 pm Bolted on Ingalls Creek Trail - 6/13/09
Another in the series of Hikes for the Common Man...or Woman.
We were planning on dodging snowlines, and ended up dodging thunderstorms too. Rolling thunder on the ridges above us, weather ranging from sunny dripping muggy and warm, to ALMOST rain.
But NO snow to posthole through!
First time we have hiked the Ingalls creek trail. Its NICE! We had the trail almost to ourselves heading up, but it was BUSY coming back down.
Stats:
16.4 miles, according to the GPS waypoint track, including the search for the dropped hat and other detours.
2660 feet elvation gain
3765 feet high point
7.5 hours car to car
Turn around point was Cascade Creek trail.
Only one nasty "I won't budge" Conga Line maker on the way back down, that we had to elbow by.
Crossings to the trails across Ingalls creek seemed pretty unlikely.
that water was COLD too!
Ingalls creek was seriously raging, and looking pretty darn beautiful in the process.
TONS of Wildflowers to be seen.
The trail is just a wonderful easy rollercoaster that you can keep going up forever until you run out of time and/or energy and then roll back down.
Seeing the recent forest fire produced effect up near Cascade Creek is a very cool effect.
And of course, being JUST below the Enchantments gives a nice ridgeline to view above and a tiny bit of the magic does spill down.
I think its an awesome early season hike. Get there early to avoid the crowds. It was about 2.25hour drive from Kirkland, so it is a lot of driving for a day hike, but sometimes sacrifices must be made.
A GREAT hike, and Perfect weather, and signs of just missing downpours on the drive home.
-------------- Just because it sounds good, doesn't mean its the truth.
Very good flower close-ups. I have never found the "Mountain Lady Slippers", before. This is one of my favorite early season hikes, and I call those cool rocks with the chill breeze the "air conditioning rocks". On a hot day it is a great place to cool off!
We were also on the Ingalls Creek trail yesterday.
However, I am confused as to the proper name of this lily .... I have several field guides and this flower is described as sego lily (Calochortusnuttallii), cats-ear (Calochortus lyalli) -- and mariposa lily (Calochortus macrocarpus). Looking at my photos, I am tempted to go with Cats-ear.
Can any of you experts and photographers clear this up for me?
Thanks,
Karen
-------------- stay together, learn the flowers, go light - from Turtle Island, Gary Snyder
Joined: 12 Dec 2006 Posts: 1921 | TRs | Pics Location: Kirkland WA
Mon Jun 15, 2009 12:30 pm
carlb328 wrote:
Beautiful trail, nice pics. But what's with everyone in Washington now being scared of water? Those crossings don't look very hazardous to me.
Which is why we get drownings regularly in WA.
I was noticing it was pretty tough to convey the power of the water coming down that creek in the photos. If SWIFT moving, waist deep water that is barely above freezing isn't an issue to you, then its no biggie.
Keep in mind at that tame looking Falls creek crossing, the far bank where the trail normally ramps out for horses has been severely undercut and has one of those nice deep holes right up against the bank, that are easy to underestimate until you discover you are in too deep to haul yourself up on the bank, and your lower body is going too numb to make it back to your starting point.
And I am CERTAIN that a sampling of people would try some of the single log crossings we spotted, in spite of having to time it between the surges that had waves crashing over the logs at intervals. I was even remarking about people I know that would simply scamper over the single log crossings.
I am an admitted wimp. But I am a 56 year old wimp that has been hiking and biking stuff much longer than many of the Brave People will ever manage. And I am OK with living within my wimpy limits. I seem to be able to find plenty of miles and beautiful scenery in spite of my limits I set.
But to each his own. And you will certainly get away from the crowds if you cross!
-------------- Just because it sounds good, doesn't mean its the truth.
Joined: 25 Mar 2007 Posts: 964 | TRs | Pics Location: Land of many waters
Mon Jun 15, 2009 4:47 pm
The vine with the orange-red flowers is a wild honeysuckle. When next you see it, check out the sweet scented flowers.
Nice job on the flowers & scenery photos. Lovely trail.
I never did understand why the Icicle is called a creek; it's bigger than a lot of so-called rivers, especially in spring melt!
"Beautiful trail, nice pics. But what's with everyone in Washington now being scared of water? Those crossings don't look very hazardous to me."
I've crossed similar streams later in the year. Looking at a photo of a stream-crossing can be deceiving. Icicle Creek is quite fast, cold and deep. I've crossed thigh deep waters; wouldn't recommend it to anyone, thank you very much! Fortunately, it was just a short stretch on a much smaller creek. Everyone has their own comfort levels. When the crossing is in your face is the time to decide whether or not you can "handle" it. Just use your common sense and intuition. I have turned back several times on some crossings and have never regreted my decision. And I've been hiking over 30 years.
nice photo of the Cyperipedium. I photographed that same population last year. You caught them at their peak too.
also, the "what the heck" labeled wildflower is Lonicera ciliosa, a species of honeysuckle.
Joined: 12 Dec 2006 Posts: 1921 | TRs | Pics Location: Kirkland WA
Mon Jun 15, 2009 6:44 pm
Spotly wrote:
The chill coming of the rocks in that area is very nice! Anyone ever try to figure out why there's so much cool air in there?
It really reminds me of standing in front of the Railroad tunnel at Snoqualmie pass. Is there a secret natural tunnel/cave there? Fun to imagine there is....ala Journey To the Center of the Earth.
-------------- Just because it sounds good, doesn't mean its the truth.
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And I am OK with living within my wimpy limits. I seem to be able to find plenty of miles and beautiful scenery in spite of my limits I set.
