[BeyondLost]

The Redhead (Barb), Brunette (Jane) and Blonde (Peg) wanted to do Copper Glance. Who am I to turn down an offer to spend the day with three lovely ladies, so Crazy Bob became the designated driver. We left Beyond Lost at 8:00 AM feeling great about 42 degrees. Our first stop was brief at the Lost River Winery where the redhead plied me with wine but as designated driver I refused. it was only 8:30 AM after all. We cruised up the west Chewuch watching the car thermometer drop steadily to 30 degrees. And we had hardly begun to gain elevation. Wow, we all exclaimed, heads jerking right to the sight of an ice cascade formed by a ranch irrigation system!! Awe struck, no one noticed as we zoomed past eight mile road. Oh well, by the time we figured it out we concluded the delay would give us a warmer start at the TH.

Copper Glance Lake.jpg

We finally got moving up the trail a bit after 10:00 and it felt pretty nice with a couple of warm layers. The jeep road is rocky, steep and within a short distance there is a large washout which was new to those who had been here before. The bridge at Copper Glance Creek is still collapsed but looked easy to scramble over. Until I hit the ice which required some quick footwork to avoid landing on my back in the creek. Yes, it was colder then it felt.

1 Copper Glance Creek.JPG

The trail is steep, rocky in places and has has limited views until 1.5 miles where you reach Copper Glance mine.

2 Copper glance Mine.JPG

3 Hot Babes at the Mine.JPG

We explored inside where there are two tunnels. The redhead turned left and collected a few ore samples. I contined straight in to an area that appears to have partially collapsed. There was a small sky opening either from the collapse or it was dug out for ventilation. After completing our mine exploration we met a guy coming back down trail, the only person we saw all day. The trail continues up steeply to an open sloped meadow area at 2 miles with valley and Isabella Ridge views.

4 Isabella Ridge.JPG

5 Valley view.JPG

At 2.5 miles it flattens before you get another Copper Glance Creek crossing and an area with much old blowdown. At 3.1 miles beneath Big Craggy and West Craggy there is a small pond which was partially frozen over. We all added a layer here as it was getting quite chilly.

6 Pond.JPG

7 Pond Ice.JPG

8 Study in Gold.JPG

Following a very steep uphill Isabella Ridge and Copper Glance Lake come into view-and what a view.

9 Copper Glance Lake .JPG

The larch surrounding the lake and up the slope contrast the emerald green of the lake and dark rock slopes.

10 Copper Glance Lake 1.JPG

11 Copper Glance Lake 2.JPG

12 Copper Glance Lake 3.JPG

13 Copper Glance Lake 4.JPG

14 Copper Glance Lake 5.JPG

15 Larch basin.JPG

16 Larch.JPG

17 Isabella & Larch.JPG

A short steep descent brings you to a boulder strewn basin above the lake where we hunkered down for lunch.

18 Redhead & red blanket.JPG

Clouds were moving in and with the NW wind it was chilly when the sun disappeared. The forecast was for rain and possible snow and with the temp hovering at freezing we did not linger too long after eating. Something about needing blankets and blowing on fingers to feel them.

19 Clouds and mountains.JPG

20 Red head at her Favorite Place.JPG

We climbed the short steep hill above the lake and from there I scrambled up slope for this pano.

21 Isabella Ridge pano 2.jpg

Big Craggy is right there as you drop back to the pond.

23 Big Craggy.JPG

24 Brunette descends to the pond.JPG

The hot babes looks a bit on the cool side here below West Craggy.

25 West Craggy Babes.JPG

26 Cooler Babes.JPG

It felt good hiking briskly out and we warmed by the time we reached the open meadow back at 2 miles. I did a bit of scrambling up and down slope for photo ops. Up slope gives good photo ops with a good view above tree line of Isabella Ridge.

27 Isabella Ridge_2.jpg

Down valley the fire south of Winthrop was evident.

28 Methow Valley fire.JPG

I returned to find the blonde and redhead basking in the sun with the brunette ready to roll.

29 Cold Babes sunbathing.JPG

After some slipping and sliding we were all safely back to the TH. It's only a 7 miles round trip but this is not an easy hike. My GPS said 2550 feet of elevation in 3.5 miles on trail and a few hundred feet more scrambling off trail for almost 3000 feet total. The larch, lake and peaks are beautiful but you will need to work a bit to see them. It was a great day made better by wonderful hiking partners.

[Hikingqueen]

Thanks for the larch eye candy!

[Scrooge]

A definitive answer to, "Where's the larch"?

9 Copper Glance Lake .JPG

What with one thing or three, a nice way to spend the day.

[Magellan]

Sounds like Crazy Bob decided his TR's weren't getting enough views and decided to spice up the title. I have not seen the lake melted out before. Thanks for the preview as I will be there next weekend.

[BeyondLost]

Moi? You coming this weekend or the next? We are on the road Tuesday for TX but if you're coming this weekend drop by.

[Scrooge]

Magellan said

[twodogdad]

Way to go, Doctor! Did you go yesterday--or earlier? Your photos don't seem to show any snow, even higher up Isabella Ridge or Big C. Did you get a lot of precipitation the last couple of days? Thanks, tdd

[DIYSteve]

Babes & Larches. Yeah baby!

[GeoTom]

[bertman]

Very nice. Larches are quite beautiful. Bertman

[BeyondLost]

[Movenhike]

I have a soft spot in my heart for that area, after all that was my first Hike/Climb with Wildernessed when we bagged Big'N'West Craggy, Looks like you got in during a more comfortable season..you probably didn't run out of water either.

[tmatlack]

Lost, Winter well in the Lone Star State. We'll be thinking of you when the 6 months of murk hit us. Tom

[BeyondLost]

Thanks. We really hate to leave when the colors are just reaching prime. But, duty calls. We will be back for the best snow season in Dec and early Jan. Christmas in the Cascades cannot be beat!