This is just a conditions update for the Icicle. Although it’s a little late, it may still be helpful.
We parked just past the Eightmile Road junction, where a group of climbers who had just returned from Colchuck were parked. There was a little snow berm which could be easily driven over, and then a group of snowmobiles stored on the other side. From here we walked on compact snow and ice for about a mile up to the Fourth of July Creek Trailhead.
Icicle Creek Road 3/3/20
Once on the trail, we postholed through fairly squishy snow for at least a mile, sometimes up to my thigh.
Fourth of July Creek Trail 3/3/20
We crossed a couple of creeks with no issue, and then reached a very nice stretch of bare trail.
Fourth of July Creek Trail 3/3/20
Fourth of July Creek Trail 3/3/20
Bare trail interspersed with patches of snow continued for another couple of miles. We had some good views of Mt. Cashmere, but noticed some snow squalls were rolling in from the west. The temperature began to drop from a balmy mid-fifties to a chilly low forties.
Fourth of July Creek Trail 3/3/20
Snow squall on Mt. Cashmere 3/3/20
Snow squall on Mt. Cashmere 3/3/20
Fourth of July Creek Trail 3/3/20
Soon the sky began to spit sleet and it looked like our fun was coming to an end, so we turned around.
I took a minute to snap a couple of pictures of the lovely Icicle when we returned to the truck.
Icicle Creek 3/3/20
Icicle Creek 3/3/20
Then we headed down to Leavenworth in a snowstorm, only to be greeted by blue skies when we reached town.
However, by the time we made our way up Stevens Pass, visibility was deteriorating and the snow plows were hard at work!
A little heads up if you don’t like ticks...I’m pretty sure I brought one back in my rain pants, apparently crawled up my pant legs and on to my back when I wore them a few days later.
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