[Dayhike Mike]

Yes, that's right campers. The Indomitable EDD and I managed to traverse from the SW corner of Rainier to the west edge of the North Central Cascades, all the way to that little tarn underneath Cannon Mountain in the space of two days.

No, not really.

EDD and I left the "trailhead" up the North Fork Snoqualmie at 7:00am Saturday morning. The supposed trail disappeared pretty quickly and, with flashbacks of Cripple Creek, we ended up brush bashing up to the head of the valley before we found it again. Alas, less than an eighth of a mile later, the trail disappeared under a thick blanket of vegetation. Another 15 minutes of brush bashing paid off and we were off on our big adventure without further delays.

After a quick scramble up talus, greeted by the occasional flag, rare tarn, and the famous hose tied around a root, we arrived at Paradise Lakes. I waded out into the lake studying my map while EDD climbed up the hillside, looking for a better vantage to take pictures of the lake. After a brief rest, we headed up to Upper Paradise. Bugs at both lakes were bad. No mosquitoes, but black biting flies and the occasional horsefly definitely thought we were tasty.

We circled around Upper Paradise, looking for a spot where a trail headed off to Bench Lake. Wanting to avoid brushy shores, we headed up too early and ended up on top of a cliffy bench, high above Bench Lake. Circled around the lake and headed up heather-filled valleys, dodging left onto talus slopes that circled above Kanim.

Here there were a multitude of cairns. After the morning's experience with the on-again, off-again trail, it was somehow comforting, reassuring to see them regularly. At one point they began to take a lower track than we were on (heading to Kanim, perhaps?) and with that, they disappeared.

Halfway across the long traverse, we came to the saddle (5060') and decided to cross to the east side of the ridge here. Scrambled to the top and found that a steep and cliffy tree-filled section stood between us and the rest of the talus traverse. We decided to descend again west, and shoot for a crossing closer to Lennox.

After dropping, traversing, and rising again, we scrambled up a steep heather gulley to reach the top of the ridgeline. From here, we traversed across to have our first views of Coney Lake. Coney is eerie. Moonlike. Out of this world. It honestly felt like no one had been there in a hundred years, and I loved that feeling.

We ran around taking reams of pictures of the various pots, tarns, rocks, heather, etc. like we'd never been tired at all. I went swimming in one of the lower ponds -- felt so good to soak my shredded knees in the cold cold waters of the lake. Bugs weren't bad initially...no mosquitoes, and only the occasional, disinterested black fly. Later on, the mosquitoes came out in full force and made me decide to set up my tent instead of sleeping out under the stars.

Next morning, we got up early and quickly packed up -- we wanted to attempt to visit Crystal Lake and Goat Basin on our way out and figured the earlier start would give us a head start on the head. Rounded the lake, dropped our packs at the saddle on the north side of Coney and headed up Lennox for an easy summit and good views of the area.

After summiting Lennox, we picked up our packs and then began to traverse down and west, heading for the what seemed like the gentlest approach displayed on our topo. Unfortunately, the topo is dead wrong and there are tons and tons of trees where they claim nothing but open rock surfaces. We did manage to swing wide enough to find talus fields and gullies that took us down to just under 3700', but couldn't find an easy way to traverse across into Goat Basin.

Hot and tired of hitting these dead ends, we aborted and headed back up, following talus up toward point 5320. Dodged right to avoid cliffs and found ourselves back in heather, and then dodged right again to sidle up onto the 4800' bench just north of point 5320. Heavy use of vegetable belay dropped us onto talus which we followed down to 3750'. From here on down, the ridgeline was steep and brushy. Another hour and half of vegetable belay and dodging devil's club and we were back at the end of the road and our truck at 3:15pm.

Driving out, we met a nice Forest Service worker and talked about the trip. (contact me if you do make it to the site ) Flew into North Bend and descended like locusts upon the good people at El Caporal. Great service! Even better food.

What a weekend. Great weather, gorgeous country, phenomenal time. Thanks again EDD!

[Oren]

All that blood loss in such a short span of time due to bushwhacking can't
be good for you. HA, HA!    I'm glad you guys had a great
time. EDD showed me some pictures of Coney Lake and it look like it was
well worth it. 

[Backpacker Joe]

Michael, had you hiked up to the saddle above Bear mtn lakes, and then up to the ridge top you would have avoided any brush at all.  Then its a rock hopping traverse over to the saddle above Kanim and a ridge walk to Coney.

Glad you had a good time.



TB

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"America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves."

- Abraham Lincoln

"Backpacker Joe...There are some people even bears won't eat!"

-Dave Workman

[Dayhike Mike]

You're talking about using the Bear Mountain trailhead, correct? Has the bridge been rebuilt and that road reopened?

'sides, the end of road approach allowed for a nice loop route and gave us the opportunity to *try* to get to Crystal Lakes.

Sidenote: on our way up to point 5320' we were checking out the east slopes above Crystal Lakes. They appear to be the best way down to these lakes. Both a high approach with direct drop to the lakes via talus and a gentler sloping descent -- close to the base of the cliffs -- with a shorter drop through talus both appear to be possible routes in/out. I'd love to hear whether there's a way in from the west end that we just couldn't find. PM me if you prefer.

Re: the trail at the end of the road, there were two apparent boot trails leading off from the makeshift campsite at the end of the overgrown spur: one heading down toward the river, the other heading across at a level tack. The level one faded to nothingness almost immediately, whereas the one going down toward the river was pretty apparent. As a result we followed this one and I think this was the first problem with our approach. Can anyone verify that we should have gone level initially and traversed up the valley keeping pretty level for the most part until reaching the end of the valley?

[Backpacker Joe]

Nope, not the bear mtn trail.  Once you get to upper paradise you get to the inlet end.  From there you climb up the saddle over looking bear mtn lake.  Then you climb up to the ridge top.  From there traverse the talus around to the saddle above Kanim.  Then its a ridge run to Coney.

And mike, you should have taken me with you.  Ive never gotten off the trail while hiking up to Paradise!



TB    

--------------
"America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves."

- Abraham Lincoln

"Backpacker Joe...There are some people even bears won't eat!"

-Dave Workman

[Dayhike Mike]

Nah, I saw the route you're talking about, but I really liked the route we took up from Bench Lake.

Here are my best pics from the trip...

[Dayhike Mike]

Yeah, yeah, I was just being coy by posting my worst shots while I cleaned up the rest.

Here come the real pictures...

[2drx]

What do you think about going UP the route that you went out?  Do you have a picture of the NW ridge of Lennox?

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www.2drx.com

[Dayhike Mike]

Really depends on how much pain you want in your life.

I think it'd be brushy and steep but doable. Only have to contend with Devil's Club and heavy blowdowns for the first 300 feet of altitude. The next 1000 feet of gain alternated in density of brush. The last 1000 feet or so can be had on talus if you hit the talus fields right.

Personally, I'd go in the same route we did again, and use the NW of Lennox as a more direct return route again. The trail up to Paradise wasn't great, but it *was* a lot easier than bushwhacking staight up a slope and the scenery wasn't half bad.

[Mattr]

Lennox has been on my list for a while now (I'm a peak bagger, not a lake bagger!), and this route sounds prettier and more interesting (and maybe a little shorter?) than climbing up and over Bare Mountain. If climbing partner's schedules coordinate I may be able to give it a try this weekend - can anyone provide a little more beta on the boot path/trail that leaves the end of the North Fork road and heads up to Paradise Lakes so we don't waste too much time on the initial part of the route? Many thanks in advance!

[Wilbur Spork]

I missed your second round of pics until now.  Wow!  Spectacular photography..  you lake guys get all the pics.

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dumber than Joe the plumber

[Backpacker Joe]

BUMS!





TB

--------------
"America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves."

- Abraham Lincoln

"Backpacker Joe...There are some people even bears won't eat!"

-Dave Workman