[MountainMan]

We picked Carne Mtn. for Sunday since it seems fairly close to Duncan Hill, our Saturday trip. However, as we discovered, even with cutting through on forest roads, the driving time is close to three hours between trailheads! So, after doing Duncan Hill on Saturday, we turned off of the Entiat River Rd onto Mad River Rd and then onto FR 5800 and found a place to camp a ways in on a spurr rd. In the morning we woke up to a nice sunny day & great views of nearby hills.

Our campsite

We had our usual oatmeal and tea for breakfast, packed up and headed out. We worked our way along forest roads 5800 and 7801, then eventually to the Chumstick Hwy and 207. The forest roads are dirt and in very good condition, but they were also narrow and winding with a few confusing junctions, so it took a long time to get through. Then, of course, we still had to go all the way up FR 62/Chiwawa River Rd to the Phelps Creek TH (FT 1511). The longer than anticipated driving time meant we got to the TH later than we had hoped. The parking area was packed, of course, with all the people going to Spider Meadows and beyond. Somebody must have just left, though, because we lucked out and got the third spot in from the TH!

BC at the TH

We got the 3rd spot down!

We headed out along FT 1511 and, in a few minutes, reached the junction with the much less traveled Carne Mtn Trail (we only met two other groups the whole day).

Junction sign

Start of Carne Mtn Trail

Carne Mtn. topo 8 miles RT 3600' gain

The first part of the trail switchbacks up a steep forested hill. Not too much to see here, but we got some early views here and there.

Early views

Early views

Eventually the trail straightens out for awhile and the trees start to thin, but then there's more switchbacks as the trail climbs up towards the basin below Carne. This is where we met the only other group of day hikers we saw that day. The views just get better and better as you head up!

Buck Mtn

I thought the white line was a trail at first

Buck Mtn

Headed up the trail

Small pk near Carne

Views along the trail

Views along the trail

Day hikers headed down from Carne Mtn.

We reached the meadow in the basin and we could finally start to see the summit of Carne. There's a stream here and we filtered water before heading on.

BC in the basin

BC heading up through the basin

Saddle below Carne

Carne Mtn from basin below

Soon we crossed the basin and reached the junction with the Old Gib Trail.

Junction

Here we climbed more switchbacks to the saddle where we met a group of backpackers who had come up from Rock Creek.

Looking down at the basin

Close to the summit

We chatted a few minutes and took in the views, then headed for the summit, reaching it less than ten minutes later. The views were spectacular, even better than Duncan, which we could see too! We took tons of pictures and looked at our map trying to put names to all the mountains around us. The most impressive nearby mtn. is Mt Maude, which we've added to our list. We then had a quick snack, got our group pics, searched for a summit register (but didn't find any) and all to soon had to go back down.

Duncan Hill from Carne Mtn.

Looking north towards Mt Maude.

Seven Fingered Jack and Mt Maude

Old Gib Mtn

Silhouettes

Zoom of Seven Fingered Jack

MM and BC on Carne Mtn

BC taking in the views

This is a nearly 360 deg. pano from Carne:

12 labels

Carne 1

5 labels

Carne 2

1 label

Carne 3

3 labels

Carne 4

4 labels

Carne 5

On the way down, we saw the group of backpackers had camped in the meadow. We also spotted a marmot and some pikas.

BC heading down from the summit

Carne summit and Mt Maude

Fluffy

Backpackers camping in the meadow

Marmot

Pika

Pika

Pika

It was pretty late when we got back to the TH and there weren't nearly as many cars. Still it was a good trip and well worth the long day. I loved the views from the summit! We stopped in Leavenworth on the way home and found a place that's open late called Katz Chop House on the corner of 8th and Commercial St. They have a good selection of food on their bar menu.

[Bloated Chipmunk]

What a nice peak w/awesome views!! Here are my pics from the hike:

Camp

Phelps Crk. TH

TH sign

Views from parking area

Junction

Go to the right for solitude, left to join the masses

Views open up

Peaks across the way

Nice views

Buck & others

Scenic trail

Hikers heading down

Carne Basin

Lil' stream

Carne summit up there somewhere...

Fortress Mtn.

Junction w/the Old Gib trail

Carne Basin

GPW sign

Approaching the summit

Looking across @ Chiwawa Ridge

Views from on top

Views from on top

Views from on top

Views from on top

Views from on top

Spider Meadows & Gap

Seven Fingered Jack & Mt. Maude

Duncan Hill in the distance

Spire next to Pt. 7968'(?)

Old Gib Mtn. to the south

Pt. 8112' & 7811'

MM on top of Carne Mtn.

Pulling a Bingram

Headed down the steep short switchbacks

Peeps camped in the basin below

Back to the lil' stream

[Galadriel]

Thanks for the informative trail report. I'm planning an overnight trip in October to see the larches. Looks like the basin is a perfect camp site.

[raz2sea]

Nice trip you two!! You were so lucky to find parking right up front, go back about 300 yds to where the cars were on both sides of the road and you would have found my car...

[Magellan]

Nice TR guys. Can anyone do some labeling on the panos for me? Please.

[Opus]

You should go up into Leroy Creek basin and do the old trail that runs from there out to Carne and back down that trail for the full loop. You could camp in Chipmunk creek basin too.

[EastKing]

Awesome TR and photos. Good job you two!!!