We left Seattle Friday afternoon and slept next to the trailhead and started walking Saturday morning on the trail to west Oval lake. When we got to the stream crossing there was a log about 100 yards up the stream that wasn't hard to cross on. There were some trees down across the trail that could be hard to cross with horses but were not a problem  on foot. The snow started about two thirds of the way up to west Oval lake on the way to west Oval lake we lost the trail and went up another way that could be difficult for some people. West Oval lake was mostly frozen but still very beautiful. from west Oval lake we headed to a steep snowy basin where we went on the far lookers left side of the basin where it was a boulder field that wasn't hard to climb. When we arrived at the ridge we decided to climb gray peak instead of going around it with the trail which was covered with snow. From gray we started our way towards star lake. On the way to Star Lake we were not on the trail because we wanted to manetane hight. In the basin below star lake we set camp and from there two out of three of our group members went to star lake and one person not me went up to curtney peak and buttermilk mountain and got to the top without much difficulty. The way to star lake had a little bit of snow but nothing difficult, star lake was also mostly frozen but still very beautiful. The second day we were in a cloud all morning and it was snowing heavily. That day we decided to complete the loop and go back though eagle creek. Since we didn't want to traverse through a snowy basin we went up to the ridge descending from the ridge was a little tricky but we found a small primitive trail and got down. Deciding from eagle pass was a snowy slope that wasn’t hard to walk on. There was still plenty of snow in the forest but it wasn't hard to navigate. The trail to silver lake was in good condition and we found a log to cross the stream on silver lake was nice and it didn’t have snow. On the way down there were some logs that  were not hard to cross but would be un-passable with horses. The eagle creek crossing wasn't a problem, there was a huge log to cross on. Over all we had a great hike.

Participated in a WTA Backcountry Reponse Team to remove logs crossing the trail to Oval Lakes/Eagle Creek. 

Camping at the War Creek Campground is a good location prior to beginning the hike.

We met our crew of 10 at the Eagle Creek/Oval Trailhead. FS roads from the Twisp River Road are passable for all vehicles.

Parking at the trailhead for 8+ cars along with restroom and trailhead sign in box.

The stream crossing about 2 miles from the trailhead was knee high.

Abundant wildflowers in bloom.

Hazardous camping in the burn area but once beyond the burn and into the green, there are sites near the stream. Two good sites about 1 mile beyond the burn area. Great sites at West Oval Lake.

Mosquitoes  were non existent in the burn area but plentiful in the green areas.

Plenty of water from the stream along side of the trail and seeps along the route.

Morel mushrooms are abundant in the burn area.

July temps ranged from low 43 to 65 degrees once on the trail

We logged out about 300 logs from the wilderness boundary to West Oval Lake side trail, which was 5 days of effort. The West Oval Lake side trail sign is easy to miss so use caution!

The trail, thru the burn area and up to West Oval lake is now clear of logs except for 1 overhead log about mile 7 from the trailhead, just past the meadow which will require attention before stock can pass underneath.

There are many justified complaints about the increasing frequency of Washington wildfires, but I only saw smiles on the faces of morel mushroom hunters that I met near the burn area surrounding Crescent Mountain. I took the North Cascades Scenic Highway towards Twisp after some rangers tipped me off about a designated mushroom pickers camp. Summer Solstice made for a bright night and an early morning as I drove down the road to the Eagle/Oval Creek TH. There were few cars parked there and the Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness was eerily quiet as much wildlife was displaced after the fire. The Eagle Creek trail is a reasonably steep jaunt that follows one of the many creeks that cascade down these hills. I began my descent before the plateau leading to a network of other trails because it wasn’t long before I found morels. I could see curious critters following me and I could hear the birds singing me along a joyous gallivant down the banks of Eagle Creek. I filled my basket in record time and safely made my way back to the TH. 

As part of the WTA Sawtooth Volunteer Vacation, we cleared downed logs and did some brushing up to the Oval Creek crossing.  (The water level in Oval Creek was quite high) This portion of the trail follows the Creek which was quite full due to snow melt.  Mosquitoes were very present, so bring repellent.   There are rather limited views of the surrounding mountains.