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Trip Report

Monogram Lake — Saturday, Aug. 22, 2020

North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20

I spent two nights camping at the lake and did one long day hike around the lake.

The trail to the lake is in good shape, but does have a short brushy section (with some stinging nettle) and two large trees to navigate over/around on the way up to the intersection with the Lookout Trail and one large tree above that where the only option is to crawl under on your hands and knees. 

The first water source is about an hour up the trail (requires a bit of clambering to get to a stream). After that several small and large creeks are available up to the lake. 

Ripe huckleberries abound, especially on the ridge above the lake (where I saw two bears multiple times). The bears are more interested in the berries, but it helps to make some noise around blind curves to make sure they know you're there. (I scared the two off from the ridge on the other side of the lake in the evening).

Views are spectacular on the way to the lake and even grander from the ridges above it. The trail to the east ridge is overgrown and almost non-existent in places...from the lake head over the log jam and you'll find a trail that takes you up and down small knolls before coming to a small pond (100 yards away) where the trail then disappears and reappears as you head uphill. Once you're on the ridge (enjoying the mountain views) there's an easy to follow trail heading north and eventually dipping down to a saddle where you can work your way up to Teebone ridge. 

From the other direction (the west ridge) go back up the main trail to the highest point above the lake and look for a faint boot path leading to the spine of Teebone ridge. Some scrambling is involved to reach the ridge, but the views are incredible (looking down at the Lookout and out to many high peaks including Baker, Shuksan and Glacier) and the walking fairly easy on top of the ridge. I worked my way around the entire ridge that way. (the most challenging part was getting down the ridge on the north end...I didn't find much of a trail and probably veered too far right (south) into steep, thick grassy meadows and rocky/bouldery patches. Nothing dangerous or scary but definitely took some time.

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