Entiat River, Myrtle Lake, Garland Peak & Larch Lakes (Entiat) — Friday, Sep. 19, 2008

Central Cascades > Entiat Mountains/Lake Chelan

Moms hit the trail for the third year in a row. This year we anxiously scanned the weather reports hoping for sun and warmth in a forecast than sounded cold and rainy. The Entiat River area turned out to be a great choice when the west side looked gloomy. We started up the Entiat River trail about 3pm and stopped to chat with several heavily laden hunters heading down from Ice Lakes. Clouds of dust billowed around us as we walked the well used trail. Thankfully, #1404 took us up out of the dust and upwards to Cow Creek Meadows for the night. The trail is clear and the meadows were painted with fall colored vaccinium and craggy peaks. No other tents in the area. The next morning, after a leisurely breakfast, we headed up towards our next camp at Larch Lake. As recommended in a guidebook, we thankfully dropped our packs at the junction of Garland Peak trail and 'floated' our way up to the awesome views on Fifth of July Mtn. Ominous clouds filled the western views, but for the time-being we were in mostly sun. Allow at least 1-1/2 to 2hours for this worthwhile side trip. Onwards down to Upper Larch Lake for the night. The next day we did a lovely day hike up towards Pomas Pass. We were buffeted by cold winds from the north but rewarded with dramatic views across Rock Creek valley below and shrouded Glacier Peak. A bright orange clad hunter in tennis shoes materialized along the trail ahead and mentioned that six bears had been seen at Lower Larch Lake the day before. We turned around at the high point above the pass to seek shelter from the cold wind at lunch time. The next morning we awoke to a light dusting of snow on the ground and a blanket of white on the ridges above. No color on the larches yet, but the cold weather should bring it on soon. We shed layers as we hiked down the Larch Lakes trail #1430 in the warming day and waded our way in the swirling dust back along the Entiat River trail. This is a great loop trail in good condition throughout.