Phelps Creek, Leroy Creek High Route & Mount Maude — Friday, Sep. 14, 2012

Central Cascades > Stevens Pass - West

First let me preface this trip report with a warning this is a brutal day hike but over two days this would be a perfect hike. I started out at Phelps Creek trailhead at 9:30 my dog Tui was not up to the rough drive and had thrown up his breakfast on the passenger seat of my exploder not a good start to my day. The parking lot was crowded I had forgotten about the high hunt and deer hunters outnumbered the deer I saw twenty to one. The smoke from the wildfires in Wenatchee obscured some of the lower valleys as I hiked to the Leroy Creek trail. The trail is marked with a sign stating that the trail is not maintained but it was relatively easy to follow albeit climbing straight uphill in the dusty pumice soil that was soon to become familiar. Trekking poles were a must for this hike especially for the knee destroying descent. The trail climbed to a massive cirque dominated by Seven Fingered Jack. The forested meadows provided great campsites for excursions into the high country and would be perfect as a base camp. Wildflowers were still blooming in the high meadows, marmots and grouse were abundant and my dog was blissfully unaware as I kept him on leash. The other common wildlife were the high hunters who are essentially backpackers carrying three times the weight with some crazy idea about hauling a deer out of the backcountry, merely an excuse to get out of the house and enjoy the mountains. The trail continued across a talus field with the views of Glacier Peak and the north cascades getting more spectacular with each step. The next stopping point was a larch meadow the trail was slippery through this stretch as marble sized volcanic rock mixed with loose pumice gave little purchase for my boots. Tui and I finally reached the shoulder of Maude and looked down on the Entiat Glacier and upper Ice Lake an awesome lunch spot. Tui rolled in the snow and slid down the ice as I glissaded down to the lake. The way back up was not easy going and the rock was rotten and covered with loose soil but we made the ridge and the rest of the way was an easy walk up. I took some pictures from the summit but the east was almost completely obscured by the fires still burning in Wenatchee I felt like a fire lookout from my high vantage point I just needed a firefinder to get the azimuth. Overall this hike was great to get to one of the highest points in Washington it was surprisingly easy going for an abandoned trail and the climb was possible in one day but in two days would be great and it would be possible to climb both 7FJ and Maude from the high camp. I will be back someday the views were amazing.