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Trip Report

East Bank Ross Lake — Monday, Jun. 11, 2018

North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20
Lightning Creek Bridge

Starting Monday three of us hiked from the East Ross Lake Trail-head up the East Bank Ross Lake Trail to Lightning Creek Camp. Night one we camped at Roland Creek 6.5 miles from the trail-head and then the remaining 9.5 miles to Lightning Creek on day 2. The third day we day hiked the Desolation Peak trail up and back but that will be a separate report. We had the Ross Resort water taxi pick us up Thursday morning

The trail was in great shape to Devil Junction Camp and has been cleared of downed trees. Beyond the Junction It appears crews have not been able to clear it yet so we had a number of downed trees to climb over, but none posing any difficulty.

Of note: There are two log bridge crossings that may be problematic to persons with balance issues, fear of heights, or just carrying an awkward load. They are solid and have a relatively wide flattened tread, but have no rail. A fall from either would cause injury. The first at May Creek is a long span with a deep drop to the creek. The second  just north of Devil's junction is not as bad. Later in the season I'm sure they could both be boulder hopped. I ended up straddling the log at May Creek and scooted across.

Our favorite section was the stretch between Rainbow Point and Devils Junction where the trail is right on the water and literally blasted into the cliff in places.

Although the lake is low in early June with a "bath tub ring" we encountered few other. The docks at all the boat in camps are high and dry so we had a nice lonely time  

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