Issyjill and I made an attempt at Honey Lake up the Quartz Creek Trail. However, due to potential avalanche conditions and our energy level, we turned around before reaching the lake. This trek starts at the Snoqualmie Lake / Taylor River Trailhead. I'd call this a great intermediate snowshoe, especially if you can make it all the way to the ridge top at 4400'. With the amount of snow up there, I'd say it will be pleasant, brush-free travel for at least another month.
ROAD / PEOPLE: Nothing much to report on the road beyond what was said in other trip reports - the worst part of the road is through the parking lot at Garfield Ledges. There were no other cars when we arrived just before 8:00, and only one car when we left at 5:00. We saw no other people the entire day.
ROUTE: Our goal for the day was to reach the tarns on the ridge west of Rooster Mountain, and if conditions allowed, drop 1000' down to Honey Lake via the slopes to the east.
We started on the Snoqualmie Lake Trail headed up the Taylor River. At the signed junction about 0.4 miles in, we took a left on the Quartz Creek Trail - this is an old logging road that is still quite road-like. The road is pretty gentle for the first 3/4 of a mile or so, then steepens as it starts to climb the feet of Rooster Mountain.
At about 2400', there is a branch that goes left to Lake Blethen, or you can turn right to start zig-zagging up the hill toward Cockerel Point and Rooster Mountain. However, before this junction, there is a shortcut trail that goes straight up the hillside starting at a flat spot in the road. It's marked by a piece of metal leaning against a tree, and a small cairn just off the road. This trail is in four sections, so you will cross the road three times before finally topping out on the road again at about 3300'. There are occasional cairns, flags, and cut logs marking the trail, but it can be hard to follow. Generally you just go straight up the fall line until you hit the old road again. The trail saves you about a mile each way, and avoids a bunch of the up/down creek crossings that you'll deal with on the road.
At about 3500' you will reach another junction, with the old road to the right leading toward Cockerel Point, the road straight ahead crossing a creek. We went straight, and then shortly after crossing the creek headed uphill to the NNE, eventually trending NE following the edge of a wide gully. We crossed the old road two more times on the way. Nothing too crazy steep here, nor did we go under or across any slopes that had much avalanche risk. This area is quite pretty and you will get good views over Quartz Valley, and a pretty striking view of Bessemer - it looks like the Matterhorn from here!
The terrain mellows as you near the ridgetop, with some huge open basins. The two tarns at the top are of course totally snow-covered - I'd estimate at least 10' of snow is still present on the ridge top. Be careful just past the tarns, there is a major cliff all along the NW side. We went above a gully to the NE and then down to scope out the route to Honey Lake far below. However, the snow was heavy and starting to slide in big chunks below our snowshoes, so the risk of triggering a slide on steeper terrain was more than we felt comfortable with. We went down about 200' but then turned around and came back up. In addition to the avy risk, we were doubtful we'd have the energy to climb back up 1000' in the heavy snow after already breaking trail up to 4400' - it would have added at least 2 hours to our day.
After having lunch on the ridge in some spring sunshine, we climbed about 100' more to the knoll NE of the tarns. This knoll gives a view down to Mowitch Lake (1200' down), as well as great views of Rooster Mountain and Goat Mountain. It's easy to get up here as the ridge is broad with gentle slopes, but stay well back from the edge on the NE as it's a sheer drop and potentially corniced. Many people who climb Rooster Mountain do so by following the ridge past this knoll.
Further explorations to the west of the tarns look easy and safe, and would provide lots of interesting views. I especially enjoyed the view of Twin Peaks on the other side of Honey Lake, and the view of Bessemer from the back side.
TRAIL: There are 3 or 4 blowdowns on the Quartz Creek Trail before you hit snow. Most are easy to get over, but one is a big messy one in the lower road section that requires a detour to the right. The tread condition is generally good, but there are some rocky sections. The brush gets annoying on the old road in places, but is not yet leafed out.
SNOW: On the Quartz Creek Trail, intermittent snow starts at about 1900'. I'd say it's continuous now at about 2300'. As you follow the old road past about 2000' of elevation, you will find that the culverts are all removed and replaced with big dips where the water flows through. In the spring these dips get tricky due to the steep walls of snow on either side. We didn't have any problem crossing them on our hike, but the water flow was relatively low.
The snow on the lower shortcut trail was intermittent. It got progressively deeper as we climbed through the woods, and by the time we reached the top of the shortcut trail at 3250', the snow was several feet deep. This is where we put on our snowshoes for the remainder of the climb. The snow was in good shape today, not too hard and not too soft, which was probably helped by the cloud cover in the morning. This weekend with summer-like temps and sunshine, it may get pretty sloppy, especially out of the trees.
GEAR: We were loaded for bear with pretty much every piece of winter gear we owned. The snowshoes were definitely necessary, but the ice axes, crampons, and helmets got a free ride. We did use spikes briefly for the shortcut section on the way down, but they're not needed if you stay on the main trail (old road). Boots work best for the steep shortcut trail, but showshoes are what you want everywhere else.
STATS: 9.6 miles, 3600' of elevation gain, 9 hrs. The elevation gain is about 3300' if you stop at the tarns on the ridgetop, or 2400' if you turn around at the junction for Cockerel Point. Though, I wouldn't recommend turning around just at that junction - go a few minutes farther and you'll be rewarded with some great views of Bessemer and Quartz Mountains.
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