Oval Lakes, Eagle Creek — Saturday, Aug. 14, 1999

North Cascades > Methow/Sawtooth

This trip report covers a 3-day backpack trip in the Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness, entering on Oval Creek Trail (410A) to W. Oval Lake, then over Oval Pass to Tuckaway Lake, Gray Peak, Chelan Summit Trail, Star Lake, Fish Creek Pass, and then exiting back to the trailhead via Eagle Pass and Eagle Creek Trail (410). I headed east hoping to get away from the awful summer weather we're having in western Washington. I found I couldn't escape gray, rainy skies and cold temperatures anywhere. It's been a terrible summer for trying to get outin the mountains, particularly on weekends when it's seemed sure to be rotten weather. As I headed east, I noticed billowing clouds over every mountain area I passed (Alpine Lakes, Teanaways, Enchantments, Entiat) and, although it was sunny at the Eagle Creek Trailhead, I soon headed up and into the grayness in the mountains. Oval Creek trail climbs steadily for 7.5 miles to the turnoff to W. Oval Lake. I camped here the first night in a swarm of hungry mosquitos. In the morning, I climbed up to Oval Pass, partly in snow, only to reach the crest just as clouds blew in to cover the whole view to the east. It's easy roaming to the top of Gray Peak (8082') which offers great views if the clouds cooperate. I then dropped to Tuckaway Lake, setting up my tent for the second night before exploring elsewhere for the afternoon. I'd covered the Chelan Summit trail two years prior, and went back to one of my favorite areas, the vast meadows of Fish Creek basin, Star Lake, and Fish Creek Pass. There were no snow or log problems on any of these trails. As I got back to Tuckaway Lake at 4:00, my luck finally ran out. The always threatening skies finally opened up and for the next ten hours I layed in the tent while it sounded like someone had a hose spraying it non-stop and full blast. Isn't this the side of the state where it doesn't rain much and where it should be 90 degrees in mid-August' In fact, it was an even 40 degrees when I got up the next morning, managing to get packed up between rain storms and head through the fog to Eagle Pass. Taking Eagle Creek trail back was a continual downhill trek. There were several contract employees out doing trail work including heavy drainage ditching, log removal, and several reroutes. It rained about half the trip back and, of course, the sun came out just as I reached the trailhead. This route makes a nice three day trip, but my legs are still a bit stiff from all uphill trip in and the all downhill trip out. Or, maybe it's from the wet, cold weather''