Milk Creek — Saturday, Aug. 21, 1999

North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway

Box Mountain Lakes on Lime Ridge via Suiattle River Road and Milk Creek trail. A couple of years ago, while hiking along Lost Creek Ridge (just above Camp Lake) I first caught sight of a spectacular ridge appearing to radiate from Glacier Peak, which turned out to be Lime Ridge - which I right then and there entered in my 'places to visit' note book. I made my first brief exploration last Sunday via the Suiattle River Road and Milk Creek trail and climbed approx 3400' in 2 miles to Box Mtn. Lake on the shoulder of Lime Ridge. The trail up to Box Mtn. Lakes from the Milk Creek Trail is NOT on any map I could find (neither Green Trails or USGS) but it is mentioned in 'Routes & Rocks' (out of print) and also in Becky's alpine guide (very small paragraph). Though it is unmarked, if you know exactly where to look, the 'trail head' is possible to find (just short of the first stream you meet on the Milk Creek trail after the Suiattle River bridge). If it weren't for the blow downs the trail would be easy to follow since it appears to be quite heavily used. Leaving the Milk Creek trail (approx. 1,700' altitude) the 'trail' climbs 3000 feet in the first 1.2 miles before (more or less) leveling out at about one-half mile of Box Mtn Lake (alt 5060'). This makes for an unremitting workout all the way from the Milk Creek Trail to the ridge top with no switchbacks to relieve the strain. Kind of like climbing a very poorly constructed 3000 foot (crumbling) staircase with an occasional maze thrown in to keep you on your toes. The 'mazes' are the 'group blowdowns'. The trail has 're-routed itself' around the older blowdowns but last winter's blowdowns are too new to have been accommodated. In three or four places whole stands of trees seem to have fallen across the trail and completely obliterated any trace of it. You must fight your way under, over, around and through jungles to relocate the trail. I did not have too much trouble with blowdowns on the trip up, but coming down was more difficult. Gravity and fatigue seemed to conspire against me and I lost the trail for about 30 minutes after fighting my way through an especially large 'group blowdown' The route is deeply wooded all the way up to the shoulder of the ridge and only near the top are you finally rewarded with a fine view of Dome Peak with the glaciers hanging from its southwest face. But there is no view of Glacier Peak. Higher points further along Lime Ridge itself obscure all views in the direction of Glacier Peak. Woods give way to meadows only when you reach the top of the ridge about half a mile from Box Mtn Lake. Given the difficulty of the climb up to the ridge top and the amount of territory and number of lakes there are to explore once there, it makes no sense to make the trip to Box Mtn Lakes unless you plan to stay for several days and explore. Only a few snow patches at top but plenty of bugs.