We've listed the recent information we've gathered about local trail and road conditions. You can always find our newest 'Condition Reports' on the left side of the homepage under 'Trail, Road - User Reports.' Another excellent links for regional trail information is the Recreation Report (from the Wenatchee National Forest) For what is known about trail conditions throughout the state, check the user reports listed on the WTA website.
June 23. Enchantments. Snow Lakes. Snow Creek Trail. Tom Janisch, Adam Vognild, and Andy Dappen accessed the Enchantments traveling cross-country up Hook Creek (the drainage east of Rat Creek) to the Edward Mesa and over Prusik Pass. They dropped down to Lake Viviane and used the hiking trail to descend to Snow Lakes and the Snow Creek Trail. They encountered snow at roughly 6,200 feet as they climbed up Hook Creek and traveled entirely on snow along Mesa Lake, Earle Lake, and Shield Lake on the way up to Prusik Pass. The descent from Lake Viviane to Snow Lake had short patches of snow to cross but was in very good shape and was easy to travel. The Snow Creek Trail was in excellent shape. The Enchantment Lake Basin still has a lot of snow and those traversing from the Lower Enchantments (Lake Viviane) to the Upper Enchantments (Asgard Pass) should be prepared to walk through considerable snow. The snow is consolidated and is likely to be firm in early mornings and mushy late in the day. There appear to many places to camp off the snow, but the ground is likely to be quite damp.
June 23. Teanaway River area. Charlie Hickenbottom spent several days last week hiking and scrambling peaks in the Teanaway River area. Beverly Campground, which is accessible and open, provided a good basecamp for taking various day trips. Charlie reports, “Stafford Creek Trail is mostly snowfree, as it faces mostly south as it descends from Navaho Pass.” One day Charlie headed up Beverly Creek and over the pass leading to Fourth Creek where he scrambled up several peaks. He reported. “The creeks are already past their peak run-off. South-facing slopes are snowfree clear to the passes. On the northeast side of Fourth Creek Pass, we encountered mostly snow while traveling on the County Line Trail.” While climbing Bean Peak (Point 6,666 at the headwaters of Bean Creek) he reported, “The south-facing slopes are mostly snowfree. The crossing of Bean Creek about a mile from the trailhead has logs in position for a dry crossing.” While hiking the ten miles of trail from Johnson Creek, over Koppen Mountain to DeRoux Creek Charlie said, “A significant amount of snow still sits on the north slopes of Koppen Mountain, but the south side route from Johnson Creek is mostly snowfree.”
June 23. Mt. Stuart via Cascadian Couloir. Gene Sharratt and Rufus Woods climbed the peak accessing from the end of the Teanaway River Road (road is open to the end). They used the trail up and over Longs Pass to access the base of Stuart. Gene Sharratt reports, "The snow was perfect for kicking steps and the weather cool and clear. The route is still good, with snow fields above 8,000 feet."
June 23. Regional road reports. Forest Roads: Chiwawa Road #6200 is open all the way. White River Road #6400 is open all the way. Little Wenatchee Road #6500 is open to the end of the pavement with snow beyond that point. Smithbrook Road #6700 is closed by snow. Theseus Creek Road #6701 is open to the Heather Lake Trailhead. Mission Creek Road#7100 is open all the way. Icicle Road #7600 is washed out beyond Ida Creek Campground. Eightmile Road #7601 is open all the way to the Colchuck/Stuart trailhead. Beehive Road#9712 is open to the Mission Ridge trailhead.
The road to Mission Ridge (ski area) is under reconstruction from Squilchuck State Park up to the Beehive Road turnoff. Delays of up to 20 minutes can be expected during working hours, 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (Monday through Friday) until the project is completed this fall. Mission Ridge Road is closed above the Beehive turnoff. Hikers wishing to access the Clara Lake area may do so from the appropriate trailheads on Forest Service Road #9712, approximately 1 mile beyond the Beehive Reservoir. For construction updates call (509) 884-9579
June 21. Colchuck and Stuart Lakes. WTA website reports: "Hiked up the Stuart and Colchuck trails to ski the Colchuck Glacier. The trail is snow free all the way to the lake. The main Stuart trail is in very good condition. The Colchuck Lake trail was blocked by a single large blowdown about 1/2 mile up the the crossing of Mountaineer Creek and is in poor condition in the steeper areas due to heavy use and erosion. Lots of steep steps and loose rubble. There are still a few snow patches at the lake, but most campsites appeared to be dry. Lots of snow on the morainal slopes below Colchuck and Dragontail Peaks. The bugs were only intense at the trailhead and for the first 1/2 mile.
June 21. Navaho Pass (Teanaway area). WTA website reports: "I was stunned by the sheer beauty of this hike. It's a challenge to write a trip report without using every superlative in the dictionary. You'll want a wildflower book and a map showing all the surrounding peaks on this hike. The woods are fragrant and filled with beautiful pines and larches, the meadows are bursting with wildflowers, and the steepest section of the trail ascends through a rock garden that would be the envy of any landscaper. But the best part of the hike comes at Navaho Pass, elevation 6000', where there are eye-popping views of the peaks that surround the enchantments--McClellan Peak, Little Anapurna, Dragontail, Argonaut.... This trail is snowfree but needs a little TLC. The bugs were bothersome at the lower elevations, and several of them stowed away in my car to be bothersome on the drive home, too.
June 20. Tronsen Ridge. Jan Dappen reports the trail along Tronsen Ridge is an excellent shape and snowfree. The access via the Five Mile Road is a bit rough and brushy.
June 18. Wedge Mountain. Tina Rieman reporting. The road up was fine. No better or worse than usual, with just one tree to drive under that may come down on the road eventually. There were a couple patches of snow near the saddle (the dogs loved that), and lots of snow looking over toward the Enchantments. The main attraction was a friendly billy goat that hung around for the whole time we were having lunch. The Balsam Root is past it's prime but there are tons of other flowers. The weather was cool, sunny, and breezy. Wedge Mt. is such a great hike. I never get tired of it, although it seems to me they've tilted the trail a little more since last time.
June 14. Eightmile Lake, Lake Caroline, Mt Cashmere areas. Andy Dappen reporting. "A group of four of us hiked part way up to Eightmile Lake and then took a cross-country route following goat trails to climb the East Pyramid (immediately east of Mt. Cashmere). South slope were snow free to about the 6,500 feet and then had intermittent snowfields that were well-consolidated for kicking up (ice axes recommended, crampons also recommended for early morning travel). We didn't actually use the trail, but we suspect the trail to Lake Caroline will be snowfree until the pass just before the lake. Above the lake and on the way up to Windy Pass, expect snow."
June 13. Icicle Road Washout. A massive debris slide has closed roads and campgrounds in the upper Icicle Valley. The debris slide carried trees, mud and huge boulders into Icicle Creek, pushing the water over Icicle Road #7600, approximately 15 miles southwest of Leavenworth. See news release and photos. The upper road remains closed and it will be late June or early July before water recedes enough to assess the extent of road damage. Closed indefinitely: are Icicle Road #7600 beyond Ida Creek Campground; FS Road #7605 at the Doctor Creek bridge; Chatter Creek, Rock Island, and Blackpine campgrounds. Motorized vehicle access to trailheads beyond Ida Creek Campground is also not possible.
June 10. Wenatchee Foothills. Trails in nice shape around the Wenatchee Foothills. The new Lone Fir Spur connecting Horselake Rd with the Sage Hills now in really firm shape thanks to the occasional rain. Flowers in the lower foothills now well past their prime but the yarrow and hawksbeard are still plentiful. So is the salsify (an invasive that should be pulled --see posting about this. Up above treeline in the foothills the flower bloom is still thicker and nicer. Ticks are out now--reports from Douglas Creek, Hay Canyon, and Ancient Lakes have mentioned them.
June 3. Echo Ridge (Chelan). Women with Altitude hiking group reported nice hiking conditions along the roads that are part of the Nordic skiing facility in winter. The trails (actually old dirt roads) contour hills and ridges and provide excellent views over the surroundings. Many of these trails are situated between 3,000 and 4000 feet in elevation and the wildflowers are still spectacular at these elevations. No snow to worry about here.