Monday, March 17, 2008

Stetattle Creek Trail - March 15, 2008
Leader: Ken Wilcox, with Marjan, Frank, Chris and Nick

Our fearsome five bravely left the snowshoes behind on
this late winter day and departed Bellingham around
8:30-ish Saturday morning, March 15,headed for a
tantalizing trek into a great unknown: Stetattle Creek.
The drive was rainy, but uneventful, and it was
mid-morning when we hit the trail. The trail leaves
from the company town of Diablo, a few miles up-canyon
from the company town of Newhalem, and is easy to find.
When we encountered lingering snow patches within the
first 100 yards, I began to wonder about those snowshoes
hanging on a hook back home. But the creek engulfed our
senses and we trudged on.

After about a third of a mile of easy walking, the
trail began to deteriorate from flood damage. At one
point, we tiptoed along a narrow ledge of dirt against
a rock wall, but there wasn't enough exposure there to
spook this group. The next obstacle was about a half-mile
in where the trail was completely gone. A large
landslide on the opposite side of the creek appeared to
have deposited some jaggy boulders on our side, but we
all scrambled effortlessly over this ten-foot barrier.

Soon the trail improved and the snow began to cover
perhaps 80 percent of the trail. A few deeper drifts
required some extra trudging, but not for long. Once
the trail switchbacked out of a shady valley, we
encountered a welcome stretch of bare trail. Then
around another shady corner we found more snow, though
firm enough in most places to manage without the fat
shoes.

We easily rock-hopped past a pretty waterfall (perhaps
the scenic pinnacle of the trip), then climbed to a bare
shoulder with a peek-a-boo view of Davis Peak rising
high above the rushing creek. Rainless clouds swirled
above. It was time for a lunch break. Davis is reputedly
the only place in Washington where the Earth rises more
than a vertical mile in less than one mile of horizontal
distance, making it the state's highest rock wall.
Unfortuntately, there is no full-on view of this giant
wall, even in summer,since the old trail fades before you
get to a place with a decent enough view. The Stetattle
Creek Trail once led all the way to the high ridge
connecting with Azure Lake and the Southern Pickets and
was used by climbers way back in the olden days. But no
more. Other routes now provide slightly easier access to
this still remote region of the North Cascades.

Bellies glad, we studied the deepening snow ahead, then
decided oh, what the heck, and continued on. While the
snow was generally walkable, most of us did manage to
step in exactly the wrong spot a couple times and sunk
to our knees or worse. The GPS promised that Bucket
Creek was "just a bit farther" so we mushed on. A few
hundred yards seemed like a mile, as we lost, then found,
lost, then found the snow-bound trail.

We finally rounded the last bend, with the creek
a-tumbling below. But our happy destination turned out
to be anti-climactic. Too much snow to really get close
to the little falls and a steep, deep, snow crossing just
to see the white blur through the trees. We'd gone far
enough and it was time to beat feet back again, before we
lost the trail altogether, or stepped into more holes up
to our necks.

The return seemed quicker and easier, given that gravity
was on our side now. The sky remained cloudy and
rainless (for the entire hike). We poked a few more
post-holes in the snow justfor fun, and worked our way
through the previous obstacles without difficulty. By
3:00-ish we wereback at the truck--just in time for a rain
shower. For the fearless five, the 2008 North Cascades
hiking season had officially begun.

Although we encountered good conditions overall, beware of
high water and potential avalanche exposure in a few spots
in early season. Otherwise, this is a good three-season
hike, probably most enjoyable in summer or fall. If you
venture far, don't loose the trail! A hiker became lost
in the Stetattle Creek valley last summer, and despite a
happy ending, spent five cold nights out alone.
Ken Wilcox

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Ken,
I would most appreciate knowing more about "easier" route(s) to Azure. I tried twice. Have long wanted to see the spectacle.
You can email me at wgburnside@aol.com. Thanks.