Alpine lake access?

[Martinhunter]

Just wondering if anyone has made it up above 3500 ft yet this year without having to use 4 wheel drive? I was wanting to take my boys up to our favorite lake this weekend but would hate to drive all that ways and still be snowed in. I'm guessing were probobly good to go. What do you think?

[Skyvalhunter]

It all depends on what direction the terrain faces. The south facing will ofcoarse melt faster. Alot of times the forest alongside the road is snowless but the road has alot of snow on it due to the fact it gets more. Also eastern vs western wa, eastern thaws faster but 3500 ft might be pressing it this early

[whitey]

Man there is still a bunch of snow up there. Running up Lake Chelan this past weekend, We couldnt believe the amount of snow still up there.
Skyval... Looking up the mountain towards Deer/Grouse Camp man there is still a bunch way up there. Every drainage coming into Lake Chelan was running full steam ahead. What a nice boat ride we had

[jackelope]

We were to about 3500' in the Teanaway a couple weeks ago and saw little to no snow. This was in sparse timber.

[Mudman]

Mt rainier copper creek rd.  Made it to 3500+ and snow was instant and deep.  2ft.  NE republic area snow melted above 4000.

[Martinhunter]

Ya I'm talking up in gifford pinchot area kind of up above packwood. I dont know what to do i would hate to take the boys all the way up there and the last mile before the lake be snowed in, wich is what happened last year.

[Mudman]

If your thinking Walupt or goat lake etc. you better wait.  Snow is still pretty bad up higher.  I also read somwthing about a washout and having to detour thru tower rock to get back around to cispus.  Dunno, havent tried to get up yet, snow probably.

[Martinhunter]

If your thinking Walupt or goat lake etc. you better wait.  Snow is still pretty bad up higher.  I also read somwthing about a washout and having to detour thru tower rock to get back around to cispus.  Dunno, havent tried to get up yet, snow probably.

Thanks mudman ya I think i'll wait a couple more weeks.

[Dslayer]

As a guy who watches the snowmelt closely because mtn. lake fishing/stocking is what my son and I do-in general snowmelt is substantially ahead of last year, but there is a lot of snow up high and in a lot of lower elevations w/little or no exposure.  The farther east you go, less snow which is no surprise.  I expect to make it to Manashtash Lake next weekend using the 1701 Rd, for example.  We should be able to drive close enough to make it a 3-4 walk-depends on a couple of spots were snow banks on the road don't melt out.  I check out the Snotel sites a lot which can give you a fairly good idea of how snowmelt is progressing in a given spot.  It was coming off about a foot a week or better until it really cooled off a week ago and some of the higher elevations got snow.  I figure it will be near the end of June before I get into some of my favorite spots and even then I will be climbing over some snow which is pretty typical for the early season.  Curious which lakes you were trying to get to near Packwood-I'm pretty familiar with the mtn. lakes in the area.

[Skyvalhunter]

As a member of Hi Lakers and Trailblazers groupo we dont expect to stock/survey many of the High lakes until late this year. The past 2 years the snow pack has really affected this effort.

[Dslayer]

Last year's snow melt, or lack thereof, was a PIA for sure.  I think this is going to be close to normal this year, at least in my area-Region 3 more or less-but there's a lot of snow 5500 and higher still-and more closer to the crest.