Posted: 8/11/2008 11:47:46 AM EDT
| I want to do some backpacking around here... What are good books or maps for the area? would like to do stuff off highway 2 |
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My Bible for hiking starts off with Hiking Snohomish County by Ken Wilcox. $14.95 at the bookstore in the mall. A close 2nd would be 55 hikes arouns Stevens Pass by Rick McGuire & Ira Spring. $14.95 same place I got the other book. As for your maps, Goto SkyValley Rapers, and pick up Green Trails Map's No. 142(Index), 143 (Monte Cristo), and 144 (Benchmark). All of this should pretty much cover that area you are interested in. Now when you feel Froggy Do a little research on the net, and try and find the directions to the GT mine.  For something close to you, and easy I would start out with Wallace falls, then Lake Isabel |
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I built part of the Iron Goat Trail back when it was starting. I think it goes all the way through to the other side of the pass now. Barclay Lake is a good day hike. I think you can continue past the lake and connect to something else and make a real hike of it. The Harvey Manning-Ira Spring books are pretty much the gold standard around here. Mt Pilchuk is a good day hike. Its close and it has a "destination viewpoint" at the turn around. The tread was miserable down the bottom (15 years ago)-- lots of roots and mud. Someone may have fixed it since then. Whne you get the knack of backpacking and want a good scenic challenge and are willing to travel, i recommend the Timberline Trail around Mt Hood. Challenging, but reasonable...painful at times, but rewarding. |
Barclay lake, then keep going to Eagle lake. Green Trails No. 143 trailhead is at grid M-3, Barclay Lake is at N-4, and Eagle lake is at M-4. |
He is correct about the guy but now a dead one. Anti gun/ORV anything but hiking it seems... I still like Hiking Snohomish County better, but I have to put my political side aside, they all seem to love FOTT, and groups like that. |
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If you really cant get past Ira Spring's politics, check out Fred Beckey's books, the "Cascade Alpine Guide - Climbing and High Routes" It is mostly hardcore climbing, not as much backpacking, but it is probably the best compiled resource out there on Cascade climbing. |
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I am not in the best of shape but I want to do a overnighter just to get the feel of it again... I thought that the lake past Wallcae Falls would be a good start (Lake Isabella I think??) but I don't know if they allow camping there. The only thing I don't have is a stove... I have been looking at the MSR stuff... They still as good as there where? |
Wallace lake is above Wallace falls, I dont know if it would be that fun of a overnighter though. There really are tons of great trails along SR 2 that you could pull a overnighter though. MSR does still make good stoves. I think that if you want to pull a easy overnight hike, I would goto Greider Lakes. Green Trails No. 142. 6 miles round trip. It is right in your backyard. |
Sky Valley, and REI, are the only ones off the top of my head I can think of at the moment. unless you want to make a drive to levenworth. Im willing to bet DerSportsman would have them. Did you get the books? You could also pick up district map's at the Skykomish Ranger station i think... |
Outstanding!... I use these maps almost every single day. The last set I got for the entire county is about worn out after 3 years of hard use. I will be heading out there to get a new set soon. 
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