Trip report by: Jeff Smoot, author of Climbing the Cascade Volcanoes
"I would definitely recommend this trip to a friend."
Hiked Lake Caroline Trail 1554 today with Doug Weaver. We left the trailhead at 8:45 AM with our sights on Cashmere Mountain, a late start with the sun already peeking over Cannon Mountain.
From the trailhead (3,300') the trail climbs a ridge above Eightmile Creek and soon meets and follows the old logging road through open logged and burned terrain. After crossing a side creek, the trail departs the road grade and dips and climbs upstream to Little Eightmile Lake, 2.6 miles, elevation 4,404 feet. Eighmile Lake Trail 1552 continues another 0.5 miles to Eighmile Lake, a big lake nestled in a rocky basin.
We continued on up Lake Caroline Trail, which switchbacks up the brushy, fire-ravaged slopes above the lake, leading us up from the shady creek into warm sunlight. The trail seemed to be ready to level out some in a basin, but switched back again and climbed even steeper up a grassy ridge through countless silver snags left standing by the 1994 firestorm.
A rocky spot a bit higher up gave a view of Eighmile Lake and peaks of the Stuart Range just showing over the intervening ridge. After crossing a talus slide and a marshy flat, the trail left the fire damage behind and climbed through lovely subalpine meadows to a divide above Lake Caroline. Great views here of meadows and peaks; a few wildflowers in bloom, mostly aster and lupine this late.
The trail descended abruptly to Lake Caroline, 4.8 miles, 6,190 feet elevation, a pretty lake framed by subalpine firs and rust-colored talus and cliffs. Nobody camping here, which we found odd for such a nice September weekend. Many good campsites near the outlet stream and beyond. The trail did a semi-loop around the lake and climbed over a ridge, with views of Cashmere Mountain, before descending into even lovelier subalpine parkland, soon crossing a stream and traversing close above Little Caroline Lake, 5.4 miles, 6,300 feet elevation.
One of the notable flowers in the meadows just below Lake Caroline divide was skyrocket--bright red flowers, hard to miss. Also, big fat crickets all over the meadows and slopes above Little Eightmile Lake. And a redtailed hawk soaring over the meadows.
The trail continued beyond the lakes, traversing rocky meadows and around a ridge, then above a meadowy basin below Cashmere Mountain. At the head of the basin was a small stream, last water, although in a normal snow year it would probably be dry this late. The trail climbed through a higher snow-patched basin, then switchbacked lazily up alpine meadow slopes to Windy Pass, 6.8 miles, elevation 7,200 feet.
Awesome views! A near panorama of the central Cascades, every peak standing out in sharp relief, particularly Daniel, Sloan, Chimney Rock, and the Stuart Range peaks. Of course, we were only partway to our destination. We continued up the climbers' trail on the ridge leading north from Windy Pass, easy going for quite a distance, with better and better views, including Mt. Baker and Glacier Peak. Some easy scrambling and talus hopping led to a high pass (7,990') below the summit rocks of Cashmere Mountain.
Here a climbers' trail continued up a few hundred feet, then petered out amid ledges and gullies, leaving us to our routefinding skills. I exhibited mine poorly and ended up on some loose, exposed rock, but managed just fine and reached the summit (8,501') a few minutes ahead of Doug. Having seen absolutely no one on the trail, we were surprised to find six people on the summit when we arrived.
The scrambling route is mostly Class 2 with a couple of Class 3 sections, plenty loose and moderately exposed, and not recommended for the inexperienced. As is often the case, the hike out seemed much longer than the hike in, although my watch confirmed we had made good time. We reached the trailhead at 5:45 PM, just in time to get stuck in construction delays on US-2. Of course, my mileages and elevations are approximate. Actual mileage may vary.
Note: This is backcountry wilderness travel. Any trail can become very dangerous in winter conditions. You are responsible for informing yourself of the hazards and taking the necessary precautions. Please read Terms of Use.