The first ~3 mile on the Phelps Creek trail is flat. A couple of easy creek crossings. Once turned right onto Leroy Basin trail, it was steep: ~2100' in 1.5 miles, especially the lower half. I was overtaken by 4 boys and a Husky named Cola. Strange that I didn't remember it being so steep: last time when I climbed Maude on the same approach, we had the slowest hiker in front, so the pace was so comfortable that I didn't notice the incline.
Leroy Basin is at ~6300'. Quite a lot of small larches here. We camped here 2 years ago. Today, only saw one tent. A long break here. I ate 2 apples and dried my feet.
Continue the trail towards Carne High Traverse, and followed it for a short distance among larches to a creek crossing. There, turn left (north) and go up a trail towards Seven Finger Jack. Now yellow gave away to red, and then brown, last, larches, all rocks.
I only downloaded Gaia Map, which is a mistake, since no one in the group has ever climbed 7FJ. It's a straight line to the summit on my map. Practically useless. Jack has too many fingers, and I had no idea which one to scale. I attempted one, and it got too sketchy that I backed down, only to realize that it was a wrong finger. By then, the group had diminished to only about 3-4 still on the scramble. Light snow started to fall.
Now everyone turned back. Di made it to the summit, so I headed to his direction, which is a lot more to the north than the track on the map. I made to a gap between two fingers. Saw Entiat Glacier on the north slope of Maude. Took care going over a short overhang ledge, and decided to back down as well. I was getting too slow negotiating the rocks. Also, it was almost whiteout, and I couldn't really tell where to go next. It was cold up there, with wind and snow. Yes, minor snow accumulation in the cracks. On the way down, Di said there's a better approach further to my left. Oh, well, next time.
I'm surprised that I caught up 4 others hiking down, so I was not the last person to reach the group that was waiting down at the trail. I reached the parking lot ~8pm. They wanted to eat at Cole's Corner, so we drove off, leaving 2 more cars still not filled, because the restaurant closes at 9:30. Turns out the last 2 cars didn't make it before the kitchen was closed, and the group moved to another restaurant. The girl temporarily swapped in "my" car bought hot tea and sipped in the car. Just two of us don't like eating indoors. I brought enough food and a book, so we waited in the car.
I was dropped of at 12:30am off I-5. Walked a mile home in light rain. A long day!
More photos from others in my group.
