Backpack - Anderson & Watson Lakes

This trip is part of a series of three shorter one night trips to alpine lakes in the North Cascades--7/1 to Anderson/Watson Lakes, 7/2 to Thornton Lake and 7/3 to Monogram Lake.  Each backpack is one night and the trips get progressively more difficult.  Please see the other two posts for details on those trips. 

The full four day itinerary:

7/1--Hike up to Watson Lakes and check them out.  If the snow is not bad head up to Upper Anderson Lakes to camp. On day two of the the Anderson/Watson Lake trip (on 7/2) we will hike back to the TH and drive to Marblemount WIC to get our permits for the other two trips, then we will drive to the Thornton Lakes TH and begin that backpack (the same day, 7/2).  On 7/3 we will descend from Thornton Lakes and drive to the Monogram TH and ascend the 4000' up to that lake for one night.  Thus three lakes, three camps in three different locations in three nights.

This is a Leader's Permission adventure.  I will be giving permission for early registration for those wanting to do all three trips.  There is a permit limit of four people each at both Thornton and Monogram Lakes.  The fees for each of these lakes in North Cascades National Park $12 per night.  There is no fee for Anderson/Watson Lakes.

In requesting permission.  Please read beforehand about the other two trips (Thornton and Monogram Lakes).  Please answer all the questions /concerns below:

1)  All three of the trips may have snow on the trails.  Are you comfortable with limited snow travel?  Will you bring Microspikes and trekking poles?  Do you have the conditioning to climb about 1,500' to the campsite?  The trail is short and moderately steep?

2)  Are you interesting/committed to doing all three consecutive trips?  If not, which ones?

***if you only want to do the Anderson/Watson Lake trip--you can skip questions 3 and 4--see below for registration date.

3)  The most difficult of the three trips is to Monogram Lake.  The trip up to the lake is 4.7 miles and 4,200' gain.  This is quite steep and may have some snow in places and possibly be brushy in places.  If you are also on the Thornton Lake trip you will also have come down from there in the morning.  Can you do this?   What backpacking or other trips have you done that would indicate that you have the conditioning for this?  What have you been doing this season to demonstrate your conditioning?

4)  Also for the Monogram Lake trip, we may explore off-trail up the ridge to the north of the saddle on our return day or possible go on trail up to the Lookout Tower.  Are you comfortable with this?

Those desiring to do all three trips and given permission for those trips can sign-up immediately for all three (after permission is granted).  Those that only want to do one or two of the three trips can sign up (pending permission for those individual trips) starting Monday 7/23.  Hope this all makes sense.  Rob

Meet at the Anderson Lakes/Watson Lakes TH at 12:00 PM

Northwest Forest Pass or America the Beautiful Pass

Getting There

From I-5, take exit 230 and head east on Highway 20 for approximately 23 miles. Turn left on a paved road signed for Baker Lake Road between mile posts 82 and 83. At 14.2 miles, turn right onto a paved road signed for Baker Lake Dam Road. 1.7 miles along, cross the dam on a one-lane road, and 2.4 miles in, take a left onto FR-1107. Follow this good gravel road for 8.9 miles and arrive at a junction signed Anderson and Watson Lakes. Travel 1.1 miles on a bumpy gravel road. Privy and picnic table available at trailhead.