Icicle Ridge

Cloudy day with early fires outside of Gold Bar and near Leavenworth. Perfect temperature for hiking, warm but not too warm and little wind. A rain shower came in right at the end of the hike. This is the easy way up Icicle Ridge, trail is in fairly good shape and a gentle grade up to a saddle on the ridge just above town. At the 3000' saddle a short trail goes right to a viewpoint overlooking the valley. Most folks stop here. The trail continues left, switchbacking up the ridge in a mix of forest and more open areas burned some years ago. Trail is steeper beyond the saddle and narrower but in good shape. We found several patches of Tweedyi Lewisia blooming and nice views looking down into Tumwater Canyon and across the Icicle Creek valley. Turned around at about the 4-mile mark. The Sleeping Lady Resort has a little store/restaurant where one can get ice cream, coffee or more traditional food.