Most viewed - So-called "Epic White Cloud Backpacking Loop", August 24, 2020
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DSCF0285.JPG18 viewsSunrise; inlet, Cove Lake at 9842’. Not a trace of last night’s storm. Today will be a layover day. I intend to fish, and relax—something I have not done since starting out two days ago. There are lakes close by I have yet to visit. Two years ago I camped in this very spot, and the fishing was great.
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DSCF0288.JPG18 viewsSunrise; inlet, Cove Lake.
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DSCF0357.JPG18 viewsI reach the top of the Devil’s Staircase and learn why it is referred to as the “keyhole”.
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DSCF0235.JPG17 viewsAs seen from the saddle south of Strawberry Basin, the Warm Springs Creek drainage plunges deeply behind the east wall of Strawberry Basin. Beyond, to the northeast, the White Cloud Peaks rise in the haze.
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DSCF0287.JPG17 viewsSunrise; west side Cove Lake, south of inlet.
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DSCF0316.JPG17 viewsJust above Island Lake! Boulder-hopping is avoided by staying close to the headwall of the buttress after dropping into the drainage. I would rather lose 580’ elevation, and climb an enjoyable ridge, than repeat, once more, the route documented in Idaho Alpine Zone, “side-hilling” through ankle-breaker size talus.
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DSCF0354.JPG17 viewsCastle Peak, and the Serrate Ridge rise in the distance, south from Windy Devil.
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DSCF0233.JPG15 viewsFrom the previous saddle, I thought I saw the dust from two people heading up toward Blackman, rising from the hillside to the east; probably the occupants of this camp. Nice place to camp if you don’t mind carrying water a long way! I didn’t see water until close to Warm Springs Creek.
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DSCF0244.JPG14 viewsShortly before reaching Warm Springs Creek, a small creek surfaces. This is the first running water I have seen since leaving the trailhead.
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DSCF0355.JPG14 viewsThe “keyhole” revealed. This marks the entrance to the Devil’s Staircase, the steep descent to Born Lakes on the west side. This turned out to be considerably further than I remember from my first trip into the Boulder Chain Lakes basin five years ago. I am very good at remembering the positive, and underestimating difficulty. Nonetheless, the climbing went fast utilizing an excellent trail that avoided the scree.
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DSCF0358.JPG14 viewsThe description in Idaho Alpine Zone advises the more northerly route as the better descent route. I did not investigate this further, relying on route finding experience. I descended via the more northerly chute. It was loose and tedious, but easier than the descent to Hummock Lake the day before. One can see the ridge above Ants Basin, the closer of the three ridges on the horizon.
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DSCF0243.JPG13 viewsAfter an initial steep descent from the mouth of Strawberry Basin on the north, the terrain below levels out into some nice meadows before steeping again.
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