Icicle Creek Gorge
October 15 - 16, 2005
What could be better than a late-autumn camping trip on Icicle Creek? Nothing, of course. That's pretty much as good as it gets.
After Scrambling Labyrinth Mountain we retired to our favorite campground on the Icicle, Rock Island, where we somehow managed to nab a large delightful site above the river. That night as the evening chill of autumn set in, we basked in the warm glow of a campfire (thankful that we'd brought plenty of wood), gobbled down hobo stew--beef, potatoes, carrots, onions, mushrooms--cooked over the fire in our Dutch oven, and made short work of a bottle of wine. We slept hard and woke up to a fine morning.
After coffee and bearclaws we took the easy, but perennially delightful, 4-mile Icicle Gorge Trail that leaves out of Rock Island. It was a fine day for leisurely walking with some nice river views and one rather daunting encounter with an aggressive spruce grouse. Just proof that something surprising happens every time we get outdoors. It was a walk just long enough to work up an appetite for bratwurst in Leavenworth.
Our favorite campground in one of our favorite places.
Home sweet home for a night.
On our easy day hike on the Icicle Gorge Trail.
Danger lurks on the Icicle! This vicious spruce grouse not only approached us, but actually pecked Eric's leg, chased Jill down the trail, and was nearly able to feast on our carcasses.
Larches and cottonwoods near Icicle Creek.
Of course, no trip to Leavenworth is complete without a bratwurst, a pretzel, a German beer, and a horde of Japanese tourists. Perfection.
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