Beta for Ipsut Creek to Mystic Camp

[Gordonb]

I am looking for beta.

 

I want to take my kids and wife on their first multi day back packing trip (they have done lots of overnights) and we were looking at going from Ipsut Creek to Mystic Camp. How is that route?

 

We are thinking 2 days to mysic camp, two nights there and 1 or 2 days out. The kids are 9 and 13 and I am tring to make the trip enjoyable. More focus on being outdoors than trying to conquer.

 

I have never done this route and also have a bad reputation with the family for mis-remembering the diffulculty of a route.

[Skisports]

there is going to be alot of snow still

[philfort]

FWIW, I was up in Grand Park today (next ridge to the east), and there was suprisingly little snow. Grand Park (elev. 5600ft) was only 20% snow-covered. However it's probably more in Rainier's rain shadow than the area around mystic lake.

[Gordonb]

We were planning on the last week of July, so there is still about 3 weeks for meltoff.

[chilly]

The snow starts at Moraine Park, but it is easy to navigate to Mystic. Most of the backcountry camps at Mystic are snowfree. Stop at the Wilkeson RS or Carbon River RS on the way for a permit, the backcountry crew checks them very closely. Chilly