Esmeralda Basin and Lake Ann

Drove out to the Teanaways to hike the Esmeralda Basin Trail with a side trip to Lake Ann. This was a 9 mile hike with an overall elevation gain of 2,700 ft.
The trailhead serves Esmeralda Basin, Long Pass and Lake Ingalls. For a short ways the trail follows the North Fork of the Teanaway River. After 0.3 miles, the Esmeralda Basin Trail continues straight, while the Long Pass and Lake Ingalls Trail breaks off to the right.

This time of year, there were many small stream crossings as the snow up high is melting. This means there are lots of wildflowers in bloom along the creeks and in the meadows.











Shooting stars were the predominant blooms.
Meadow at the feet of Esmeralda Peaks.

We had nice views of the peaks as the trail gained elevation.











One of the many creeks we crossed today.

















After 3 miles from the trailhead, the trail splits. The trail up to Lake Ann goes off to the right and the Esmeralda Basin Trail continues to the left. We choose to continue on the Esmeralda Basin Trail another 1/2 mile up to Fortune Creek Pass.

More views as the trail continued gaining in elevation.









One of the many fields full of shooting stars.

We decided to hike a short ways above Fortune Creek Pass to admire the views.

Pano to the south (Fortune Creek Pass on the left)

Pano to the north (Fortune Creek Pass on the right)

We then returned down to the trail split and began hiking up to no name pass (gaining 500 ft of elevation in a little more than 1/2 mile) on the way to Lake Ann, lots of lovely views

Here we could see Mt Rainier in the far distance to the southwest between two of the Teanaway Peaks.

At no name pass, we would later scramble up the rocky outcropping on the left to admire the views!

From no name pass looking north to the Central Cascades














Looking down at Lake Ann from no name pass, Ingalls Peak sits between Lake Ann and Lake Ingalls (out of sight)

A steep trail down dropping 200+ ft. There were a few snow patches to cross on the way.

View of no name pass from the other side of Lake Ann

















lots of shooting stars here as well

Pano from our lunch spot at Lake Ann

some of the wildflowers we saw in bloom along the trail today: