We left a car at Chinook Pass and drove to the Crystal Mountain Ski Resort to hike up to the PCT from the Bullion Basin Trail to head south to Sheep Lake and Chinook Pass.
We hiked 10.3 miles with 2,650 ft of overall elevation gain.
The Bullion Basin Trail is mostly in the forest leading up to the PCT. We did encounter one group of horseback riders (we stepped off the trail) and lots of flies today.
We did see a couple of areas that were affected by last summer's wildfires.
In Bullion Basin there was a nice patch of elephanthead lousewort in bloom
After a bit over 2 miles and 1,900 ft of gain, we reached the PCT at Bluebell Pass. The views opened up and we could see the top of Mt Rainier to the south.
Nice views as we continued south along the PCT, the skies were hazy due to wildfires.
Below us is the PCT heading south along Pickhandle Ridge
paintbrush along the trail
harebells and pasque flowers going to seed
PCT between Bear Gap and Sourdough Gap
Zoom of Three Way Peak and the arch on it's side
There were some nice fields of wildflowers along the trail
and some wildflowers blossoming in the scree
pica
marmot
Looking north along the PCT and the section through the scree field
more wildflowers
At Sourdough Gap looking down to Sheep Lake.
Mt Adams to the south was hidden in the haze
wildflower fields near Sheep Lake
Sheep Lake
Fields of wildflowers below us as we hiked back to Chinook Pass
and some wildflower fields above us.
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