We drove out south of Mt Rainier along Skate Creek Road and up FSR 5270 to the north Trailhead of the Tatoosh Trail in the Tatoosh Wilderness. We hiked up to Tatoosh Ridge and Peak 6050, about 6.5 miles with 3,100 ft of gain. The first 2 miles are going up to the ridge in the forest. we saw very few flowers in bloom in the forest, but enjoyed the ripe huckleberries along the way.
There were some open patches in the forest where we saw some late bloomers, here paintbrush and fireweed.
There were many police-car moths among the asters.
We began to see Mt St Helens in the distance to the southwest.
This meadow had pasqueflower seedheads and tiger lilies in bloom.
The trail crossed a small stream three times as we continued up along a series of switchbacks. At this stream were many asters, monkeyflowers and grass-of-Parnassus in bloom.
As the trail climbed up through a high meadow, we found lots of fireweed filling the meadow.
Better views of Mt Rainier as we continued down the trail.
Hillside filled with pasqueflower seedbeds and purple asters.
When the trail turned around the south end of the ridge, we had a great view to the south of Mt Adams, Mt Hood and Mt St Helens.
zoom of Mt Adams
zoom of a very distant Mt Hood
zoom of Mt St Helens
From of the end of Tatoosh Ridge, we took the very steep boot track up Peak 6050,
and it got steeper.Pano from near the top of Peak 6050: Tatoosh Peak, Goat Rocks, Mt Adams, Mt Hood and Mt St Helens to the south
View of Mt Rainier and the Tatoosh Lakes to the north. We took a lunch break here enjoying the views.
I hiked very slowly down from Peak 6050, stopping to enjoy this view.
small area of wildflower blooms on a boot track just below Peak 6050
Beetle on an aster
some of the wildflowers we saw along the trail today:
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