PCT from Bullion Basin to Chinook Pass

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.

Bullion Basin to Chinook Pass on the PCT

 Wanting to do a one way hike from Crystal Mountain Ski Resort to Chinook Pass via the PCT, we left one car at Chinook Pass and drove to Crystal. Here we went up the Bullion Basin Trail at the bottom of the ski area.  Our hike was 10 mile with 2,000 ft of elevation gain up to the PCT, then some up and down along the trail before descending down to Sheep Lake and Chinook Pall.

 The trail took us up into the trees on the way to Bullion Basin.

 At Bullion Basin (seen below in the photo) we choose the short, steeper trail to the east up to the PCT. Mt Rainier can be seen peeking over Crystal Mountain.

 This is a great section of the PCT, it travels along the top of the ridge, as well as traversing both sides of the ridge lines on the way to Sourdough Gap. We reached the PCT at 2.2 miles and 2,000 ft elevation gain from the trailhead.

 Views and wildflowers along the trail.

Another view of Mt Rainier as the trail winds around Pickhandle Basin.

I think we were near Pickhandle Gap here: Pano looking to the east.

Pano looking to the west: Mt Adams and the Goat Rocks to the south, Mt Rainier directly west.

 zoom of Mt Adams and the Goat Rocks:

We saw a variety of wildflowers in bloom along the trail.

 more views and lupine

 Only snow field we came near, and it was no longer on the trail.

 more wildflowers













Pano looking out from Bear Gap:

 so many wildflowers

 From Bear Gap to Sourdough Gap is 2 miles.











Placer Lake below

 We hiked past some interesting rock formations with more wildflowers

In the far distance we could see the faint image of Mt St Helens (zoom)

A couple of switchbacks up towards Sourdough Gap

Pano at Sourdough Gap looking northeast

Pano at Sourdough Gap looking southwest, Sheep Lake below

 There were lots of wildflowers in the meadows near Sheep Lake

 and along the shore.

 Looking back toward Sourdough Gap from Sheep Lake

 From Sheep Lake, it is about 2 miles to Chinook Pass, there were more wildflowers along the trail here, also view of Naches Peak.












A few of the many wildflowers we saw in bloom today: