7/20, Sunday. From the town of Darrington, turn south on Mt Loop Hwy for ~3 miles to just before Clear Creek Campground. Turn right (south) onto Clear Creek Road (Google calls it Frog Creek Road). Drive ~5.2 miles. Take the right fork and drive another ~half mile. There's a pull out on your left for a few cars. We saw 2 there. Trail is on your right (west). Elevation ~1700'.
The first 3/4 mile is in the trees. The trail emerged to a talus field at the foot of 3 O'Clock Rock.
I investigated the side track to the rock: too bushy and no view.
Already had a bit of fall color.
Good view over the valley, and Squire Slab.
The trail goes next the 3 O'Clock Rock and goes up, at times aggressively.
Into trees again. The trail is quite rugged with roots and rocks.
More and more onto large slabs of granite. Any indentation is now a pool of mosquito water.
Eventually more views to the Ulalach Rock to the right, and High Squire to the left.
The trail gets gentle near the pass, almost flat. Pay attention to the cairn.
A lot of huckleberry bushes, but a bit too early for ripe berries. Saw a girl running the trail.
At the pass, large slab of granite, a lot of place to spread out.
View of Whitehorse and Three Fingers dead in your face.
Only 1 other party: a couple and their dog.
Had a quick lunch, while waiting for the clouds to lift.
But too many mosquitoes, so we headed back.
Saw a beautiful butterfly who didn't fly away when we walked by.
Possibly a Rocky Mountain Apollo.
At 3 O'Clock Rock, saw a girl half way up on the rock face.
Back in Seattle around 5pm, a short but good workout: 5.4 mile RT, 2350' EG.
