I was afraid of my right eye getting into trouble again, this weekend, I only wore contact lens on the left eye, and carried a pair of glasses.
Also due to the mosquito population of last weekend, I also carried a small bottle of bug spray, on top of spraying my clothes, tent, and pack with permetherin ahead of the time.
We carried crampons, ice axe, gaiters for the snow. I actually didn't use crampons, nor gaiters. Would like to use spikes though, which I didn't bring.
Conclusions
- Lemah is better climbed earlier in the season. Right now, moat is a problem.
- Chikamin, we were able to avoid most snow altogether.
- Too many mosquitoes with the snow melt. Extremely scenic with many waterfalls, half-thawed turqoise ponds. Quite a lot of flowers.
- After this trip, I ordered a different set of crampons and ice axe, cutting the weight in half, with some compromises. Also bought a pair of lighter weight sandles.
7/30, Saturday, 8:30am, I was picked up at home (that is very nice).
3 of us, the hike leader Z (same guy who led the north climb of Adams), and a lady in her 40s, J.
She has summited Rainier, Baker, Eldorado, ..., but boy, she cannot handle steep snow, no sense of direction.
She's slow and carries too much junk: two(!) 1/2lb(!) cans of gas (because they are near empty), 2 pillows, a 3lb tent, a heavy backpack, 3 different outfits for the 3 days.
A pair of mountaineering boots, while wearing trail runners.
She even brought 2 bottles of sunscreen and 2 bottles of bug juice (one spray kind, one smear kind).
We convinced her to leave one of each in the car.
The good thing is that she's very nice and very caucious.
To cut down weight, I didn't bring any cooking gear.
Brought my lightest sleeping bag (1.1Lb) due to the expected hot weather.
Also I wore the same hiking shirt and pants all 3 days (was able to wash my shirt and socks every day).
I did bring a set of T-shirt, shorts and socks, and 3 bananas for after-hike.
I also brought a lightweight tubberware for food storage.
We started at Mineral Creek TH around 11am (this photo was taken 2 days later when I hiked out),
towards
Park Lakes. Not too many bugs yet.
The very first obstacle is Kachess River. With care, it's not too difficult.
At the first junction, take right, more or less followed Mineral Creek.
The trail has recently been power-brushed. Alternating between trimmed thimbleberry bushes (hot) and forest (shade).
Already, we had to made multiple stops for J to catch up.
At about mile 4, a sharp descent to cross a creek, and a steep but short uphill.
From then on, no more trail maintenance. A few fallen logs to get over/below/around.
Finally you see the water coming down from Park Lakes, but not close enough to easily fill water.
We made a lunch stop at one of the empty campsites under trees.
Saw a fighter jet flew above. Heard them more. Seafair week in Seattle.
Nice view. Some heathers. I filtered water. Not too many mosquitoes.
Instead of visiting other Park Lakes, we turned onto PCT for less than 1 mile.
At the junction, met a guy going on PCT south bound. He was resting by a small creek filtering water.
We turned on to the creek. A clear path to follow.
Going up to the lowest part of the Chikamin Ridge.
Then going down to Glacier Lake.
Mosquitoes galore from the pass all the way down to Glacier Lake.
The view starts to get really good. More and more jaggard peaks.
Snow melting, forming little tarns and mosquitoes, pretty.
Kudo to J, who decided to make a long bio stop. Even waiting, Z and I had to walk around so we were not sitting meals for the bugs.
We didn't make a stop at Glacier Lake. Very pretty, but too buggy.
We had to take off our boots to cross its outlet.
I brought sandals, so it was easy.
The trail continues towards the upper lake, but soon get fainter.
It's very pretty all the way up.
We didn't actually get to the upper lake (you'll go by it, if you climb Chikamin Peak from here.
Instead, we veered right, up the ridge towards Chikamin Lake basin.
Along the way, a few cascades, a large waterfall.
Finally, at 6:50pm, we arrived. There was a tent pitched at the 2nd pond.
We continued, and Z found a site on a small hill, half in the trees, that can accommodate 3 tents.
This is J's tent next morning overlooking Chikamin Lake.
Notice this big iceberg. It'll melt completely in 24 hours.
Sun hadn't set yet. I washed my shirt, and wore the wet shirt to cool down.
The mosquitoes were not as bad as at Glacier Lake.
Still I didn't dare to do a long bio break until after 9:15pm, when they are gone.
Saw some headlights coming down the hills to the north.
Stars at night.
7/31, Sunday. We left at 6:10am.
First, skirt around the eastside of the lake, passing 2 snowfields. Snow was still hard.
Then scrambled up towards Lemah1.
Quite some lupine on the higher reach of this slope. This photo was taken on our way down later in the day.
Before reaching the ridge, skirt right (east) to gain on a ridge.
This narrow ridge is splendid. We stayed either on the top, or to its south slope.
Occasionally we could see boottracks here.
The tricky bit is going down to the snow from the ridge.
Would be easier a month earlier, when the snow reached the ridge proper.
I actually found a safe route, and we made down to the snow.
There, Z and J put on crampons. I decided to glissade.
However, there are rocks poking out here and there, so I had to adjust my sliding direction multiple times.
I ended down there slower than Z, who walked.
We waited for J slowly inching down the snow slope.
I wondered to myself, how is possible that she just did Eldorado last month, which has a steep and exposed snow ridge.
See above wide photo where we got down to the snow.
This basin, with a half-melt blue tarn, is utterly breathtaking.
Yes, mosquitoes, but not too bad.
Earlier in the season, it's better to just walk on the snow slope, right below Lemah.
Now, we skirted around, most on rocks, because the snow slope west the blue tarn had too many rocks poking out.
The longer detour is safe, and relatively easy.
Eventually, we had to climb on snow again. It's steep.
Here, J decided to turn around.
The rest of us slowly moved up.
At one point, I was going towards a moat, and had to change direction.
That wasted quite some time, because I was going rather slow, making each step count.
I didn't put on crampons.
After safely get on the rocks, scrambling part isn't hard.
Then, there's another stretch of steep snow. Short though.
By the time I got on to the final rock pile, I was exhausted.
Found a rock to sit and rested.
Z already made it to the top, and came down, as I was eating a bar.
He said, he'd go try Lemah2.
The refuel was necessary. I climbed to the top without too much delay. Well, still took ~20 minutes.
Getting back to the snow was also a bit sketchy.
You see here, water is falling on the rock, so can be slippery at places.
Z turned around from Lemah 2, and watched and directed me getting on to the snow from the far side.
We found J hiding between 2 big rocks for shade at the bottom of the basin.
Going back on the ridge is not as bad as coming down, but still took time, especially the transition to the rock. A bit loose here.
After the glorious ridge, we were back on the slope below Lemah1.
Z and I decided to give it a go.
At its base, we looked for different angles to climb. I gave up. Z continued.
It's a short climb. He quickly summited and on his way down, he kicked off a rock which he used to go up.
So, he was stuck for awhile. It took him back and forth quite a few tries to make it down,
meanwhile kicking rocks down towards me. So I backed out farther.
When I heard him saying that he made it out, I continued walking down.
We couldn't find J. I saw a piece of blue in a cluster of trees.
Went there, and found her hand towel, but no J.
Now, I was getting really worried. Whistled, screamed her name. No response.
We continued down.
Finally back near the lake, saw her chatting with a group of 4 guys right before the 2nd snow stretch.
They tried to climb Chikamin Peak from this side, and had to turn around.
We actually thought about it on our way up. Didn't try only because we ran out of time for today.
When we returned to camp, it was almost 6pm. 12 hours to hike ~4 miles! A beautiful and difficult 4 miles.
Again, I washed my shirt, and put on the wet shirt. Torn a big hole on the left shoulder: there, I later found many mosquito bites.
By the time I finished dinner, my shirt was dry.
I managed to read a bit before going to sleep.
8/1, Monday. A few welcoming clouds. Slightly cooler. We set 6am departure. However, J was still sleeping when I talked to her at 5:30am :(
So, had to wait for her. She's quite meticulour, which is good. We didn't forget anything at camp.
We didn't want to go back to Upper Glacier Lake to pick up the track to Chikamin Peak.
So picked our way around X-country. One detour.
At one place, I squeezed through some trees, and asked J to pass my bacpack to me, and then to pass her backpack to me, then she climbed over the trees. Her pack is heavy.
It turns out that she only ate half of her cooked breakfast, and carried the leftover!
I really enjoyed the route finding. The scenary is grand and open, boulders and heathers.
Here, we finally on the proper climb.
We left our backpack on a small flat area. Scrambled up with light pack.
On this photo, I highlighted the route we will be taking going out.
From here up, it was easier than getting to this point.
We all made to the summit in short order.
Met a young guy day hiking from Mineral Creek TH.
He said he has only one peak left (Huckleberry) to complete the 20
Snoqualmie Peaks.
I didn't even know such list existed. Well, there's a list for everything.
J likes to be photographed, so we spent quite some time on the summit.
The view is splendid. Ate and rested.
Going down as we came. Picked up our packs.
Continued on the ridge, fairly easy. Occasionally we could see boot track. A little bit of snow left.
We found the turn going down to PCT. There was a cairn.
It started okay, and got to quite steep and sketchy.
We made different short scouting spurs.
At one point, J lowered her pack to me to set aside.
By the time we got down all the rocks, we gave each other a high-five.
PCT is a highway, well maintained.
Quite a lot of flowers on the slope where the PCT traverses. It's hot (south facing).
We wet total of 2 solo hikers on PCT.
The view to Park Lake from above is quite pretty.
We didn't stop at Park Lake. Hiked out directly.
My eye was getting cloudy again.
I stopped at the creek crossing (4 mile from TH) to throw away the contact lens. Put on glasses.
J was getting low on energy.
When she caught up with me in the forest, I was reading my book, had my boots and socks off to dry.
She then took out her "cooked breakfast" and ate. No wonder her pack was heavy.
Back at TH almost 6pm. Quite some mosquitoes today.
We made a stop at Cle Elum Safeway to use the restroom.
Z bought his usual Coke and jerky. J, a fruit tray. Me, a beer.
They dropped me off at home.
Summerland has been a regular backpacking trip for me during wildflower season.
This year, I agreed to take 2 friends with me. They are new to backpacking.
We had planned this a month ahead. They bought tent and sleeping bags.
I veto-ed their new tent (3 person 7lb ‐ K claims that backpacking tents are too claustrophobic).
I sent a long list of checklist a few days before.
They brought way too much junk, especially bottled water (maybe 10 bottles).
I threw out four 0.5L bottles, but should've checked inside their packs.
8/13 Saturday. K doesn't get up early.
D & K didn't arrive at my home until noon - which he calculated that it would get him to camp by 6pm.
There were conjestions out of downtown, and a habitual wait at the park entrance (I ran to the wilderness center, while the car was waiting in the queue).
By the time I picked up my permit, and we all saddled up to start, it was already 3:30pm.
D had a bag made for laptop. It was stuffed with food, her shoulder was feeling the pain shortly after we started.
K was under the heavy load of their junk in a towering backpack, and he was lagging behind.
We made a long stop at Summerland to admire the scenary. It was already 6pm.
Above that, water was running high.
We had trouble crossing water (in 3 braids) before this log bridge.
Neither of them brought sandals (which I listed as optional, but I brought a pair).
We met a couple on their 2nd to last day of Wonderland loop.
The girl informed me of a tricky snowbridge close to Panhandle Gap.
8/14 Sunday.
I got up at 6am, and started my morning hike ~6:30. We have agreed to meet at Panhandle Gap at 11am.
First, took a reflection photo at the 2 ponds below Panhandle Gap.
Next, took a different gap over to Sarvent area.
I left the spikes for my friends, so took the steep rocks above the snow.
A little tricky, but I made it slowly.
I did go back via Panhandle Gap, just to see the condition of the snow bridge.
It's longer, but has a more defined trail to follow.
I always see goats here. No exception today.
They were resting, and started to move away when I got closer.
But didn't leave altogether.
My destination here, same as last August, is Banshee Peak.
It's an easy walk, maybe a mile from the trail. Easy slope, not as many flowers as I hoped.
The faint bootpath disappeared altogether after the goats.
The view is splendid all around.
This photo was taken on the way back on the rest of the snow, after the snow bridge was punched through.
They put on spikes, and followed me slowly one by one.
I waited on the other end, pointing out where NOT to step (on top of the short bridge), but K still stepped on it.
It was still hard (at 11am, still in the shade), and he was fine. After he crossed over, and looking back, he realized what I meant.
Now he said I didn't explain why! Oh, well...
I continued on to my favorite flower slope,
Not as good as last 2 years, but still lovely.
I sat down and ate my lunch, took a long-ish break before hiking back (uphill).
Met a few more loop hikers, and 2 doing the 18 mile one-way as a day hike.
Caught up with my friends before we reached the gap.
The group before us decided to scramble down the rocky slope to avoid the snow.
My friends put on spikes and we crossed on the snow.
The two ponds under direct sun look very pretty from here.
8/4. Thursday. Openning night for 
