[RichP]

This was to be a relaxing and easy stroll on the PCT south from the Harts Pass area for some peak bagging and an overnight camp. My partner on this hike, Bright River, is trying to do 75 peaks for her 75th year on Earth so we teamed up to tick off 6 more toward that goal. We took Rd 500 past Meadows CG to its end and parked about 100 yards from the PCT which is accessed via a short connector trail. It's about 5 miles to Grasshopper Pass from here. The PCT winds around Cone Mtn and crosses its shoulder on the east. Cone can be approached from here or where the trail crosses the saddle between it and Tatie Pk to the west.

On the trail.

Grasshopper Pass.

Cone Mtn, our first peak of the day.

From Cone Mtn we dropped back down to the trail and walked to the saddle between Tatie Pk and Syncline Mtn where we dropped our packs for the short climb up Tatie. Both Tatie and Cone have excellent views.

Looking west to Tatie Peak from Cone Mtn, 7405.'

Syncline Mtn.

Ninetynine Basin.

Back on the trail looking back to Cone.

North Tatie from Tatie Peak, 7386.'

Slate Pass area.

After enjoying some summit time on Tatie we hiked over to Grasshopper Pass to set up camp. Along the way we filled up with water in the south basin below Syncline which has a flowing creek at the base of a snowfield as we were uncertain about the water situation at the pass. After dinner we hiked up to Grasshopper Pk which has a trail all the way to the top. The views across the valley of Azurite are stunning from this point. The direct sun prevented any pics of that view so you'll have to take my word for it and make the short hike up this one to see for yourself.

Grasshopper Peak from camp at Grasshopper Pass.

The gatekeeper at Grasshopper Pass.

A trail leads to the top of Grasshopper Peak, 7125.'

The Needles.

Golden Horn.

Tower Mtn.

In the morning we packed up a carried over Syncline Mtn which starts as a broad slope and narrows to a broken ridge walk leading to a highpoint with a bivy site. Some class 3 is found when dropping off the north side down to saddle with Tatie Pk and the PCT.

Azurite over Grasshopper Pass.

Grasshopper Peak.

Mt Ballard.

The ridge to the Syncline Mtn.

Looking down the south ridge of Syncline Mtn.

An airy bivy spot on Syncline, 7560.'

A class 3 step on the north side of Syncline.

Looking back to Syncline from the PCT.

During the short walk back to the car we ran into several southbound hikers with designs of making it to Mexico this year. My partner remarked that one is not truly a thru-hiker until finishing the trail. She is a 2 time veteran of the PCT, once on foot and another on horseback. She talked to all the hikers and exchanged pleasantries with them. Here is an excerpt from Tha Wookie's 2003 PCT Journal making reference to Bright River who was Go Forth in those days.

[Gimpilator]

Nice trip. 75 peals is a good goal. Looks like the smoke blew further north. Stunning photos!

[RichP]

[Sculpin]

[Distel32]

[olderthanIusedtobe]

That is a wonderful stretch of the PCT. Great pics, thanks for posting. Also thanks for making me aware I climbed Grasshopper Peak a couple years ago. I just thought it was a bump on a ridge.

[RichP]

[wildernessed]

So the PCT is pretty clear of snow through there ? Looks nice I told Nettie Hannah may need to swap out micros pikes at some point for a filter mask. Monthly rainfall for Wenatchee is 0.00 inches.

[RichP]

[chiwakum]

Really stunning pictures. You hiking partner is an inspiration.