[John Morrow]

Time to burn a bit more vacation time. I wanted to get up into some larches but I didn't want to deal with a foot of snow. By going east to the Entiat I got what I hoped for: Great larches Lots of easy peaks to scramble A fine backpack loop solitude Clear weather and crisp nights! Fantastic views! I drove up the paved Entiat Road 35 miles to the excellent condition 4 mile gravel North Fork Entiat Road to the TH. Day 1 was up S Pyramid Trail #1439, to Butte Creek Trail #1440, to Pyramid Mountain Trail # 1433 finding a fine camp between Graham Mountain and Pt. 7492, walking up Crow Hill 7366' and Graham Mountain 7297' enroute. Good water in all basins.

Butte Creek falls

Crow Hill from Butte Cr Trail

In the larches, finally!

Climbing Crow Hill

Ladybugs!

Lk Chelan from Crow Hill

Pyramid framed

From Graham to Pyramid

Below Graham Mtn.

Camp Meadow

Sunsetting

Day 2 started on Pt. 7492' and descending to Pyramid Lookout Trail #1441. Before the final switchbacks I traversed an exciting traverse to Squaretop Mountain 8189'. Foolishly, I tried to stay near the crest but then backed off, thinking I was done. Looking back I caught a look of a spindrifty snow gully that went nicely to finish with good rock scrambling climber's right of the main SW gully of Squaretop Mtn.

Morning over Chelan

Graham and Crow from Pt. 7492

Onto Pyramid and Squaretop next

Chiwaukums to Howard

Grousey

Pyramid Mountain Trail

Getting sketch--bail

Gully goes to Squaretop!

High ledge traverse

Cloudcomb scary

Square on Squaretop

Pyramid and approach snow gully

Squaretop SW Gully

Good scrambling on Squaretop

Basins galore

Follow my steps

Returning across the fun snowy traverse I made it up to Pyramid Mountain 8243'. A slow amble on trail through larch and meadow paradise and I was back at camp.

Rainier out there

South Pyramid Headwaters

Cloudcomb and Sawtooth Crest

Squaretop and Cloudcomb

Moon over Maude

Stuart to Rainier

Pt. 7452, Graham, Crow Hill

Choral Mountain ridge

Down South Pyramid Cr

Meadows beneath Pyramid

Camp Meadows

Day 3 was a completion of the loop hike by continuing west on Pyramid Mountain trail and then down S. Pyramid Trail to the North Fork. It doesn't get much better than this!

Firey larches

Sunrise

Distant Mad River country

Last look at Pyramid

Love the enamel signs

Oh yeah, one important thing: the larches weren't losing many needles yet so it should be a good weekend up there but that may be it!

[Matt]

Nice. I was wondering how conditions were in that area. It looks like less snow than I expected up higher.

[RichP]

It looks like you hit that area at a perfect time. Cloudcomb really does look more rugged than I thought.

[Hiker Mama]

Looks like a great trip!

[HitTheTrail]

Great TR. Nice country up there. I have always considered the N. fork of the Entiat to be under appreciated.

[wildernessed]

[bpw]

Nice job with the weather! I agree this a great spot, surprisingly empty of people for what it is. The off-trail is nice. I was out there about 10 days earlier, snow on the ground, snow in the air, in and out of the clouds, larches ablaze, and not a soul seen. The registers suggested very little traffic after mid-September.