Forum Index > Trip Reports > Three Brothers - Navaho Loop 7/28
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wildernessed
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Joined: 31 Oct 2004
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Location: Wenatchee
wildernessed
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PostSun Jul 29, 2007 11:56 am 
Location : Teanaway area Access : Teanaway River Rd. > FR 9703 > Stafford Creek TH Maps : Mt. Stuart GTM, TOPO custom Stats :13 mi, 6850', 12 hr.
Three Brothers and Navaho Loop
Three Brothers and Navaho Loop
Steve and I had both wanted to get into Teanaway and do Three Brothers for quite some time, and with the hot weather, we shelved our plan to do Oval Peak via Buttermilk Meadow trail in the Chelan Sawtooth Wilderness. We were on the trail at 0600 trying to gain elevation before the sun, heat, and bugs were on us. It was much cooler than we expected, probably in the 40's, skies were totally blue. This is a long trip, no matter which way you come in, but I had previously traced out a potential route on TOPO and seen pieces of it on a prior trip. We left the trail at around 4850' a little before I intended, just before the creek that crosses the trail under Little Valhalla, it looked like we could do a easy rising traverse from that spot,
Where we headed NE off the Stafford Creek trail and a long steep ascent to the County Line trail.
Where we headed NE off the Stafford Creek trail and a long steep ascent to the County Line trail.
soon to find out that the small creek was the beneficiary of two larger gullies, the first we crossed higher up and the second we avoided by rising higher than it, in hindsight that may be the best route, depending upon your preference a little rocky or a harder flat, but steep slope.
Some scramble areas along the way.
Some scramble areas along the way.
But trending NW through rock - ridge- bench - repeat we popped out and I said to Steve, "The trail should be right here somewhere", to which he said, "It's in front of your feet".
We popped out on the ridge and the County Line trail was at out feet, with a view of Little Navaho to our South.
We popped out on the ridge and the County Line trail was at out feet, with a view of Little Navaho to our South.
So we avoided Little Valhalla and were on the County Line trail right at the pass between Navaho and Little Navaho, thats quite a few miles saved. The views were opening up.
Earl Peak from the County Line trail.
Earl Peak from the County Line trail.
The skies were blue with good views of surrounding mountains including Rainier and Adams.
The skies were blue with good views of surrounding mountains including Rainier and Adams.
Upper Basin / Saddle between Navaho and Three Brothers looking at Three Brothers.
Upper Basin / Saddle between Navaho and Three Brothers looking at Three Brothers.
From the saddle looking up the West side of Three Brothers.
From the saddle looking up the West side of Three Brothers.
We took a short break and headed down into the saddle / upper basin between Navaho and Three Brothers, a very nice area with meadows and wildflowers.
Upper basin / saddle looking NE at  the Ingalls Creek drainage and South side of Enchantments.
Upper basin / saddle looking NE at the Ingalls Creek drainage and South side of Enchantments.
We were surprised at the variety and number of wildflowers this late. There is a spring that runs in the middle a meadow in the upper basin.
We were surprised at the variety and number of wildflowers this late. There is a spring that runs in the middle a meadow in the upper basin.
This was a very quiet and somewhat less travelled area it appeared as we crossed through it and up the West side of Three Brothers.
Working our way up the flowery West slope to Three Brothers.
Working our way up the flowery West slope to Three Brothers.
A nice piece of trail, sometimes we were on it, sometimes not, it was gone in sections, just find a path of least resistance and head for the high ground.
A nice piece of trail, sometimes we were on it, sometimes not, it was gone in sections, just find a path of least resistance and head for the high ground.
Mt. Stuart and Sherpa Peak
Mt. Stuart and Sherpa Peak
It was sunny now, with a light wind, which made it more comfortable than we had imagined and worked our way to the summit with great views. We followed the summit ridge over to where the trail descends and goes to the Middle summit, then on to the East summit. We could have done all three, and it was almost tempting to just say, lets go out to Blewett Pass and hitchhike back, but that might not pan out, so we decided another day, the views would be nearly the same anyway. We ate lunch, took pics, and were soon heading back down.
Steve going from highpoint to highpoint on the summit area.
Steve going from highpoint to highpoint on the summit area.
Middle and East summits, there is a trail going to each, we didn't do either of them, the views were fine right where we were. Maybe a future trip up the Gold Creek Basin.
Middle and East summits, there is a trail going to each, we didn't do either of them, the views were fine right where we were. Maybe a future trip up the Gold Creek Basin.
Navaho, Ingalls Creek drainage, and part of the Stuart Range from Three Brothers.
Navaho, Ingalls Creek drainage, and part of the Stuart Range from Three Brothers.
Fortune Peak, S. Ingalls, and Ingalls Peaks.
Fortune Peak, S. Ingalls, and Ingalls Peaks.
Stuart Range
Stuart Range
Argonaut Peak.
Argonaut Peak.
Dragontail, Witches Tower, and Little Annapurna
Dragontail, Witches Tower, and Little Annapurna
Prussik Ridge
Prussik Ridge
S. Ingalls and Ingalls Peaks
S. Ingalls and Ingalls Peaks
Dragontail and Witches Tower
Dragontail and Witches Tower
Esmeralda Peaks and Hawkins.
Esmeralda Peaks and Hawkins.
Navaho and Earl from Three Brothers.
Navaho and Earl from Three Brothers.
Little Navaho, Navaho Pass, and Navaho's S. Ridge.
Little Navaho, Navaho Pass, and Navaho's S. Ridge.
I restocked on water from the small run from a spring in the meadow that the overgrown path crosses.
Spring running in the meadow.
Spring running in the meadow.
We then headed up the ridge with Steve saying we could do Navaho, were right here at the ridge maybe 600' below the summit. I thought he might say that, so remembering the views from there and Navaho Pass we decided to loop up the summit, down Navaho Pass, and out Stafford Creek trail through the "Barrens", which we did. The views were great, the trail one long hot foot pounding to the TH.
Regaining Navahos Ridge.
Regaining Navahos Ridge.
Open trail going to the ridge and jct. with the County Line trail.
Open trail going to the ridge and jct. with the County Line trail.
Earl from Navaho's South ridge.
Earl from Navaho's South ridge.
Looking from West Navaho's summit.
Looking from West Navaho's summit.
Stuart, Sherpa, Argonaut, Colchuck, Dragontail, and Little Annapurna from Navaho.
Stuart, Sherpa, Argonaut, Colchuck, Dragontail, and Little Annapurna from Navaho.
Three Brothers from Navaho.
Three Brothers from Navaho.
East Brother from Navaho.
East Brother from Navaho.
Mt. Stuart and Sherpa from Navaho.
Mt. Stuart and Sherpa from Navaho.
Steve moving through the "Barrens".
Steve moving through the "Barrens".

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wildernessed
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Joined: 31 Oct 2004
Posts: 9275 | TRs | Pics
Location: Wenatchee
wildernessed
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PostSun Jul 29, 2007 1:15 pm 
Panorama of Three Brothers and Navaho Ridge from saddle.
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Panorama of Three Brothers and Navaho Ridge from saddle.
N-NW pano from Three Brothers
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N-NW pano from Three Brothers
W on Three Brothers W. summit
W on Three Brothers W. summit

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PostSun Jul 29, 2007 3:48 pm 
Sweet! up.gif I want to go there.

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wildernessed
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Joined: 31 Oct 2004
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PostSun Jul 29, 2007 4:44 pm 
You could go in Miller Creek towards Miller Peak and drop down into the Basin, it would be a great place for an overnighter and further ramblings. Steve loved the basin and meadows, alot of open area to meander through.

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Grizzy
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Joined: 16 Jul 2006
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Grizzy
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PostMon Jul 30, 2007 4:53 pm 
Nice TR W! I especially liked the picture titled "Mt. Stuart and Sherpa from Navaho"

All the birds have flown up and gone; A lonely cloud floats leisurely by. We never tire of looking at each other - Only the mountain and I. ~Li Po~
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wildernessed
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Joined: 31 Oct 2004
Posts: 9275 | TRs | Pics
Location: Wenatchee
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PostMon Jul 30, 2007 5:03 pm 
Thanks it's nice country over there. up.gif Here are some of the rest of the pics.

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