[Movenhike]

Day 1 Drove from Leavenworth to the Summer Blossom trailhead above Lake Chelan via Grade Creek rd., a very long and tedious drive.

Lake Chelan from Grade Creek road

Grade Creek Road

Summer Blossom is a tough trail with a multi-day pack despite it's sweet and friendly name. It does become gorgeous from the saddle between the Navarre's.

Best view of Glacier Peak on trip

Rainier

Full Pack

Never seen these before

Horsethief Basin

Summer Blossom climbs and drops steeply in and out of basins such as Horsethief before finally contouring to Deadman's Pass.

Roaming Country

Why's it called Switchback Peak again?

First views of the area I'd be spending the next few days in

Bigelow

East Fork Prince Creek Basin

I grabbed the first campsite I found near a pretty stream and dropped my heavy pack-what a relief! I filtered some water then rambled through the basin visiting the tarn.

Afternoon View

Critter

Tarn

E.F. Prince Creek tarn

Reflection in E.F. Prince Creek tarn

wittle waterfall

Annoying deer appeared out of the woodwork around dusk and wandered through my camp until about midnight. 7 miles for the 1st day Day 2 Packed up and headed out at 9:15am. Took the trail toward Boiling Lake deciding to make this a short mileage day.

Bonanza

View across Chelan

Angel's Staircase Junction

I was pleasantly surprised by the beauty of the basin containing this lake.

Boiling Lake

Good, somewhat horsey camps were spread about. I chose the one slightly above the lake on the flank of Bigelow. After setting up the tent and hanging my camping gear I started up the trail towards Horsehead Pass.

Old gate on trail to Horsehead Pass

Cheops

From the dry, dusty pass I ascended up to the 8082' point on Mt. Bigelow's south shoulder. Excellent views of the 3 Eagle Lakes + Boiling Lake, Bigelow's summit and Cheop's.

Cool Blue Alpine Flowers..only ones I saw on trip

Upper Eagle Lake II

Northern Sawtooths

Boiling Lake

Boiling Lake from near Horshead Pass

Back at the lake I dined, had a couple of drinks and circled the lake before turning in for a thankfully peaceful night.

Cheops

Little flowers

Boiling Lake and Point 8082'

Dinnertime

Gotta love canned IPA!!

Alpenglow on Cheops

Rorsasch

Tent-Bug

6+ miles day 2 Day 3

Boiling Lake/Cheops on the 3rd morning

Jagged Entiat Peaks

I rose and departed in the same time-frame as the previous day, this time backtracking to Angel's Staircase

Upper Eagle Lake

Yellow Stuff

Garden

What's that Jagged one?

Angel's Staircase

Courteney?

Sawtooths

After one hell of a grunt of a climb I finally reached the pass on the shoulder of Switchback Peak. here I dropped pack an headed up towards the summit.

Merchant's Basin

Alpine flowers

Baker

Switchback summit shot

Merchant's

Sunrise Lake

A register!

Martin Peak inviting scramble

It was about 80 degees at 8321' I boulder-hopped back down to the trail and descended to Cooney Lake passing a tarn on the way. Cooney is very beautiful lake and I had the place to myself.

Tarn above Cooney Lake

Cooney Lakeshore

Meadows below Cooney Lake

I picked a choice campsite and a rocky lakeshore knoll and then checked out the entire basin over the course of the evening. I also swam in the lake. The bugs were by far the worst on the trip so far.

picturesque

Cooney Lake/Switchback Peak

Larch lighting

Cooney waterfall in back of the basin

Tooth Reflection

Cooney Reflection

Choice Camp

7 miles day 3 Day 4 I neglected to get any sunrise pictures but trust me it was spectacular each time I opened an eyelid. I stalled on leaving my tent as the mosquito's were lined up on my tent waiting for breakfast.

Morning/Cooney

Cooney Peak (Switchback)

Brilliant morning @ Cooney Lake

The hike out was long and arduous even with a lightened pack.

Cooney Lake

Cooney Pass

Last Look @ Cooney Lake

Merchant's Basin

Switchback Pass

Sawtooth Ridges from Switchback Pass

E.F. Prince Cr.

E. F. Prince Cr. and Deadman's Pass

Last Look

day 4: 10+ miles A bit over 30 miles trip total, not sure on ele' gain I saw 2 dayhikers day one. 2 backpackers, 3 motorbikes and 2 horsepeople w/ horses on day two. No one seen day three. I backpacker I chatted with about conditions encounterd halfway between Navarre saddle and trailhead on day four. Overall tons of solitude. I wish I had bagged Martin Peak. Bugs were worst in the mornings but generally tolerable except at Cooney Lake, Lots of deet used there, I generally avoid using it at all costs. Never dropped below 6400' on the entire trip as far as I can tell.

[RichP]

Beautiful area and pics. The peak marked Courtney is actually Star. Courtney is the little feller next to it.

[Movenhike]

I thought I may have gotten those 2 mixed up thnx

[wildernessed]

Nice area, nice pics. Grade Creek is a decent road, but a long hot drive. I only have to go back out that way one more time to do the Goats, Vie, and Devils Kitchen.