[tigermn]

Where to go somewhat out of the area when I needed to be back by 4:30PM. I decided to head north towards Granite Falls and Mt. Dickerman. Usually an annual September trip which I missed last year. Couldn't have asked for a more perfect day. I was on the road just before 6AM for the 1 hour and 45 minute drive of 80 something miles. Nice sunrise off of highway 9 on the drive up.

Dickerman route.

I would get to the trailhead about 07:45AM and be on the trail at 08:00. There were a few cars in the lot, more than I would have though actually. I expected to see people.

Mt. Dickerman parking lot a little before 8AM. 2

While I saw some people in the parking lot I saw no one on the trail as I hiked up. The first 2.7 miles up to the memorial are mostly wooded rentless switchbacks gaining nearly 2400 feet. There are a couple of sneak peaks a ways up but the best is yet to come.

Early Dickerman trail. 3

Early views of Big 4 from Dickerman trail. 4

Dickerman trail.

Views from Dickerman trail.

Fall colors on Dickerman trail.

Mt Forgotten can also be seen across the valley.

Mt Forgotten. 14

Big 4 starts to peak up shortly before the memorial cross.

Big 4 from Dickerman trail. 4

Zoom of Big 4 from Dickerman trail. 5

Memorial on Dickerman trail. 6

Continuing on I still hadn't seen anyone on the trail yet. I had expected to see some early birds coming down but no. Soon after the memorial you curve around and start to enter the meadows. Views back to the south.

Views from Dickerman trail getting into early meadows. 7

Dickerman meadows. 9

Dickerman meadows. 9

Big 4 and Dickerman meadows. 10

There were some berries present. I didn't stop and sample at this point.

Berries on Dickerman trail.

As you round and head more east you get some views of the summit area still maybe a mile away.

First views of Dickerman summit area. Still about 1000 feet and a mile to go. 12

Dickerman summit area. 13

As you round south of the summit views open up in that direction. In fact they are better than from the actual summit (trees) so I took most of my pictures in that direction here.

Vesper, Sperry, Morningstar peaks from Dickerman trail. 15

Views from Dickerman trail.

Big 4 and company from Dickerman trail.

Mt Pilchuck from Dickerman trail. 16

Pano to south from Dickerman trail below summit. 17

This is always a trail it seems where you thing you are about there but not yet.

Views down below approaching Dickerman summit.

Views nearing Dickerman summit.

Area of big 4 ice caves below Dickerman. 18.

Some nice fall colors just below the summit.

Trailside fall colors on Mt. Dickerman trail. 19

Shortly later I arrived at a completely empty summit area.

Arriving at Dickerman summit. 20

Mt. Baker from Dickerman summit.

Glacier Peak from Dickerman. 21

You could have a name that peak game up here. So many peaks around.

Whitechuck from Dickerman summit. 22

Mt. Forgotten from Dickerman summit. 23

Pugh from Dickerman summit. 24

Zoom of Glacier Peak from Dickerman. 25

A couple of panos.

Pano 1 from Dickerman summit. 26

Pano 2 from Dickerman summit. 27

More peaks.

Whitehorse from Dickerman. 28

Three Fingers from Dickerman. 29

Mt. Pilchuck from Dickerman. 31

1 label

Views from Dickerman summit. 32

Mt Pugh from Dickerman summit. 33

Views from Dickerman summit. 34

Bedal and Sloan from Dickerman summit. 35

Zoom out towards Glacier peak from Dickerman summit. 36

Zoom in towards Glacier peak from Dickerman summit. 37

A cheap attempt at a summit pano video. Someone said the peak I said was in Canada really wasn't... So what do I know.

Some falls and colors across the valley.

Falls below across valley from Dickerman summit. 38

Fall colors below Dickerman summit. 39

Fall colors below Dickerman summit.

A look down the drop off to the north. Watch kids and dogs on the edge.

Looking down from drop off on Dickerman summit.

A few more shots before heading down.

Super zoom of Glacier Peak from Dickerman summit. 40

Fall colors below Twin Peaks from Dickerman. 41

Three Fingers zoom from Dickerman. Lookout can be seen on leftmost of the 3 peaks. 42

Me and Glacier Peak from Dickerman. 43

Glacier Peak from Dickerman. 44

Other people just below Dickerman summit. 45

Top of Rainier from near Dickerman summit.

After about an hour and a half on the summit (about a half hour in total solitude) I started down. It was hard to leave but by 11:15 or so it was starting to get busy as later starters were arriving.

Waterfalls across valley from near Dickerman summit.

Views heading down from Dickerman summit.

Descending Dickerman. 47

Descending Dickerman. 48

A few flowers were even trying to hang on.

Straggling flowers on Dickerman. 49

Color in meadows descending Dickerman. 50

Dickerman trail.

Back on the lower trail people were still starting up.

Mossy big rock descending Dickerman.

Big old fir descending Dickerman. 51

The switchbacks down to me always seem to drag on for the descent. Finally the road can be seen through the trees and ultimately back at to a pretty full parking lot at 01:38PM.

Almost there, can see the road descending Dickerman.

Back to Dickerman parking log. 52

All in all a great day on the trail. I picked the perfect time to avoid the summit crowds. I think I counted 134 people ascending as I came down. Granted they weren't all going to be that at the same time but.... About 8 1/2 miles and 3900 feet of elevation gain give or take. Ran into some spotty traffic on the way home but still made it back by 04:15 including a drive through stop in time for my evening activities.

[The Angry Hiker]

I think that parking lot shares both the Dickerman and Stillaguamish trailheads, which is why you saw more cars than people in the morning.

[half fast]

Nice TR and photos ... I really like this hike and could follow it all the way through your photos How fun you had great views and the bonus of some solitude time on the summit !! Thanks for sharing

[Navy salad]

I did this hike on Sept 14th and loved it. Thanks for identifying the different peaks. I was unsure of several, but based on your post was able to sort through my photos to see what was what. Sounds like you didn't see particularly large amounts of blueberries. I saw (and ate) quite a few on the 14th, but not quite like I had hoped for. Probably from not enough sunshine this year.

[tigermn]

[tigermn]

I just don't think the berry crop was as good as it usually is. I think these were the stragglers. In the past when I have been up there I have seen people filling containers. This time just a few grazers or snackers it appeared. Of course it is late anyway I suspect.