[Brushbuffalo]

Plenty of TRs have been posted about the Gardners. On my climb on May 31, 2016 of North Gardner, it struck me that there are a dozen or more whitebark pines very close to the summit. The highest one I saw was at 8840'. Sure, these trees are less than a meter high, but they are trees despite their vertically-challenged stature.... some are possibly relatively old at that! I wonder if these might be the highest elevation trees in Washington?

Is this the highest tree in Washington?

8840'

Can any of you climbers of the high peaks confirm any higher trees in Washington? I would guess there might be some candidates on the south slope of Adams. I don't have any pictures from there confirming trees near the Lunch Counter at around 9,000', but I bet someone does or can get them and confirm the elevation. Or... Maude or its sister peaks SFJ , Fernow, and Copper? Maybe Stuart's south slopes? Wolf Creek trail conditions as of May 31 There are quite a few trees across the trail, especially in the middle third. One fellow I spoke with said he counted 67! I chatted with a ranger on the trail and he said that the Wolf Creek trail is a priority for work. I forgot to ask him how high a priority. There are not only the trees to clear but quite a few mildly annoying saplings overhanging the tread. When I went in there in 1992 to climb Gardner, the trail was better. Considering that the meadows were used for summer range, the trail had to be maintained to the standards of a cattle driveway. Also, I think the major fire that burned through there was in 1994 or so. General Gardner Meadows is 99.9% snowfree and the flowers are out. Also the mosquitoes are hungry in the lower miles of the valley. It is amazing to see sagebrush amongst aspens in the meadows! I think it was Iron who drew our attention to that seeming oddity in his TR a while back.

sage among aspen at 5700'

My original plan was to bivy on top, just as I had done on Gardner in 1992, but with a late start, a flare-up of an old running malady (Morton's neuroma...very painful), and fatigue that comes with the years, I didn't do it. However, there is room for one pad and sleeping bag on the very top....or maybe two if you are very close!

my hoped-for sleeping spot with a view!

NWHikers!

getting organized for a mass assembly.

the famous lightning-struck register lid

how I felt too over the last few miles out!

The crowds who had been in over the long weekend had vanished, and I had the area to myself. While in there, I thought of the speed and endurance of folks like r3h, who hiked in with an overnight pack, did both Gardners, hiked back out.....then drove all the way home on the same day! Here is a picture of the Gardners from Sweetgrass Butte, site of a former LO, where I spent the night after the climb and long hike out. It has a good gravel road to the top at 6104'.

Gardner (left) and North Gardner

North Gardner from the road along Goat Creek.

All in all, this was a fun trip and satisfying to complete despite the frustration of a nagging injury that I thought had been cured now that I no longer do long runs. Long walks are getting to be challenge enough for this high mileage body.

[Distel32]

Glad you got out for a nice trip!

[olderthanIusedtobe]

The trail was in fairly good shape about a year ago, I don't remember it being particularly brushy. No blowdown either. Yeah, between the sage, trees (aspen maybe?) and Columbia ground squirrels all over the Wolf Creek Meadow area, I was questioning whether I was in fact still in the Cascades, or even Washington for that matter.

[littlebit]

Nice report and very timely. My wife and I were just considering this trip and wondering how much snow was there. I guessed quite a bit and was wrong. We went there last year over 3 days. Our high mileage bodies will again take 3 days. We live just north of Winthrop and the mosquitos are awful this year. I guess thats the downside to a nice wet winter.

[Anish]

Glad you got it with sunshine!! Sorry to hear about the Morton's flare up. That's a very painful one for sure

[raising3hikers]

thanks for the conditions update on the wolf creek trail, glad it appears to be a priority. i can't think of anywhere around here of trees growing up that high

[Brushbuffalo]