[Nancyann]

Sunday I made an impromptu trip up to the Rock Mountain trail, after getting a message from one of one of my nwhikers friends. I knew it was going to be a good day when the sun came out shortly after I crossed over Stevens Pass. There were only three cars at the trailhead, so I had plenty of solitude to enjoy the abundance of wildflowers and serenade of my favorite songbird, the hermit thrush, as I trudged up the endless switchbacks. It wasn't long before I was treated to expansive views of the Chiwaukum Range, and surrounding peaks.

Views from the trail to Rock Mountain 6/12/16

image

image

Abundant wildflowers on the lower trail

Lupine and paintbrush were in full bloom as well as wild roses and ocean spray. The air was fragrant with Mother Nature's wonderful perfume.

image

image

image

image

image

After a couple of miles, snow quickly began to cover the trail.

image

image

I was really glad I brought my Microspikes, as it was slushy and slippery from the warm sun.

image

image

image

image

image

Rock Lake 6/12/16

image

image

image

image

image

The cornice along the ridge walk up to Rock Mountain was not blocking the trail, but I was running out of energy after almost five miles of straight up switchbacks, and a chilly wind had blown some clouds in, so it was time to turn around and head back. Going back down the snowfields was infinitely more fun than coming up!

Heading back down after reaching our turnaround point

image

image

Aren't there some alpine lakes in those hills yonder we need to explore?

[Randito]

That trail does have *A LOT* of switchbacks!

[Nancyann]

And a LOT of switchbacks exposed to the sun. I would not want to do that trail on a warm day! I forgot to mention that I did not wear bug repellent and ended up bringing a little "friend" home happily sipping my blood.

[Randito]

[the Zachster]

I was just going to ask if you brought back any ticks...we find them there almost every time! Rock is a favorite as long as it's not too hot and as long as there's still some snow for Cedar. And always nice to run into fellow nwhikers!

[HitTheTrail]

[bobbi]

tick? what a great outing really nice of nwhiker KeepClalm to make the trek back up the ridge top. 5 miles of switchbacks? crazy!

[olderthanIusedtobe]

[Nancyann]

bobbi wrote:"really nice of nwhiker KeepCalm to make the trek back up to the ridge top"..actually she was willing to go even further, but I was too wasted. HTT, I had no idea you can get there from the Merritt Lake TH. That must have been the long trail traversing the ridge east of the summit that we saw. It was mostly snow free. My daughter and I tried the Snowy Creek approach one time, but by the time we picked our way through an avalanche area, the clouds had rolled in and we could barely see our hands in front of our faces.

[Nancyann]

OTiUTB, I was pleasantly surprised to hear the hermit thrush's lovely warble in the late morning, because sometimes I have to wait until dusk to hear them. Oh so pretty. I even sent a video of their song to my daughter that I took during my last Chiwaukum trip.

[olderthanIusedtobe]

I heard a couple of hermit thrushes around Forgotten Meadows area on Saturday, that was around midday. I hear them frequently in the spring and early summer, seems like on most trails. Don't hear them as much later in the year.

[HitTheTrail]

[tigermn]

Anybody know the status of the backdoor approach from Smithbrook? Can you even drive to that trailhead anymore? I much prefer that route.

[Nancyann]

We drove by that TH last summer and the road was still ok, but rough. I liked that approach also, but there had been an avalanche across the trail over the winter and it took a while to work our way through it. That was several years ago though, hopefully it's been cleared by now. Thanks to KeepCalm for her nice photos! And thanks to HitTheTrail for his information about the Merritt Lake Trail. Now I want to go via that route!

[BlameTheDogz]