[neek]

Day 1 (8/3/2017) Ever wonder what happens if you just keep going north from northernmost point on the PCT where it loops around the head of the Gold Creek valley? First there is a horrible steep loose pebble and dirt gully to descend. This took some time and I even had my axe out, thinking somehow it might save me if I slipped. Then things mellow out, if steep talus fields with plenty of precarious rocks waiting to smite the unwary count as mellow. After lots of up and down and working around buttresses you find yourself at an isolated lake swarming with insects and too cold to swim in.

Trying to make it over to this lake

Land ho!

Thompson through smoke

Part of the lake

Outlet

Overcoat

Zigzag band

Reflection of Point 6022

Heather

Lake

Small buggy camp site

Attack of helicopter sized mosquitoes. OK actually they're just mayflies

Lemah from camp

Day 2 (8/4/2017) Took the obvious route through the talus field to the NW corner of Chikamin Lake. During a previous visit I looked at the gentle slopes of this side of Chikamin and thought they would make for some nice wandering. Indeed they did. I've been up the main Chikamin peak several times so figured the lower NW summit deserved a visit.

Chikamin Lake

Heading up Chikamin

Lemah with spires of doom

Rainier gasping for breath

NW summit of Chikamin

Huckleberry, Thompson

Overcoat, Chimney, Lemah

1 label

Chikamin main summit

Big Snow with significant contrast enhancement

From the summit I made a beeline to the smaller lake below Chikamin Lake and followed the cairned boot path to Glacier Lake.

Lemah above meltwater

Flowers

Iapia

Flowers

What hard lives we lead

Everyone loves an infinity pool

Los quatro hermanos

Giant frog

Glacier Lake

There was still plenty of time so right before meeting back up with the PCT I headed uphill toward Four Brothers. The southeast peak is pretty much a walk up and the chasm shown on maps is not a problem as you can just go above it. After that, friendly ledges lead to the top. The small register tube was full of water and empty of paper.

Four Brothers SE summit on the right

View to the north. Daniel and friends making an appearance through the smoke

Chasm, go above

Spectacle Lake and Three Queens

On the descent I poked my head over the ridge a couple times, hoping to spot an easy shortcut down to the PCT. Nothing materialized so I went all the way back to the junction with the Glacier Lake trail. I think it's possible though if you find the right spot and don't mind dealing with steep scree.

Chikamin and Four Brothers from PCT

Had a long but uneventful hike back to the parking lot, of course taking the Commonwealth Basin shortcut. Passed lots of city folk with giant backpacks headed out for the weekend, content in knowing that most of them and their giant wads of toilet paper will stick to the trail.

Approximate

[flatsqwerl]

I never get tired of that area.

[Bootpathguy]

[contour5]

Grebeci! Been on my list for years, but I may be too lazy to ever actually get out there... Ehcna Lava is the real prize, though, from what I've heard. Nice TR!

[Bootpathguy]

[neek]

Oh I went there too...

It's a real picture, honest.

[Tom]

Nice TR. From what I understand the lower lake is nothing to write home about. I've heard a few have scrambled down but didn't sound like much fun. If I ever get back to Grebeci I might try the PCT approach. Only done it from the Middle Fork (before they gated paradise). Good memories!

[olderthanIusedtobe]

I ran into a guy a couple years ago that was exiting Mineral Creek after stocking Grebeci. He was with one of those organizations that does fish stocking, but I can't remember for sure which one.

[olderthanIusedtobe]

Nice TR. I haven't covered all of that ground but I've been in some of it, great area.

[puzzlr]

I enjoyed your report a lot. That lake is on my (long) list of places to go, but possibly I'll never make it. It's nice that you camped there and had some time to soak it in. We once camped on that nw high point of Chikamin and loved it. The view is amazing. BTW, that last map is beautiful. What site are you getting that from? It looks like OpenStreetMap features, but the rendering is really nice.

[Distel32]

[geyer]

When I was hanging out at Lundin a month or two back, that iceberg lake outflow looked really intriguing, so thanks for taking one for the team and exploring it!

[neek]

[geyer]

[Backpacker Joe]

That trip over from Chikamin is steep and loose. My trekking poles saved me from falling three times, and I wouldnt have wanted to fall!