[JimK]

I hiked up the Huckleberry Mountain Trail in 1990 to where it descends. Gary backpacked and camped on the summit in 1992. Neither of us had been back. Reports mentioned the brush and fallen logs. The trail seemed to disappear beyond the big meadow where it begins to descend. There was no sure water in September. Despite these possible problems Gary, John, and I chose to backpack the trail on Labor Day Weekend. We were pleasantly surprised on all counts. The trail has been recently brushed. Some brush down low and some nettles but not bad. Up high the brush is not a concern at all. We found water in a meadow on the route to the summit. We saw exactly zero people the entire weekend. We hiked 17 miles with 7100' of gain. This is not an easy hike. Some navigation is required. Little remains of the old trail from our campsite meadow to the summit. We had a great time. The views from Huckleberry and Boulder Peaks are outstanding. Did I mention the huckleberries. Big, ripe, and very plentiful. There are usually only 3 or 4 trip reports per year at WTA. It is lonesome territory. Reports at NWHikers by Abert and Matt were helpful. OpenHikingMap option on Gaia GPS app provided a map that was very accurate for the old trail. I have posted a three page trip report on my website. One page for each day. At the bottom of each page is a link to the next page. Also, all 104 photos are linked together. Here is a link to the report: Huckleberry Lookout Report & Photos Here are a few teaser photos:

Gary In Big Meadow

3 Tarptents

Whitechcuk Mt.

Traversing Slope

Fall Colors

Boulder & Pear Lakes

Huckleberry From Boulder Peak

Pano North From Lookout Site

[Kim Brown]

Jim, you are outstanding in your field. Haven’t looked at your extended report/photos yet, but will do so later today.

[slood]

It was definitely a fun trip. Here are a few of my photos. (Full set of 83 photos in my flickr album.)

Jim and Gary having lunch.

Huckleberry Mtn is aptly named. The berries were big, ripe, and plentiful.

Grass-of-Parnassus

Tadpole

Gary & Jim Filling Water Bags

Mount Baker Zoom

Complete with old, rusty, metal plate found along the trail.

Smoke Plume East of Dome Peak

Gary on Boulder Peak

Glacier Peak in view.

Boulder Lake, Pear Lake, and My Shadow

Mt Buckindy

Ascending Huckleberry Mtn... Again

Boulder Peak from Huckleberry Mtn

Glacier Peak in the Evening Light

Resting in Camp

Gary & Jim Enjoying the Cloudy View

There used to be a phone line to a fire lookout on the summit of Huckleberry Mtn.

[Nancyann]

Thanks for your very detailed trip report, Jim, it will come in handy if we are able to get up there to enjoy those beautiful fall colors and delicious blueberries!

[chiwakum]

Thanks for the report! I haven't been on that trail since the mid 90s. It was always lonesome and beautiful. My wife and hiked it several years in a row. I remember it being kind of a beast. Thanks for putting it back on my list.

[kitya]

Very beatiful. I snowshoed to Hucklberry Lookout site back in 2016, but I had no idea about Boulder Peak. What is the route to Boulder Peak looks like?

[JimK]

We found it much easier to drop into the basin on the right then climb back up to the saddle. From there Boulder is a walk up.

[Kim Brown]

Nice pic of Buckindy and the insulatior, Jim! Glad to know the trail is in good condition! It had been obliterated here and there so many times over the years. There are always nettles near the trail head. Ow! I can still identify the section of trail I worked on the day I met Putz in Boots. 20 years ago! Looks like a sublime trip you guys had. Thanks for the report. Surely it will inspire !

[FiresideChats]

Great stuff. I tried to give you give you some company on that trail last weekend, hiking up for an overnight with my two kids, but my youngest didn't have it in the tank that day. Thanks for sharing the pics for some vicarious photo ooh-aahing.

[RichP]

Nice report and pics, fellas. It must be quiet up at Boulder, Pear and beyond these days with the Tenas Ck Rd out. I guess it will never be fixed unless some logging occurs up that way?

[JimK]

FiresideChats, there is always another time. Would have been nice to see you folks.

[JimK]

RichP, perhaps Boulder will be open sooner rather than later: Suiattle Valley Road Conditions Earlier the site said construction would begin on 8-27. Now it says: "Repair work in progress Closed road to all traffic including foot traffic until work is completed. Impassable at mile 4 due to washout and slide 3.5 miles before Boulder Lake trailhead."

[RichP]

That's good news, Jim.

[FiresideChats]

[Kim Brown]