[Prosit]

I had hoped to do a traverse off of the Suiattle River Road in September, but when the window appeared for doing it, new fires had started near Boulder Lake and the whole area, and the road were closed down. As an alternative, I decided to visit an area I have been away from for far too long. Thanks to neek, puzzlr, and rubywrangler for posts that helped to inspire this trip. I climbed Mt Thomson from Snoqualmie Pass and slept on its summit the year I moved here in 1988. There’s a great view of a certain waterfall from there, and ever since then, exploring the source of that waterfall has laid in the recesses at the back of my mind. At the time, I didn’t think it would take this long to scratch that itch, but soon after that trip I discovered the North Cascades, and most of my trips started drawing me further north. The first day, I hiked up Mineral Creek, and then up to Pt 6163 near Three Queens.

Three Queens

Three Queens again

The second day I made my way to the pass at the north end of Chikamin Lake and climbed to the NW summit of Chikamin Peak.

Lemah I & II, and Mt Daniel

Garfield Smoky Silhouette

Huckleberry and Thomson, et al

View North

The third day, I climbed Burnt Boot Peak and slept on the summit under the stars. Nice spot.

That's amore!

The 1988 view, but in reverse

More amore

Burnt Boot's Shadow

Lemah I and Three Queens

Crescent Moon Predawn

Big Snow Mtn

View of route up Burnt Boot after morning descent

The fourth day, I made my way back and found a nice spot on a cliff between Chikamin and Glacier Lakes. Sunset was nice but smoky. The morning was cold and windy as clouds blew over the crest.

Chikamin Lake and Three Queens

Four Brothers with Fast Clouds

Four Brothers in Morning Light

Tarn and Lemah Ridge

I hiked out on the fifth day.

Mountain Ash color

I love how one leaf can have green, yellow, orange and red.

nom nom nom...

[chiwakum]

Wow! Great trip! Some great ideas for future trips.

[raising3hikers]

Looks like I missed you by a day on your approach. Great pics and trip, thanks for posting

[rubywrangler]

Beautiful photos, I especially like those first couple of three queens. I was just thinking about climbing Thomson so I could see that waterfall from the other side!

[jboealps]

Great Trip. I did Overcoat Peak in 1976 and felt Burnboot was the most remote summit in the Alpine Lakes. Thanks for the pics!

[Gimpilator]

Your reports are some of my favorites. Thanks!

[puzzlr]

The views from Pt 6163 are incredible. Was it brushy getting up there? Based on your photos, I think Iceberg Lake is prettier without any snow around it and that's what you got. In terms of most remote (besides just peaks), I think the upper Burntboot valley is probably the most remote and hard to get to area in the Middle Fork drainage. Someday I'm going to get there, but it probably won't be pleasant or spectacular. All of your photos are great as you took advantage of the light at all times of day. Thanks for the report.

[ALW Hiker]

Great report and stellar pictures! I really need to get up there - this time of year looks excellent for that area.

[Prosit]

[Backpacker Joe]

[ALW Hiker]

[Backpacker Joe]

You can get down there from Iceberg lake. I started down there but before I got there I turned around because I was happy with the picture I got.

[ALW Hiker]

Good to know, thanks!

[Tom]

I recall asking Brian Curtis years ago saying it went but was steep. Personally I'm not sure it's worth it. Save your 9 lives for something else.