Hannegan Pass on a fabulous day

Trailblazers on the path

Fifteen Senior Trailblazers met at the Senior Center to figure out how to manage our scheduled hike up Hannegan Pass and Peak. Three people decided to take a separate car and go on up to the peak and set out right away, since we are limited to 12 per group, a wilderness designation restriction. (I found out from Al that it is the US Forest Service that has this written into law.) The rest of us would hike to the pass and skip the peak.

Our trail, with plenty of wildflowers

Once we were legal, the rest of us made it to the trailhead after a long drive up the Mt. Baker Highway and a very rutted dirt road. It was 10:00 before we started our hike.

One of several stream crossings

It was sunny and very hot, although nothing compared to last year's excessive heat. There have been years when we've hiked this much later in the season and had to cross snow bridges where now it's just dry trail on these stream crossings.

Bob and Nailla at the pass

We made it to the pass around 12:30 and replenished ourselves and enjoyed the sunshine and scenery. We knew, however, that if we started up towards the peak it wouldn't be long before we'd have even more incredible views. So, after a nice lunch break, we started up the trail to the peak, knowing that although our intrepid three would be the only ones to reach it, we would still be treated to some incredible views.

Me in front of some fabulous mountains

Sylvia took a picture of me (at my behest) in front of the great views. We did have to cross a little snow, in the lower left of the picture, to get up here, but it was really not much at all. I took a picture of Sylvia showing the mountains in the opposite direction.

Sylvia and more incredible mountains

You just couldn't go wrong by looking in any direction up here in the beautiful mountains in this part of the wilderness. I decided to stop a bit earlier than the rest of the group, so I could take some pictures and rest in the shade. It was one of those days where I was cold in the shade and too hot in the sun. Fortunately we had lots of clouds to help us out.

Abundant wildflowers

Not to mention just incredible amounts of wildflowers. Here you see purple penstemon and red Indian paintbrush. We also saw lots of glacier lilies where the snow has recently receded. They don't last long once the sun comes out.

Heading back down the valley

And then it was time to make our return journey back down the valley. It was after 5:00pm before we got to our cars, and the rest of the return trip is the reason that it's now after 8:00pm and I'm just now finishing this post. It was a memorable day, and I believe that all of us are probably doing much the same thing I did: a shower (ahh!), a libation (ahh!) and dinner. We went over nine miles and up and down 2,700 feet of elevation. I'll sleep well tonight.
:-)