Fourth Of July Creek full of happiness
Woke up early after a wee sleep.
Ate a huge breakfast and headed off over to Leavenworth and down 9.4 miles on Icicle Creek Road to the trailhead of the “Fourth Of July Creek” trail.

I’m not so fond of snakes really. Damn and off we go.

We cross over the creek,

The trail begins with an uphill slope all the way up through a sparsely treed area and then up through a flowery meadow. I loved the meadow and going through it. The colors were so nice.

Some Lupines.

Plants from Montana for Natasha and Joyce. “Bitterroot”

Balsam Root or Mules Ear

Some good views along the way up.

After the one hour going throw the meadow the trail got steeper and it was a tiring walk that went on for another hour. I could have turned back at any time but the mule in me just said keep on hoofing it. The scenery was so good anyway.

Phlox.

The forest up here burned the trees down pretty much. Yesterday’s forest fires are today’s meadows. The cons are you get the sun beating down on you all the way up. The pros are uninterrupted views all around you.

we continue up.

this is where we have come up.

Our destination is off in the distance. Still a very long way to go.

At the snow line the trail gets lost. People are turning back at this point. The two stubborn mules plod ahead. We take a wide climb up to the right and then sweep off to the left across undisturbed snow towards the summit.

I realized as I was going across the snow sinking up past my knees in some areas my face was hurting a little. It was because I was smiling so much. I was at a very happy moment in my life. This trail has opened up so much natural nature to my eyes. I felt so alive. So much so I could have died right here happy.

It took us nearly 50 minutes to cross the snow and arrive at the summit.

We hiked up nearly 5,000 feet to this point here at 7,028 feet. It was around six and a half miles up to here. We have been walking uphill for 3 hours and 35 minutes. Without doubt one of the best hikes for the scenery we have been on to date. Another record for us with the nearly 5,000 foot gain and six plus miles in. More gain than Mailbox Peak last week but over a longer distance. So a 800 foot gain per mile as supposed to 1600 foot gain per mile to Mailbox Peak. However the constant uphill walking for the six plus miles took a lot of effort.

We hike down for a moment to have our lunch. Never a bad view having lunch on a hike.

We depart the summit and down along at a steady clip towards the bottom. Tiring enough on the legs going down too.

Back over the creek

and we are down after 2 hours and 26 minutes of walking. That’s up on 13 miles total.

Into the Jeep and off to Leavenworth to grab a bite for dinner. Then the 120 mile drive home.
Realta is at her prom tonight and won’t be home.
I put on the dessert.

Now I will shower and relax for a bit.