Hiking our Favorite Place

The girls decided to have a little hiking and adventure so we headed to our favorite place, Hatcher Pass.  We started up one trail and realized it was going to be too slick (a rare occurrence this summer); so we defaulted to my very favorite trail - Hatch Peak.  The girls were a little apprehensive at first but quickly took to the trail.  The first part is a series of switchbacks that have a steep drop off to the side.  Then the trail levels out around a series of tarns (mountain lake hidden in a cirque formed by a glacier).  After that, it's a steep ascent up the side of the cirque to the ridge line where the views are outstanding.  The spruce beetle destruction is evident on the Willow side of the pass.

Pausing at a shelter near the top.  Independence Mine is in the valley behind them.

Traversing the ridgeline.

Sometimes you feel like you are on top of the world (Chase).  We also had some really cool cloud formation.

About half way, near the lake with the ridgeline they climbed behind them.

On Lion King rock after the Hatch Peak summit.

After the switch backs, with Willow behind them. 

Working our way down the ridgeline.

Watching the clouds quickly form.

Kate's on top of the world.

Traversing the ridgeline.

Stopping to enjoy the view.