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17.5 miles of hiking • 4750' elevation gain • 1 night

I started at the south Tatoosh trailhead. Long slog upwards, but once you pass the turnoff for Butter Peak, you get a lovely rolling trip through subalpine meadows and ripe huckleberries as you travel north below the ridge approaching Tatoosh Peak. The eastern flanks of the ridge are just mesmerizing, reminds me of the Wallowas. Acres of steep hanging meadows coming off the ridge walls must have been gorgeous during peak bloom time.

After summitting Tatoosh Peak, I scrambled down to the half frozen tarn below. My dreams of a relaxing evening sketch session with sunset were dashed by fierce winds. There were a few hours of calm overnight, but the winds picked up again in the morning and I woke up inside a cloud. I explored this gorgeous glacier scoured basin for a few hours, it felt so wild and untouched! Cute little tarns, mossy seeps, remnant snowfields and blooming rock gardens. Flowers still going strong, saw some far off goats. Really special place-this dramatic basin just north of Tatoosh Peak.

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nuizontann hearts this trip.