Sheep Lake and Sourdough Gap
Sep. 20th, 2026 08:29 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tiggymalvern
I grabbed another gorgeous hiking day and went back to the high mountains now that the smoke from the fires is completely gone. Unfortunately the decision has been made not to reopen Sunrise this year, so that part of Mount Rainier National Park is not on the options list. I went to the park outskirts instead, and hiked the Pacific Crest Trail from Chinook Pass. Last week was Goat Lake, this week was Sheep Lake...
The hillside just above the car park at Chinook Pass.
A clump of pearly everlasting living up to their name.
The Pacific Crest Trail heading east from the pass.
I don't know what someone had dropped on the trail, but this Canada Jay was most enthusiastic about eating it. It wouldn't move until I was walking right by it. (Nobody tell Trump it exists or he'll want to rename it America Jay.)
Here comes Sheep Lake.
Sheep Lake from many angles, because it's small, but it's gorgeous all the way round.
There was a horse trailer in the car park, so no surprise to find a horse at Sheep Lake.
This solitary fan-leaf cinquefoil was the only flower I saw besides that one cluster of pearly everlasting.
Following the Pacific Crest Trail beyond Sheep Lake through the meadows.
A hillside of huckleberries.
Looking back over Sheep Lake towards the pass from just below Sourdough Gap.
Looking into the next valley from Sourdough Gap, and the Pacific Crest Trail continuing on towards Canada.
It was a pretty busy wildlife day. Lots of mountain birds plus sparrows in migration, and a lot of chipmunks busy fattening up for winter. Only one of them stayed still long enough for me to grab a photo.
Crossing the Sheep Lake outlet creek on the way back down.
A cricket close by Sheep Lake.
6.2 miles/ 10km, 2000 feet/ 610m of gain, and a high point of 6370 feet/ 1940m at the gap.
The hillside just above the car park at Chinook Pass.
A clump of pearly everlasting living up to their name.
The Pacific Crest Trail heading east from the pass.
I don't know what someone had dropped on the trail, but this Canada Jay was most enthusiastic about eating it. It wouldn't move until I was walking right by it. (Nobody tell Trump it exists or he'll want to rename it America Jay.)
Here comes Sheep Lake.
Sheep Lake from many angles, because it's small, but it's gorgeous all the way round.
There was a horse trailer in the car park, so no surprise to find a horse at Sheep Lake.
This solitary fan-leaf cinquefoil was the only flower I saw besides that one cluster of pearly everlasting.
Following the Pacific Crest Trail beyond Sheep Lake through the meadows.
A hillside of huckleberries.
Looking back over Sheep Lake towards the pass from just below Sourdough Gap.
Looking into the next valley from Sourdough Gap, and the Pacific Crest Trail continuing on towards Canada.
It was a pretty busy wildlife day. Lots of mountain birds plus sparrows in migration, and a lot of chipmunks busy fattening up for winter. Only one of them stayed still long enough for me to grab a photo.
Crossing the Sheep Lake outlet creek on the way back down.
A cricket close by Sheep Lake.
6.2 miles/ 10km, 2000 feet/ 610m of gain, and a high point of 6370 feet/ 1940m at the gap.
no subject
Date: 2026-09-20 04:40 pm (UTC)I'm intrigued by 'Sourdough Gap'. Why? Some historical incident? Does it look like a yeast-and-bacteria culture?
AmericaCanada Jay pwetty!no subject
Date: 2026-09-21 01:03 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-09-20 04:58 pm (UTC)I hope the name changes doesn't extend to the Canadian Geese. OMG
no subject
Date: 2026-09-21 01:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-09-20 10:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-09-21 01:05 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-09-21 01:43 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-09-21 01:50 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-09-21 03:38 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-09-21 03:40 am (UTC)