{"id":10208,"date":"2025-09-27T22:59:47","date_gmt":"2025-09-27T14:59:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/?p=10208"},"modified":"2026-01-25T05:59:31","modified_gmt":"2026-01-24T21:59:31","slug":"20250927seattle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927seattle\/","title":{"rendered":"Weekend Trip to Seattle"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Late September 2025, I made a weekend trip to Seattle to visit some friends and nature. This post would be about the two day hikes that I embarked on, together with the flights back and forth.<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7554.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7554.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains and Glaciers across Skagit River\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains and Glaciers across Skagit River<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/splide.min.2.4.21.js\"><\/script>\n<link rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/splide-skyblue.min.css\">\n<script>\ndocument.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', function () {\n\tvar secondarySlider1 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-1', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:75,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints 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{\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:75,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:56,height:42,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider16 = new Splide( '#splide-major-16', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider16.sync( secondarySlider16 ).mount();\n\tvar secondarySlider17 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-17', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:133,gap:9,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:42,height:56,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider17 = new Splide( '#splide-major-17', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider17.sync( secondarySlider17 ).mount();\n\tvar secondarySlider18 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-18', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:133,gap:9,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:42,height:56,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider18 = new Splide( '#splide-major-18', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider18.sync( secondarySlider18 ).mount();\n\tvar secondarySlider19 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-19', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:67,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:57,height:38,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider19 = new Splide( '#splide-major-19', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider19.sync( secondarySlider19 ).mount();\n\tvar secondarySlider20 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-20', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:75,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:56,height:42,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider20 = new Splide( '#splide-major-20', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider20.sync( secondarySlider20 ).mount();\n} );\n<\/script><\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Ticketing\">Ticketing<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Sometime in May 2025, American Airlines launched an award sale offering select domestic itineraries at a mere 5k miles one-way. I seized the opportunity to rebook my flights for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/2025\/08\/31\/20250831aa\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">California trip<\/a> earlier this month, a journey planned well in advance after winning the Half Dome lottery. But with such an attractive promotion at hand, I found myself exploring other destinations for September travel. That&#8217;s when Seattle caught my eye: a chance to reconnect with old friends and explore the Pacific Northwest&#8217;s outdoors during its most vibrant foliage season.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"American_Airlines_Flight_1505_and_751_from_Boston_to_Seattle_via_Charlotte\">American Airlines Flight 1505 and 751 from Boston to Seattle via Charlotte<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Unfortunately, my journey began on an inauspicious note when I discovered I had left my earphones behind on the subway to the airport. This condemned me to endure the tedium of all 4 flight segments for this trip. <\/p>\n<p>American Airlines 1505<br \/>\nBoston, MA (BOS) &#8211; Charlotte, NA (CLT)<br \/>\nAirbus 321 (N922US)<br \/>\nSeat 16F<br \/>\nScheduled Departure &#8211; 2:05pm<br \/>\nActual Departure    &#8211; 2:13pm<br \/>\nScheduled Arrival   &#8211; 4:40pm<br \/>\nActual Arrival      &#8211; 4:07pm<br \/>\n1 hour and 54 minutes<br \/>\nHere&#8217;s GPS tracking:<\/p>\n<div style=\"width:100%;aspect-ratio:3\/2;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" frameBorder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wikiloc.com\/wikiloc\/spatialArtifacts.do?event=view&#038;id=248167364&#038;measures=off&#038;title=off&#038;near=off&#038;images=off&#038;maptype=H\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>The first leg to Charlotte went without a hitch (apart from the boredom). Technically, I only had a 38-minute connection in Charlotte, but our early arrival afforded me sufficient time to grab some dinner at the airport. (Somehow, all 4 flights of this trip were very elite-heavy, and I wasn&#8217;t upgraded for any of them).<\/p>\n<p>American Airlines 751<br \/>\nCharlotte, NA (CLT) &#8211; Seattle, WA (SEA)<br \/>\nAirbus 321 (N173US)<br \/>\nSeat 9A<br \/>\nScheduled Departure &#8211; 5:18pm<br \/>\nActual Departure    &#8211; 5:33pm<br \/>\nScheduled Arrival   &#8211; 7:59pm<br \/>\nActual Arrival      &#8211; 7:32pm<br \/>\n4 hours and 59 minutes<br \/>\nHere&#8217;s GPS tracking:<\/p>\n<div style=\"width:100%;aspect-ratio:3\/2;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" frameBorder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wikiloc.com\/wikiloc\/spatialArtifacts.do?event=view&#038;id=248167433&#038;measures=off&#038;title=off&#038;near=off&#038;images=off&#038;maptype=H\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>For the next leg to Seattle, despite I wasn&#8217;t upgraded, I found an empty middle seat next to me to partially make up for it. <\/p>\n<p>Along the way, I caught a few glimpses of the imposing mountains in Grand Teton National Park.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-1\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250926_210024C.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250926_210024C.jpg\" alt=\"Grand Teton Peak over Jenny Lake\" \/><\/a><\/br>Grand Teton Peak over Jenny Lake<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250926_210103C.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250926_210103C.jpg\" alt=\"Teton Range\" \/><\/a><\/br>Teton Range<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250926_210111C.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250926_210111C.jpg\" alt=\"Mt Moran\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mt Moran<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-1\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250926_210024C.jpg\" alt=\"Grand Teton Peak over Jenny Lake\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250926_210103C.jpg\" alt=\"Teton Range\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250926_210111C.jpg\" alt=\"Mt Moran\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-1, #splide-thumb-1 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the mountains in Grand Teton National Park.<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250926_210024C.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250926_210024C.jpg\" alt=\"Grand Teton Peak over Jenny Lake\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Grand Teton Peak over Jenny Lake<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250926_210103C.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250926_210103C.jpg\" alt=\"Teton Range\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Teton Range<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250926_210111C.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250926_210111C.jpg\" alt=\"Mt Moran\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mt Moran<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Additionally, the sight of Mt Rainier never disappointed me every time I flew into Seattle, especially paired with the golden streak of sunset glow over the horizon.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-2\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250926_195534.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250926_195534.jpg\" alt=\"Columbia River\" \/><\/a><\/br>Columbia River<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250926_201034.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250926_201034.jpg\" alt=\"Mt Rainier\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mt Rainier<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250926_201217.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250926_201217.jpg\" alt=\"Mt Rainier\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mt Rainier<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250926_201425.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250926_201425.jpg\" alt=\"Mt Rainier\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mt Rainier<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250926_201957.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250926_201957.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Seattle Airport and Industrial Complexes\" \/><\/a><\/br>Overlooking Seattle Airport and Industrial Complexes<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250926_202140.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250926_202140.jpg\" alt=\"Seattle between Lake Washington and Puget Sound\" \/><\/a><\/br>Seattle between Lake Washington and Puget Sound<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-2\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250926_195534.jpg\" alt=\"Columbia River\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250926_201034.jpg\" alt=\"Mt Rainier\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250926_201217.jpg\" alt=\"Mt Rainier\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250926_201425.jpg\" alt=\"Mt Rainier\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250926_201957.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Seattle Airport and Industrial Complexes\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250926_202140.jpg\" alt=\"Seattle between Lake Washington and Puget Sound\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-2, #splide-thumb-2 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250926_195534.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250926_195534.jpg\" alt=\"Columbia River\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Columbia River<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250926_201034.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250926_201034.jpg\" alt=\"Mt Rainier\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mt Rainier<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250926_201217.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250926_201217.jpg\" alt=\"Mt Rainier\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mt Rainier<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250926_201425.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250926_201425.jpg\" alt=\"Mt Rainier\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mt Rainier<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250926_201957.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250926_201957.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Seattle Airport and Industrial Complexes\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Overlooking Seattle Airport and Industrial Complexes<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250926_202140.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250926_202140.jpg\" alt=\"Seattle between Lake Washington and Puget Sound\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Seattle between Lake Washington and Puget Sound<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250926_201058.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-m\/20250926_201058.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Overlooking Wildcat Fire\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250926_201104.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-m\/20250926_201104.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Overlooking Wildcat Fire\" \/><\/a><\/br>Overlooking Wildcat Fire<\/br><\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">Unbeknownst, my hike of Maple Pass would be significantly hampered by the wildfires burning in the Cascades.<\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div>\n<p>Upon landing, I learned this flight from Charlotte to Seattle had cabin crew based in Dallas, and flight crew based in Charlotte and Chicago, a peculiar mixture.<\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, I was soon to experience the woefully inadequate performance of American Airlines&#8217; ground crew at Seattle.<br \/>\nTo begin with, our gate remained occupied by a heavily delayed Phoenix flight (AA6452), which meant we didn&#8217;t park until 8:03pm, more than 30 minutes after touchdown. (American Airlines, being a minority carrier at Seattle, had no alternative gates available.) Next, it took another 30 minutes for the first checked bag to appear at the carousel, and 37 minutes until mine arrived. (I confess I had been spoiled by their remarkably efficient crew in Boston.)<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Sept_27_Hike_of_Trappers_Peak\">Sept 27: Hike of Trappers Peak<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>For Saturday, September 27, I decided to check out Trappers Peak, a peak in North Cascades National Park with one of the best view-to-effort ratios in the region. On paper, the route was a 15.9km out-and-back with 1050m of elevation gain (10mi, 3440ft), a typical day hike by my standards.<\/p>\n<p>The final 5 miles of the road before Thornton Lakes Trailhead was unpaved, with occasional deep ruts that demanded reasonable clearance (a Toyota RAV4, for instance). If I own a sedan (like, Toyota Camry), I wouldn&#8217;t drive it there. Parking was limited at the trailhead, and many cars opted to parallel park along the access road as overflow (mine included). There was an outhouse at the trailhead.<\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s GPS tracking:<\/p>\n<div class=\"mobile-hide\" style=\"width:100%;aspect-ratio:6\/5;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" frameBorder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wikiloc.com\/wikiloc\/spatialArtifacts.do?event=view&#038;id=248169729&#038;measures=on&#038;title=off&#038;near=off&#038;images=off&#038;maptype=H\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<div class=\"desktop-hide\" style=\"width:100%;aspect-ratio:3\/5;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" frameBorder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wikiloc.com\/wikiloc\/spatialArtifacts.do?event=view&#038;id=248169729&#038;measures=on&#038;title=off&#038;near=off&#038;images=off&#038;maptype=H\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>I started my hike just after 11am. The first 3.3km (2 miles) of trail traced a V-shaped course around Thornton Creek. Apart from a few rocky interruptions, this part of the trail was wide and even, to the point that one could almost ride a mountain bike through it.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-3\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_111304.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_111304.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_112559.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_112559.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7628.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7628.jpg\" width=\"89.05%\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7627.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7627.jpg\" width=\"89.05%\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7624.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7624.jpg\" width=\"94.1%\" alt=\"Footbridge over Thornton Creek\" \/><\/a><\/br><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_112948.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_112948.jpg\" width=\"94.1%\" alt=\"Thornton Creek\" \/><\/a><\/br>Footbridge over Thornton Creek<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_113448.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_113448.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_114535.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_114535.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_114740.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_114740.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-3\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250927_111304.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250927_112559.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7628.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7627.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7624.jpg\" alt=\"Footbridge over Thornton Creek\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250927_113448.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250927_114535.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250927_114740.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-3, #splide-thumb-3 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_111304.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_111304.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_112559.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_112559.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7628.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7628.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7627.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7627.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7624.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7624.jpg\" alt=\"Footbridge over Thornton Creek\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_112948.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_112948.jpg\" alt=\"Thornton Creek\" \/><\/a><\/br>Footbridge over Thornton Creek<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_113448.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_113448.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_114535.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_114535.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_114740.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_114740.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Beyond that point, the trail embarked on a steady climb, weaving through soaring trees in a typical Pacific Northwest rainforest fashion. It was narrower, frequently interrupted by tree roots and rocks, but overall not technical.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-4\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_115429.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_115429.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_165334.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_165334.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_165054.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_165054.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_164803.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_164803.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_121925.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_121925.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_163613.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_163613.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_122300.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_122300.jpg\" width=\"96.25%\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The only short muddy section.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_162440.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_162440.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_123446.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_123446.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_161522.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_161522.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_130052.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_130052.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-4\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250927_115429.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250927_165334.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250927_165054.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250927_164803.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250927_121925.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250927_163613.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250927_122300.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250927_162440.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250927_123446.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250927_161522.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250927_130052.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-4, #splide-thumb-4 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_115429.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_115429.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_165334.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_165334.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_165054.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_165054.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_164803.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_164803.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_121925.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_121925.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_163613.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_163613.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_122300.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_122300.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The only short muddy section.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_162440.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_162440.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_123446.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_123446.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_161522.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_161522.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_130052.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_130052.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Later, the trail reached an intersection where the paths to Thornton Lakes and Trappers Peak diverged. It roughly marked the point where trees along the trail began to thin, yielding glimpses of the surrounding vistas.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-5\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_131406.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_131406.jpg\" width=\"80.3%\" alt=\"Trail Intersection\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail Intersection<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The path to Trappers Peak to the right, the path to Thornton Lakes to the left.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_132335.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_132335.jpg\" width=\"87%\" alt=\"Mountains to the Southeast\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the Southeast<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_153350.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-m\/20250927_153350.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_153546.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-m\/20250927_153546.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_151252.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_151252.jpg\" width=\"80.3%\" alt=\"Mountains across Skagit River\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains across Skagit River<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Trail to Trappers Peak followed the small hill in the foreground.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_133238.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_133238.jpg\" width=\"87%\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-5\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250927_131406.jpg\" alt=\"Trail Intersection\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250927_132335.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Southeast\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250927_153350.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250927_151252.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains across Skagit River\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250927_133238.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-5, #splide-thumb-5 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_131406.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_131406.jpg\" alt=\"Trail Intersection\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail Intersection<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The path to Trappers Peak to the right, the path to Thornton Lakes to the left.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_132335.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_132335.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Southeast\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the Southeast<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_153350.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-m\/20250927_153350.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_153546.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-m\/20250927_153546.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_151252.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_151252.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains across Skagit River\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains across Skagit River<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Trail to Trappers Peak followed the small hill in the foreground.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_133238.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_133238.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Between the trail junction and Trappers Peak lay the most technical section of the route (slideshow below), requiring scrambling efforts to scale a steep rocky slope, which I would rate as YDS Class 3. <\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-7\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_132353.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_132353.jpg\" alt=\"Steep Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Steep Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_132515.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_132515.jpg\" alt=\"Steep Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Steep Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_132656.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_132656.jpg\" alt=\"Steep Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Steep Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_152912.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_152912.jpg\" alt=\"Steep Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Steep Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_132830.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_132830.jpg\" alt=\"Steep Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Steep Trail<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-7\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250927_132353.jpg\" alt=\"Steep Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250927_132515.jpg\" alt=\"Steep Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250927_132656.jpg\" alt=\"Steep Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250927_152912.jpg\" alt=\"Steep Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250927_132830.jpg\" alt=\"Steep Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-7, #splide-thumb-7 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of a section of steep trail en route to Trappers Peak.<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_132353.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_132353.jpg\" alt=\"Steep Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Steep Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_132515.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_132515.jpg\" alt=\"Steep Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Steep Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_132656.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_132656.jpg\" alt=\"Steep Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Steep Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_152912.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_152912.jpg\" alt=\"Steep Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Steep Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_132830.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_132830.jpg\" alt=\"Steep Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Steep Trail<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Shortly before the summit, I was already rewarded with views of various mountains and glaciers around.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-8\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_150846.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_150846.jpg\" width=\"89.05%\" alt=\"Mountains to the East\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the East<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7538.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7538.jpg\" alt=\"Terror Glacier\" \/><\/a><\/br>Terror Glacier<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7542.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7542.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Southeast\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the Southeast<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-8\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250927_150846.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the East\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7538.jpg\" alt=\"Terror Glacier\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7542.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Southeast\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-8, #splide-thumb-8 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_150846.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_150846.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the East\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the East<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7538.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7538.jpg\" alt=\"Terror Glacier\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Terror Glacier<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7542.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7542.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Southeast\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the Southeast<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>The sight of Trappers Peak had been in front of me for much of the entire route since leaving the trail junction. At its doorstep, a final steep section awaited (p5 below), where the trail dissolved among scattered rocks and alpine shrubs. Here, it seemed, one could simply choose one&#8217;s own path to the summit that lay just ahead.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-6\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_133426.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_133426.jpg\" width=\"87%\" alt=\"Trappers Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trappers Peak<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7537.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7537.jpg\" width=\"98%\" alt=\"Trappers Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trappers Peak<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_150314.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_150314.jpg\" width=\"87%\" alt=\"Trail to Trappers Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail to Trappers Peak<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_145858.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_145858.jpg\" width=\"87%\" alt=\"Trappers Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trappers Peak<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_145720.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-m\/20250927_145720.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Steep Trail\" \/><\/a>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_145812.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-m\/20250927_145812.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Steep Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Steep Trail<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-6\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250927_133426.jpg\" alt=\"Trappers Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7537.jpg\" alt=\"Trappers Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250927_150314.jpg\" alt=\"Trail to Trappers Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250927_145858.jpg\" alt=\"Trappers Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250927_145720.jpg\" alt=\"Steep Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-6, #splide-thumb-6 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_133426.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_133426.jpg\" alt=\"Trappers Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trappers Peak<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7537.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7537.jpg\" alt=\"Trappers Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trappers Peak<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_150314.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_150314.jpg\" alt=\"Trail to Trappers Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail to Trappers Peak<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_145858.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_145858.jpg\" alt=\"Trappers Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trappers Peak<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_145720.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-m\/20250927_145720.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Steep Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_145812.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-m\/20250927_145812.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Steep Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Steep Trail<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<h4><span id=\"Trappers_Peak_Summit\">Trappers Peak Summit<\/span><\/h4>\n<p>Finally, I reached the summit of Trappers Peak precisely at 2pm. To my delight, there was cellular coverage on Trappers Peak.<\/p>\n<p>From the summit, the most arresting views lay to the north, where a ridgeline unfurled toward a succession of distant peaks. I found it particularly appealing that the peaks featured various shades of grey, almost covering the entire spectrum from white to black, rendered all the more somber underneath an overcast sky. In the foreground and at lower elevations, scattered patches of grass and shrub offered welcome traces of life, their colors grown vibrant with the approach of autumn.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-9\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_144347.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_144347.jpg\" width=\"89.05%\" alt=\"Mountains to the North\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the North<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_143505.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_143505.jpg\" width=\"89.05%\" alt=\"Thornton Lakes\" \/><\/a><\/br>Thornton Lakes<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7605.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7605.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the North\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the North<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7584.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7584.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains Surrounding Thornton Lakes\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains Surrounding Thornton Lakes<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7607.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7607.jpg\" alt=\"Pioneer Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Pioneer Peak<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7551.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7551.jpg\" alt=\"Mt Despair\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mt Despair<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7582.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7582.jpg\" alt=\"Mt Triumph\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mt Triumph<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7603.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7603.jpg\" alt=\"Upper Thornton Lakes\" \/><\/a><\/br>Upper Thornton Lakes<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7609.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7609.jpg\" alt=\"Middle Thornton Lakes\" \/><\/a><\/br>Middle Thornton Lakes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-9\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250927_144347.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the North\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250927_143505.jpg\" alt=\"Thornton Lakes\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7605.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the North\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7584.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains Surrounding Thornton Lakes\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7607.jpg\" alt=\"Pioneer Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7551.jpg\" alt=\"Mt Despair\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7582.jpg\" alt=\"Mt Triumph\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7603.jpg\" alt=\"Upper Thornton Lakes\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7609.jpg\" alt=\"Middle Thornton Lakes\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-9, #splide-thumb-9 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_144347.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_144347.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the North\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the North<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_143505.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_143505.jpg\" alt=\"Thornton Lakes\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Thornton Lakes<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7605.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7605.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the North\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the North<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7584.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7584.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains Surrounding Thornton Lakes\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains Surrounding Thornton Lakes<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7607.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7607.jpg\" alt=\"Pioneer Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Pioneer Peak<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7551.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7551.jpg\" alt=\"Mt Despair\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mt Despair<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7582.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7582.jpg\" alt=\"Mt Triumph\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mt Triumph<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7603.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7603.jpg\" alt=\"Upper Thornton Lakes\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Upper Thornton Lakes<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7609.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7609.jpg\" alt=\"Middle Thornton Lakes\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Middle Thornton Lakes<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Looking back across the Skagit River, an array of glaciers lay nestled deep within the mountains, and Trappers Peak proved an excellent vantage point from which to observe them.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-10\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_145221.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_145221.jpg\" width=\"89.05%\" alt=\"Mountains across Skagit River\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains across Skagit River<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7559.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7559.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains across Skagit River\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains across Skagit River<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7613.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7613.jpg\" alt=\"Neve Glacier\" \/><\/a><\/br>Neve Glacier<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7614.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7614.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Glaciers to the Southeast\" \/><\/a><\/br>Distant Glaciers to the Southeast<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7561.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7561.jpg\" width=\"92.5%\" alt=\"Distant Mountains to the Southwest\" \/><\/a><\/br>Distant Mountains to the Southwest<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Distant glaciers on Three Fingers and Whitehorse Mountain.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-10\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250927_145221.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains across Skagit River\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7559.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains across Skagit River\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7613.jpg\" alt=\"Neve Glacier\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7614.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Glaciers to the Southeast\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7561.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Mountains to the Southwest\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-10, #splide-thumb-10 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_145221.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_145221.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains across Skagit River\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains across Skagit River<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7559.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7559.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains across Skagit River\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains across Skagit River<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7613.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7613.jpg\" alt=\"Neve Glacier\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Neve Glacier<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7614.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7614.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Glaciers to the Southeast\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Distant Glaciers to the Southeast<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7561.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7561.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Mountains to the Southwest\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Distant Mountains to the Southwest<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Distant glaciers on Three Fingers and Whitehorse Mountain.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Towards the north\/northeast, the southern part of Picket Range was obscured by clouds, concealing their jagged summits and only revealing a portion of Terror Glacier below.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-11\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7583.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7583.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the North\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the North<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7557.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7557.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains and Glaciers to the North\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains and Glaciers to the North<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7553.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7553.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Northeast\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the Northeast<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7552.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7552.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the North\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the North<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7612.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7612.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the East\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the East<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-11\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7583.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the North\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7557.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains and Glaciers to the North\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7553.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Northeast\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7552.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the North\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7612.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the East\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-11, #splide-thumb-11 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7583.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7583.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the North\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the North<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7557.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7557.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains and Glaciers to the North\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains and Glaciers to the North<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7553.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7553.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Northeast\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the Northeast<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7552.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7552.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the North\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the North<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7612.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7612.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the East\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the East<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7563_DSC_7578-16.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7563_DSC_7578-16.jpg\" alt=\"View from Trappers Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7585_DSC_7601-17.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7585_DSC_7601-17.jpg\" alt=\"View from Trappers Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>View from Trappers Peak<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Here&#8217;s a video I took on Trappers Peak:<br \/>\n<video controls width=\"100%\" poster=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/Trappers_Peak_Thumb.jpg\" preload=\"none\"><source src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/Trappers_Peak_1_2160p60_H265_20Mbps.mp4\"><\/video><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: x-small;\">16 seconds, 2160p60fps, H265 only, 20Mbps\/24MB file size.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>On most sides, the summit of Trappers Peak offered little in the way of dramatic prominence, which naturally invited visitors to wander about in search of unobstructed vistas from different angles. Consequently, I lingered atop Trappers Peak for nearly an hour before beginning my descent just before 3pm.<\/p>\n<p>To the west of Trappers Peak was a series of Alpine Lakes (Thornton Lakes). Instead of the summit, I found a few spots along the trail that offered better views of these crystalline waters.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-12\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_145537.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_145537.jpg\" width=\"93.1%\" alt=\"Mountains across Skagit River\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains across Skagit River<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Lower Thornton Lakes in the lower-right.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_150131.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_150131.jpg\" alt=\"Thornton Lakes\" \/><\/a><\/br>Thornton Lakes<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_150134.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_150134.jpg\" alt=\"Lower Thornton Lakes\" \/><\/a><\/br>Lower Thornton Lakes<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_153713.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_153713.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains beyond Thornton Lakes\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains beyond Thornton Lakes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-12\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250927_145537.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains across Skagit River\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250927_150131.jpg\" alt=\"Thornton Lakes\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250927_150134.jpg\" alt=\"Lower Thornton Lakes\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250927_153713.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains beyond Thornton Lakes\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-12, #splide-thumb-12 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of Thornton Lakes.<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_145537.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_145537.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains across Skagit River\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains across Skagit River<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Lower Thornton Lakes in the lower-right.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_150131.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_150131.jpg\" alt=\"Thornton Lakes\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Thornton Lakes<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_150134.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_150134.jpg\" alt=\"Lower Thornton Lakes\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Lower Thornton Lakes<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250927_153713.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250927_153713.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains beyond Thornton Lakes\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains beyond Thornton Lakes<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>The rest of my descent wasn&#8217;t very eventful, save for one moment when I lost the trail and had to bushwhack my way back to it. With a largely leisurely pace, I got back to my car at 5:45pm.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Sept_28_Hike_of_Maple_Pass_Loop\">Sept 28: Hike of Maple Pass Loop<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The next day, Sunday September 28, some of my friends from the Seattle area would join me on a hike. To accommodate everyone&#8217;s fitness levels, we settled on Maple Pass Trail, one of Washington State&#8217;s most popular trails. In terms of both distance and elevation gain, it measured roughly 2\/3 of the Trappers Peak trail I had hiked the previous day.<\/p>\n<p>I was aware that Lower Sugarloaf fire was burning near Leavenworth during the weekend of my visit. When I checked the air quality forecast Friday night, it showed the Maple Pass area largely unaffected. My hike up Trappers Peak the day before, unmarred by poor air quality, only reinforced my confidence that Maple Pass would be similarly clear.<br \/>\nUnfortunately, reality proved drastically different. While the air felt perfectly clear around Diablo Lake \/ Ross Lake, it was very hazy 25 miles later at Rainy Pass, the trailhead for our hike, by which time, it was too late for us to bail out. <span style=\"font-size: small;\">Ironically, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/2025\/09\/03\/20250903half-dome\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">my trip to Half Dome earlier this month<\/a> was also amid dense wildfire haze, it just seemed I never had good luck with air pollution this month.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s GPS tracking:<\/p>\n<div class=\"mobile-hide\" style=\"width:100%;aspect-ratio:6\/5;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" frameBorder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wikiloc.com\/wikiloc\/spatialArtifacts.do?event=view&#038;id=248170821&#038;measures=on&#038;title=off&#038;near=off&#038;images=off&#038;maptype=H\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<div class=\"desktop-hide\" style=\"width:100%;aspect-ratio:3\/5;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" frameBorder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wikiloc.com\/wikiloc\/spatialArtifacts.do?event=view&#038;id=248170821&#038;measures=on&#038;title=off&#038;near=off&#038;images=off&#038;maptype=H\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">Parly to accommodate other members of our party, partly because I didn&#8217;t want to overexert myself amid the air pollution, I paused more often that I typically would, especially between the trailhead and Maple Pass.<\/div>\n<p>This was a loop trail and we hiked it in the counter-clockwise direction. In my opinion, however, neither direction held any particular advantage.<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250928_115730.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-m\/20250928_115730.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250928_115827.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-m\/20250928_115827.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/br><\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">Like many trails in the region, this hike started out as a typical walk in the woods. But that didn&#8217;t last too long. After diverging from the trail to Lake Ann, the trees soon grew sparse.<\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250928_121709.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-m\/20250928_121709.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Fields Dressed in Autumn Colors\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250928_122558.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-m\/20250928_122558.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Trail through Vibrant Fields\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail through Vibrant Fields<\/p><\/div>\n<p>True to its &#8220;maple&#8221; name, once we emerged above the tree line, vibrant autumn hues adorned the shrubs along the entire trail, including large patches of red that was completely absent from my hike to Trappers Peak the day prior. Unfortunately, the hazy air seemed to cast a veil of dust over my photographs. I could only imagine how vivid the colors would have appeared beneath a bright blue sky.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-13\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250928_131819.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250928_131819.jpg\" alt=\"Fields Dressed in Autumn Colors\" \/><\/a><\/br>Fields Dressed in Autumn Colors<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250928_132228.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250928_132228.jpg\" alt=\"Fields Dressed in Autumn Colors\" \/><\/a><\/br>Fields Dressed in Autumn Colors<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250928_133346.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250928_133346.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250928_133814.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250928_133814.jpg\" alt=\"Trail through Vibrant Fields\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail through Vibrant Fields<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250928_133938.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250928_133938.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250928_134246.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250928_134246.jpg\" alt=\"Trail through Vibrant Fields\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail through Vibrant Fields<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250928_134420.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250928_134420.jpg\" alt=\"Trail through Vibrant Fields\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail through Vibrant Fields<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-13\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250928_131819.jpg\" alt=\"Fields Dressed in Autumn Colors\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250928_132228.jpg\" alt=\"Fields Dressed in Autumn Colors\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250928_133346.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250928_133814.jpg\" alt=\"Trail through Vibrant Fields\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250928_133938.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250928_134246.jpg\" alt=\"Trail through Vibrant Fields\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250928_134420.jpg\" alt=\"Trail through Vibrant Fields\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-13, #splide-thumb-13 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250928_131819.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250928_131819.jpg\" alt=\"Fields Dressed in Autumn Colors\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Fields Dressed in Autumn Colors<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250928_132228.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250928_132228.jpg\" alt=\"Fields Dressed in Autumn Colors\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Fields Dressed in Autumn Colors<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250928_133346.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250928_133346.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250928_133814.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250928_133814.jpg\" alt=\"Trail through Vibrant Fields\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail through Vibrant Fields<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250928_133938.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250928_133938.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250928_134246.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250928_134246.jpg\" alt=\"Trail through Vibrant Fields\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail through Vibrant Fields<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250928_134420.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250928_134420.jpg\" alt=\"Trail through Vibrant Fields\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail through Vibrant Fields<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>The entire Maple Pass Trail traced a giant circle around Lake Ann, revealing its views from ever-shifting vantage points. At various spots along the path, the surrounding peaks came into view (at Heather Pass p2-3 and Maple Pass p6-7 below), yet even my best efforts in Photoshop could not resurrect the mountains&#8217; true grandeur from beneath that veil of haze.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-14\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250928_125312.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250928_125312.jpg\" width=\"89.05%\" alt=\"Lake Ann\" \/><\/a><\/br>Lake Ann<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250928_132438.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250928_132438.jpg\" width=\"89.05%\" alt=\"Mountains beyond Heather Pass\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains beyond Heather Pass<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7636.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7636.jpg\" alt=\"Black Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Black Peak<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250928_134104.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250928_134104.jpg\" width=\"89.05%\" alt=\"Overlooking Lake Ann\" \/><\/a><\/br>Overlooking Lake Ann<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250928_134804.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250928_134804.jpg\" width=\"89.05%\" alt=\"Overlooking Lake Ann\" \/><\/a><\/br>Overlooking Lake Ann<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7641.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7641.jpg\" alt=\"Horsefly Pass\" \/><\/a><\/br>Horsefly Pass<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7654.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7654.jpg\" alt=\"Corteo Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Corteo Peak<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-14\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250928_125312.jpg\" alt=\"Lake Ann\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250928_132438.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains beyond Heather Pass\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7636.jpg\" alt=\"Black Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250928_134104.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Lake Ann\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250928_134804.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Lake Ann\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7641.jpg\" alt=\"Horsefly Pass\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7654.jpg\" alt=\"Corteo Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-14, #splide-thumb-14 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250928_125312.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250928_125312.jpg\" alt=\"Lake Ann\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Lake Ann<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250928_132438.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250928_132438.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains beyond Heather Pass\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains beyond Heather Pass<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7636.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7636.jpg\" alt=\"Black Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Black Peak<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250928_134104.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250928_134104.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Lake Ann\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Overlooking Lake Ann<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250928_134804.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250928_134804.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Lake Ann\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Overlooking Lake Ann<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7641.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7641.jpg\" alt=\"Horsefly Pass\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Horsefly Pass<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7654.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7654.jpg\" alt=\"Corteo Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Corteo Peak<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>At the loop&#8217;s highest elevation <span style=\"font-size: small;\">(roughly its southernmost point)<\/span>, a short spur branched off toward an overlook that offered what was, in my opinion, the finest view of the entire circuit. Yet once again, regrettably, the haze conspired to diminish its splendor.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-15\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7672.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7672.jpg\" alt=\"Hill over Lake Ann\" \/><\/a><\/br>Hill over Lake Ann<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250928_144219.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250928_144219.jpg\" width=\"89.05%\" alt=\"Hills around Lake Ann\" \/><\/a><\/br>Hills around Lake Ann<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250928_144222.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250928_144222.jpg\" width=\"89.05%\" alt=\"Hills around Lake Ann\" \/><\/a><\/br>Hills around Lake Ann<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7674.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7674.jpg\" alt=\"Hillside Plants in Autumn Colors\" \/><\/a><\/br>Hillside Plants in Autumn Colors<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7677.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7677.jpg\" alt=\"Lake Ann\" \/><\/a><\/br>Lake Ann<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7679.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7679.jpg\" alt=\"Hill\" \/><\/a><\/br>Hill<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-15\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7672.jpg\" alt=\"Hill over Lake Ann\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250928_144219.jpg\" alt=\"Hills around Lake Ann\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250928_144222.jpg\" alt=\"Hills around Lake Ann\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7674.jpg\" alt=\"Hillside Plants in Autumn Colors\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7677.jpg\" alt=\"Lake Ann\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7679.jpg\" alt=\"Hill\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-15, #splide-thumb-15 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7672.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7672.jpg\" alt=\"Hill over Lake Ann\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Hill over Lake Ann<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250928_144219.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250928_144219.jpg\" alt=\"Hills around Lake Ann\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Hills around Lake Ann<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250928_144222.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250928_144222.jpg\" alt=\"Hills around Lake Ann\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Hills around Lake Ann<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7674.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7674.jpg\" alt=\"Hillside Plants in Autumn Colors\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Hillside Plants in Autumn Colors<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7677.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7677.jpg\" alt=\"Lake Ann\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Lake Ann<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7679.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7679.jpg\" alt=\"Hill\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Hill<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>After that, we started our descent. Unlike our ascent which accompanied views of Lake Ann, there were few notable views above the tree line on our way down.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-16\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250928_145441.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250928_145441.jpg\" alt=\"Fields Dressed in Autumn Colors\" \/><\/a><\/br>Fields Dressed in Autumn Colors<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250928_145716.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250928_145716.jpg\" alt=\"Fields Dressed in Autumn Colors\" \/><\/a><\/br>Fields Dressed in Autumn Colors<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250928_151236.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250928_151236.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250928_151700.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250928_151700.jpg\" alt=\"Glimpse of Rainy Lake\" \/><\/a><\/br>Glimpse of Rainy Lake<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-16\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250928_145441.jpg\" alt=\"Fields Dressed in Autumn Colors\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250928_145716.jpg\" alt=\"Fields Dressed in Autumn Colors\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250928_151236.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250928_151700.jpg\" alt=\"Glimpse of Rainy Lake\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-16, #splide-thumb-16 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250928_145441.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250928_145441.jpg\" alt=\"Fields Dressed in Autumn Colors\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Fields Dressed in Autumn Colors<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250928_145716.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250928_145716.jpg\" alt=\"Fields Dressed in Autumn Colors\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Fields Dressed in Autumn Colors<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250928_151236.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250928_151236.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250928_151700.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250928_151700.jpg\" alt=\"Glimpse of Rainy Lake\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Glimpse of Rainy Lake<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>But once below the tree line, the forest seemed to awaken\u2014more vibrant, more inviting. By contrast, the woods we had passed through during our ascent had felt muted and remote.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-17\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250928_150356.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250928_150356.jpg\" alt=\"Lone Pine Tree\" \/><\/a><\/br>Lone Pine Tree<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250928_151516.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250928_151516.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250928_153620.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250928_153620.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Rainy Pass\" \/><\/a><\/br>Overlooking Rainy Pass<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250928_153749.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250928_153749.jpg\" alt=\"Trees along Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trees along Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250928_154759.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250928_154759.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250928_155356.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250928_155356.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-17\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250928_150356.jpg\" alt=\"Lone Pine Tree\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250928_151516.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250928_153620.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Rainy Pass\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250928_153749.jpg\" alt=\"Trees along Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250928_154759.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250928_155356.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-17, #splide-thumb-17 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the trail.<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250928_150356.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250928_150356.jpg\" alt=\"Lone Pine Tree\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Lone Pine Tree<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250928_151516.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250928_151516.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250928_153620.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250928_153620.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Rainy Pass\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Overlooking Rainy Pass<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250928_153749.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250928_153749.jpg\" alt=\"Trees along Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trees along Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250928_154759.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250928_154759.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250928_155356.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250928_155356.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-18\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250928_154139.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250928_154139.jpg\" width=\"96.25%\" alt=\"Trees along Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trees along Trail<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">I liked the color variations in this shot, and the shape of the withered tree branches.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250928_154100.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250928_154100.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250928_160340.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250928_160340.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250928_160537.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250928_160537.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250928_160854.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250928_160854.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250928_161612.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250928_161612.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-18\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250928_154139.jpg\" alt=\"Trees along Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250928_154100.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250928_160340.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250928_160537.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250928_160854.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250928_161612.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-18, #splide-thumb-18 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the trail.<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250928_154139.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250928_154139.jpg\" alt=\"Trees along Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trees along Trail<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">I liked the color variations in this shot, and the shape of the withered tree branches.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250928_154100.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250928_154100.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250928_160340.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250928_160340.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250928_160537.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250928_160537.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250928_160854.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250928_160854.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250928_161612.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250928_161612.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>In the end, including all rests, we finished the hike in 4.5 hours. Given the air pollution, I was glad it wasn&#8217;t longer.<\/p>\n<p>With enough daylight remaining, and hoping to salvage the day by catching some views less obscured by haze, we made several stops on our way back to Seattle.<br \/>\nOur first stop was Diablo Lake Vista Point. The afternoon light wasn&#8217;t ideal for this particular vista point, and September\u2014with its minimal snow cover on the surrounding peaks\u2014was likely the least dramatic month to visit. Nonetheless, we appreciated the clear views it offered us.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-19\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7687.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7687.jpg\" alt=\"Diablo Lake\" \/><\/a><\/br>Diablo Lake<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7684.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7684.jpg\" alt=\"Davis Peak over Diablo Lake\" \/><\/a><\/br>Davis Peak over Diablo Lake<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7691.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7691.jpg\" alt=\"Davis Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Davis Peak<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7690.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7690.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains over Thunder Arm\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains over Thunder Arm<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7688C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7688C11.jpg\" alt=\"Colonial Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Colonial Peak<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7689C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7689C11.jpg\" alt=\"Paul Bunyans Stump and Pinnacle Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Paul Bunyans Stump and Pinnacle Peak<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-19\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7687.jpg\" alt=\"Diablo Lake\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7684.jpg\" alt=\"Davis Peak over Diablo Lake\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7691.jpg\" alt=\"Davis Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7690.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains over Thunder Arm\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7688C11.jpg\" alt=\"Colonial Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7689C11.jpg\" alt=\"Paul Bunyans Stump and Pinnacle Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-19, #splide-thumb-19 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos from Diablo Lake Vista Point.<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7687.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7687.jpg\" alt=\"Diablo Lake\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Diablo Lake<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7684.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7684.jpg\" alt=\"Davis Peak over Diablo Lake\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Davis Peak over Diablo Lake<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7691.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7691.jpg\" alt=\"Davis Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Davis Peak<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7690.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7690.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains over Thunder Arm\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains over Thunder Arm<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7688C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7688C11.jpg\" alt=\"Colonial Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Colonial Peak<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7689C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/DSC_7689C11.jpg\" alt=\"Paul Bunyans Stump and Pinnacle Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Paul Bunyans Stump and Pinnacle Peak<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Next, we made another stop to check out &#8220;Gorge Overlook Trail&#8221;. This short trail overlooked &#8220;Gorge Dam&#8221;, a dam spanning the Skagit River, but the views were somewhat obstructed and underwhelming. Instead, we found &#8220;Gorge Creek&#8221; across the road far more captivating\u2014though by September, its waters had dwindled to a modest trickle.<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7695.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-m\/DSC_7695.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Gorge Creek\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/DSC_7697.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-m\/DSC_7697.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Gorge Creek\" \/><\/a><\/br>Gorge Creek<\/p><\/div>\n<h3><span id=\"American_Airlines_Flight_1095_and_1467_from_Seattle_to_Boston_via_Philadelphia\">American Airlines Flight 1095 and 1467 from Seattle to Boston via Philadelphia<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Fast forward to the evening of Monday, September 29. After reconnecting with a few friends over the weekend, it&#8217;s time for me to fly back to Boston.<br \/>\nIt turned out that Seattle Airport funneled both airline elites and Spot Savers through the same security kiosk. <span style=\"font-size: small;\">(I had never been fond of the latter program, whose sole purpose seemed to be shifting the blame for security wait times onto travelers, rather than addressing the fundamental issue of understaffed and poorly designed checkpoints.)<\/span> Even so, clearing security at 8pm on a Monday evening took me 15 minutes. Not impressed.<\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">For this flight, it was a bit unfortunate that I was 3\/6 on the upgrade list, and there were 2 first class seats available.<\/div>\n<p>American Airlines 1095<br \/>\nSeattle, WA (SEA) &#8211; Philadelphia, PA (PHL)<br \/>\nAirbus 321 (N929AA)<br \/>\nSeat 8A<br \/>\nScheduled Departure &#8211; 11:05pm<br \/>\nActual Departure    &#8211; 11:18pm<br \/>\nScheduled Arrival   &#8211; 7:09am + 1<br \/>\nActual Arrival      &#8211; 7:01am + 1<br \/>\n4 hours and 43 minutes<br \/>\nHere&#8217;s GPS tracking:<\/p>\n<div style=\"width:100%;aspect-ratio:3\/2;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" frameBorder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wikiloc.com\/wikiloc\/spatialArtifacts.do?event=view&#038;id=248167988&#038;measures=off&#038;title=off&#038;near=off&#038;images=off&#038;maptype=H\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-20\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250929_232239.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250929_232239.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Seattle Suburb at Night\" \/><\/a><\/br>Overlooking Seattle Suburb at Night<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250930_035946.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250930_035946.jpg\" width=\"93.1%\" alt=\"Philadelphia Suburb at Dawn\" \/><\/a><\/br>Philadelphia Suburb at Dawn<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Flying over Delaware River during final approach.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-20\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250929_232239.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Seattle Suburb at Night\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails-s\/20250930_035946.jpg\" alt=\"Philadelphia Suburb at Dawn\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-20, #splide-thumb-20 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250929_232239.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250929_232239.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Seattle Suburb at Night\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Overlooking Seattle Suburb at Night<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/20250930_035946.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2025\/09\/27\/thumbnails\/20250930_035946.jpg\" width=\"93.1%\" alt=\"Philadelphia Suburb at Dawn\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Philadelphia Suburb at Dawn<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Flying over Delaware River during final approach.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>The flight itself wasn&#8217;t very remarkable as I slept through most of it. Interestingly, the cabin crew didn&#8217;t turn on the lights for landing preparation until 6:48am, 13 minutes before touchdown. (One could hardly ask for a more considerate gesture toward preserving our sleep.)<\/p>\n<p>For my final flight back to Boston, this A321neo had more than a quarter (>50) of empty seats, but was also very elite-heavy (I was 7\/42 on the upgrade list). Pushback was delayed, followed by a 20-minute wait in Philadelphia Airport&#8217;s morning departure queue.<br \/>\nI had hoped to catch some sleep on this brief flight; unfortunately, a loud and annoying child seated nearby made that impossible.<\/p>\n<p>American Airlines 1467<br \/>\nPhiladelphia, PA (PHL) &#8211; Boston, MA (BOS)<br \/>\nAirbus 321neo (N412UW)<br \/>\nSeat 19F<br \/>\nScheduled Departure &#8211; 8:45am<br \/>\nActual Departure    &#8211; 9:22am<br \/>\nScheduled Arrival   &#8211; 10:10am<br \/>\nActual Arrival      &#8211; 10:10am<br \/>\n48 minutes<br \/>\nHere&#8217;s GPS tracking:<\/p>\n<div style=\"width:100%;aspect-ratio:3\/2;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" frameBorder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wikiloc.com\/wikiloc\/spatialArtifacts.do?event=view&#038;id=248168361&#038;measures=off&#038;title=off&#038;near=off&#038;images=off&#038;maptype=H\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>After landing in Boston, this time my checked bag beat me to the carousel, a stark contrast to Seattle&#8217;s lengthy wait, which concluded this brief trip to Seattle.<br \/>\nEND<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Late September 2025, I made a weekend trip to Seattle to visit some friends and nature. This post would be about the two day hikes that I embarked on, together with the flights back and forth.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,427,2],"tags":[188,680,681],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10208"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10208"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10208\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10249,"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10208\/revisions\/10249"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10208"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10208"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10208"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}