Glacier Peak Wilderness Hiking With Jill

 Last week Jill and her hiking partner Steve set out to climb Glacier Peak. They allowed four days. It wasn't enough. 

Glacier Peak, at 10,541 ft, isn't the highest volcanic peak in Washington, but it is the most remote.  This is a pack in and camp hike. They went slower than Jill would have liked, but they gained 5000 ft elevation and 30 miles round trip. 

I'm sure Jill will want to attempt the actual climb to the summit sometime in the future, but for now they had an amazing hike, saw cool wildlife, and wonderful scenery. These are her photos.

Glacier Peak peeking tantalizingly from behind layers of mountains. 

Lots of Marmot sightings.

Mama marmot looking up at her baby. 

A mass of blue butterflies! And a couple of orange ones too. From what little research I did, I think they are Lupine butterflies, common name, not botanical, and they lay eggs on blue lupine flowers, which the caterpillars then eat. 

From mountain meadows up above to majestic trees down below, nature in the wilderness is a wonderful thing. 

And yes, like me, Jill is a tree hugger.