potholes on the roads, but passable with sedan.create
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Navaho Peak - Freedom Peak - Miller Peak Loop
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Jun 21, 2020
A little bit too much. Thanks to the long day light, I was able to finish without needing the headlamp (I did carry one). I started at 6:40am, finished ~ 8:20pm. Wasn't in a hurry.
The Stafford Creek trail to Navaho Peak is nice and straightforward. However, a lot of people. Plenty place to get water up to the meadow where many tents were set up. Too crowded, in my opinion. The whole trail was busy last Sunday with good weather. The view on top of Navaho Peak is stunning.
From Navaho Peak to Freedom Peak is a different matter. There's one steep stretch with loose rock. Dangerous. Up and down Freedom Peak is rock scramble, not difficult at all.
There's a small black butte south of Freedom Peak that requires some caution. The rest is easy scramble.
From Miller Peak back down TH is straightforward again on regular trail. There were a couple of wide creek crossings. Hiking poles are useful here.
Miller Peak trailhead is 0.9 miles from Stafford Creek TH.
So, between Navaho Peak and Miller Peak, there's no trail, no water, no snow. Plenty scramble. Plenty open views. Plenty flowers on the slopes. Mostly along the ridge. The last bit of snow is around Navaho Peak. Bring water! I met ~8 people during the 5 hours of the traverse.
Photos:
1. the meadow under Navaho Pass where many people set up their tents.
2. top of Navaho Peak. Link to the panorama picture
3. the route from Navaho Peak down to the saddle, where I labeled where it's bad.
4. the dangerous section.
5. top of Freedom Peak. Link to the panorama picture
6. balsamroot on route to Miller Peak.
7. top of Miller Peak. Link to the panorama picture