Purple Pass, Boulder Butte — Friday, Jun. 26, 2020

First off let me say that the Stehekin Ferry is not doing a good job with social distancing or masking. The employees are wearing masks but the majority of passengers are not. The valley has a laissez faire approach to masking and social distancing right now, although the park service, bakery, and landing are all wearing masks and for the most part encouraging good practices. This is probably not the time to go out to Stehekin unless hiking in. Limited boat services, closed park visitor centers, and limited medical resources could mean that local resources may be strained if there is an outbreak. All that being said as I'm constantly in a high exposure environment as a nurse that works directly with Covid patients. I can maintain precautions for myself but not for everyone else. I'm generally overtaxed and overwhelmed with work and these trips allow me to regain my sanity and my composure. I know how selfish that is and that I am not special. Much like the epidemic of racist violence there are more important things than hiking right now. I am extremely privileged and fortunate to be healthy and to have work right now. Rant over.

I went on this trip with my pregnant wife and toddler and trying to get in a hike without causing any headaches or pushing my family beyond their boundaries I woke up at 3 AM to do this one. In a push from 3 AM until 6:30 with stops to admire wildflowers, look down at the lake, and catch the sunrise I made to Purple Pass. The trail is overgrown with shrubs often waist high sometimes chest high I'm about 5ft 11 but the flowers that are overtaking the trail are spectacular right now, there are carpets of penstemons, lupine, asters, paintbrush, and the character and varieties change as the elevation increases. The snow didn't really start until the backside of purple pass towards Boulder Butte, and Juanita Lake. After a quick jaunt up the butte to the former lookout site I jogged back down the trail towards the landing which seems impossibly low from the top of the pass. The trail felt every bit of 16 plus miles due to long meandering switchbacks but my knees and I were grateful for the light cruise back down the mountain. The basin up above purple pass is spectacular and the hike was well worth it. With my early start and turnaround I saw no other hikers but did see numerous deer, grouse, western tanagers, woodpeckers, a bear, an owl, and made it back to the landing at 9 AM right when my wife and son were waking up. A great pre breakfast hike definitely felt like I earned my bakery cinnamon roll.