Scorpion Mountain via Johnson Ridge — Tuesday, Jul. 1, 2025

Did this hike on a sunny and warm Monday.  The temperature at the summit was near 80 degrees F.  The entire hike including one hour of Zen sitting at the top was 5 hours and 15 minutes.  I started the hike at 9:30 and was the first on the trail that day as verified by cobwebs across the trail.  There are a few trees down on the trial but were very easy to navigate around.  Bugs at the top were a bit bad but I found a breeze and cool air from sitting in a slight saddle next to a snow patch kept them at bay along with a bug head net and a long sleeve shirt.  The views were spectacular.  A very large 4 jet engine military plane flew from South to North between the peaks.  It was flying at an elevation 1,000 feet below the peak I was standing on.  The banking of the wings necessary to avoid hitting the mountains looked frightening at best.  The views were spectacular.  I could see smoke from a forest fire somewhere to the East and North of Glacier Peak.  I passed three separate couples coming up the trail on my way down.  The wild flowers seemed to be a good 3 or 4 weeks short of their peak.  I came across several grouse on the trail but no raptors soaring at the peak.  This is a great hike and my third time up this mountain in the past 10 years.  It is on my short list for a return visit in the coming years.