Lake Ann, Esmeralda Basin (Esmerelda) — Saturday, Jul. 10, 2010

Snoqualmie Region > Salmon La Sac/Teanaway

The Hike of the Week Club had not been to Esmerelda Basin in more than 25 years, so felt that a return trip was called for. Wildflowers were excellent! At about 0.9 miles in, the trail has been rerouted to go further up the hill side to avoid a boggy area. For historical reasons, we followed the old trail, which is the miners road to the mining claim at Esmerelda Basin. Yes, the old trail was boggy, which is why it was rerouted, but we were treated to meadows full of shooting stars, with the occasional bog orchid thrown in, that the new trail misses. Rather than staying on Trail 1394 to Fortune Pass, we elected to take Trail 1226.2 toward Lake Ann. The initial part of the trail is steeper than the Esmerelda basin trail to that point, but soon enters a little hidden basin before turning steep again towards the divide to Lake Ann. There are a few patches of snow on the trail, but nothing more than 10 feet long. Glacier lilies were still blooming on the Lake Ann trail, but had faded at lower elevations. Hikers interested in historical artifacts should follow the side trail into the mining claim at Esmerelda basin, continuing through the basin and across a little stream on the other side. The side trail continues up the hill to the old prospect (marked on the USGS map, but not Green Trails), and just as the trail starts up the hill to the left are the remains of what appears to be an old steam plant, presumably to supply compressed air to the drills for the mine. Lots of flowers, with shooting stars being the main attraction, lots of sun, and minimal bugs.