Momentous Adventures-Heart of the Trinities (part 2)
The route now keeps Ward on the right as it slowly winds past the Horseshoe Lake trail a half mile to the right and follows the basin down to the Swift Creek’s valley floor. Follow the now easy to read Swift Creek down through the flat expanses of Parker Meadows and Foster Cabin. Next, take the right split leading into spectacular Bear Basin with it’s uniform U shaped contours and grassy camps that line the trail. Views to Seven Up Peak are now apparent as you climb higher to a sub alpine shelf to a confusing intersection, stay straight and find the Seven Up Gap Trail leading up a few steps further on your left. The views open up on top to Seven Up and Gibson Peaks as the red Trinities flow out in front of your eyes. As you traverse Seven Up on slightly angled trail you can see the Four Lakes area on the right and a small saddle that you will be descending. The views of the Siligo Peak and Luella Lake are awe inspiring as you drop to flat meadows and make the left to Deer Lake and Deer Pass. Deer Lake is surrounded by red and white rocks in a spiral of color that almost looks to perfect to believe! The scene is unreal as you pass the green waters higher to the pass and look over your shoulder at your route. If this dose not win you over, it is difficult to fathom what mountain scene will, the Trinity Alps are amazing and you are living in a painting stuck in time. Take the trail to Siligo Meadows, your camp for the night and enjoy the alpenglow as the deer graze in the last light.
The red Trinities are now all around you as you climb the easy switchbacks to Little Stonewall Pass. The trail levels out as you pass a small tarn and a way trail to Echo Lake. Drop your pack and venture over to the lake that lies in the bottom of a cold cirque below Middle Peak, it is worth the scant quarter mile trail to see this gem. Next, climb to Van Matte Meadows with stunning views of Middle and Granite Peaks before the steady accent to Stonewall Pass. Begin your decent now to the trailhead as your eyes retrace your steps to the Stuart Fork Valley to the south and the whole trip is wrapped up nicely for you with lovely closure. The Trinity Alps definitely rival anything I have seen in the Sierra Nevada or the Cascade Ranges, descend the last few steps as you plan your next trip here with your friends!
Trail to Horseshoe Lake
Colin near 7up Pass
Deer Lake
Colin near Deer Pass
Sunset in Siligo Meadows while deer graze
Crags in Siligo Meadows
Alpenglow from Little Stonewall Pass
View of the Trinities from Stonewall Pass
The Stuart Fork Valley comes into view as the trail drops back to your car.