Indian Heaven Cascade Crest

[Sugar Pine]

Backpacked from Falls Creek Horse Camp to Indian Racetrack, up to Red Mountain, north on the CCT and back down the PCT after camping at Tombstone Lake at the end of Sept.

We had great views from Red Mountain all around. The following day smoke had moved north blocking views of the peaks so we lucked out.

Red Mountain Lookout

Hiking the Cascade Crest trail was difficult going especially the southern section from the junction with the PCT. Many downed trees, new trees growing in the trail and foot deep trenches. It improved as we headed north and we had no issues finding the trail, although we had an older forest map loaded on Avenza just in case.

We considered hiking back on the Basin Lakes trail. I had a hard time finding it because of a downed tree where the Basin Lakes Trail meets the PCT, but then we decided to take the PCT anyway. There were several new downed trees across the PCT. The PCT was much more scenic than the CCT which has no views.

Huckleberry bushes had great fall color.