First Brother Summit

Stats: 21.78 km / 830m gain / 6 hours MT / 2272m high

Walking through the meadows that were dotted with Avalanche lilies and Anemones, under a blue sky couldn't give you more of a high. The song "I go to the hills..." from the classic movie, the Sound of Music, kept popping into my head.

The Three Brothers mountains. Our destination: the peak on the right.

It was 4.5 km downhill to the outhouse & picnic tables just before Buckhorn camp. Rico works for us and soon flys back to his homeland, Germany. He wanted to go on one more hike. When I asked him at the summit what he thought about this one, he shook his head and said, "I can't find the words to describe it, it's so beautiful!"

No, they're not in church. They're feeding the Whisky Jacks.

1) Whisky Jack 2) Anemonies after they finished blooming 3) Flox 4) Anemonies 4) Avalanche Lilies 5) Indian Paintbrush

Once past the campsite the trail becomes somewhat steep, rising through forest and meadows for about half an hour.

Mt. Frosty - south

The Hozameens.

Western Spring Beauties

First Brother Peak on the right.

A few snow fields to cross.

Mountain Avens like to grow by the creeks.

A tarn where we had a brief lunch break.

Group shot: Terry, Jackie, Sue, Rico, Case, Annette, Leora, Wayne & me.

1) Cinquefoil 2) Indian Paintbrush 3) Mountain Avens 4) Anemonies 5) Jacob's Ladder

The trail dipped down a bit after the tarn and before the junction.

On the First Bother trail, ascending to the ridge.

Southeast.

On the ridge looking at the Second and Third Bros.

Views from the summit -- east.

South

West - the Third Bros.

North.

Another group shot (minus Jackie who took this pic). We weren't sure if we'd all make it, hence 2 group shots.

It was only 577m gain to the summit. The parking lot is already 1937m high.

A slight lower sub-peak -- NE

Heading back down -- the Second Brother to the right.

1) moss 2) Penstemon

Silvertip Mt. -- SW

west -- Back on the Heather Trail.

Avalanche lilies are the first to bloom after the snow melts.

The last two pics were taken along the roadside, on the drive down. There were many Pentstemons, Lupines and Indain Paintbrush at the lower elevations.

The last few km seemed to go on and on ... and on.

Sore feet but happy as we patiently waited for Wayne to fill our beer glasses. He was very precise about us all getting the same amount. We were only allowed 6 at a table. So the other half of our group is sitting on the table in the background. Burgers and beer -- what a great way to end a great day.