Black Powder Pass in August

Barb, Helen, and I hike Black Powder Pass, starting at the Section House on Boreas Pass (11, 500').

We follow a stream drainage through the evergreen forest.

Mornings at altitude are chilly. Temperatures overnight fall into the mid-30's. 

Climbing above tree line, we enter a lush alpine meadow.

 Snowmelt and summer rains produce extravagant wildflower displays.

All around us, views are spectacular.

Distant meadows are yellow with Ligularia, a species of alpine sunflower.
White and red Paintbrush lend color to the palette.

The trail ends just below the peak of Boreas Mountain.
The snowfields remain all summer.

We continue up the tundra following rock cairns.

Alpine Sandwort form mossy cushions under our feet.

Helen's photo of me contorting to get a shot of tiny tundra flowers

Old Man of the Mountain Sunflowers guide us to the final cairn.

Photo of me taken by Helen.

Here's the view from 12,159'. We are very small in the vastness of the high peaks.

Hiking back to the Section House, we watch a storm approach.
Black Powder Pass is listed as a moderate hike. Because the trail starts above 11,000' and much of the hike is above tree line, weather and temperature are variable. There is no trail beyond the saddle and cairns mark the way to the top of the pass. I have always found abundant wildflowers along the stream and in the meadow leading to the saddle. Views are magnificent!