Chriss Lake -> eastbound GWT

The Great Western Trail is one of the BTC's all-time favorite trails. It checks all our boxes: high-altitude, copious water access, beautiful scenery, and relatively flat. Today was our first 2017 jaunt onto the section around Chriss Lake. Our plan was to run to the lake and back, but we got distracted by butterflies and decided to try to make it to Green Lake. Unfortunately, I neglected to bring a map and underestimated the distance between Chriss Lake and the Deer Creek Lake turnoff. Still a nice day, made it to Gresham Spring and then turned around when we spotted hiking-pole tourists energetically walking from the GWT up towards Deer Creek Lake.

The currants are flowering, the nettles are growing, and the butterflies are out in FULL FORCE. I swear I could see 6 at once in the meadows near the parking area.

This time of year, the mountain is flooded with snowmelt, and the trails actually flow in a few places.

Mileage: 6.5

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