Backpacking trip: day one, Cathedral camp, Park Butte lookout

My husband put together a nice 4 day backpacking trip for us, this time in our own area.

Map courtesy of USFS

On Monday we drove to Schrieber Meadow. 

 First we checked out the camping areas on the board and any regulations about them.

Our route would be to go up towards the Lookout, but stop just before it and stay the night at Cathedral camp.

First Mt. Baker sighting❤

Many flowers were still in bloom.

Creek crossing "with a bridge".

The Lookout & Railroad grade trails junction.

Wonderful views of the mountain ranges in the distance.

The sign post for our camp. The trail behind me leads to the Mazama horse camp, Bell pass, Elbow lake and the Ridley creek trails.

Our chosen camp spot. 

We like rocks in camp, they provide a place to cook on and to sit on. 

This was a great site!

The views from our camp area.

Looking towards the Twin Sisters.

Towards the Black Buttes.

The Lookout.

A view of Baker and the trail we'd just come up, with the Railroad grade.

Home for the night❤

After we got our camp set up, we hiked up to the Lookout.

Our destination, way up there.

Great views of Baker and the Black Buttes as we climbed.

Looking out at the ranges around us, and a few tarns.

A closer look at the Lookout as we keep climbing.

A look down at where we'll be hiking through the next day, the Mazama horse camp. If you zoom in on the photo below you'll see the shelter at the horse camp.

Our last "up" to the lookout.

Twin sisters view from the lookout.

A view from inside the lookout.

Black Butte view from the lookout.

A view of the trail back down towards our camp.

A look at the Railroad grade (the long gravel covered spine in the distance), where we hoped to camp on our 3rd night.

A nice sunset over the Twin Sisters.

We saw over 50 people on the trail, 2 mules, 1 horse and 8 dogs.

Garmin stats:

To Cathedral camp:

total miles - 3.44 miles

total ascent - 1496 feet

total descent - 26 feet

Day hike to Park Butte lookout:

total miles - 1.96 miles

total ascent - 636 feet

total descent - 636 feet

 Day two - our hike to Elbow lake, to be continued...