It's been years since I've hiked to Chapin, Chiquita, and Ypsilon in the Mummy Range. But it felt like visiting an old friend. I'm always surprised when elements of a hike can seem so familiar even after so many years. We started out in the first chilly morning of the season, bundled up, trying to ignore the icy cold breeze at our backs, as we climbed past treeline. And then the world of the backside of the Mummies unfolds - gentle tundra rather than harsh , glaciated faces. We quickly hiked up Chiquita, and gratefully hunkered down behind the wind shelter for a quick snack.
Down the saddle and then up to Ypsilon with its dizzying views down to Spectacle Lakes and the Fay Lakes. We were beginning to warm up and could enjoy our lunch on top of Ypsilon.
Happy to be on top, and celebrating the beautiful day, it's funny to look back at this photo and see that there was no sign of a storm building to the west behind us.
Arctic gentians were blooming all over the tundra. From a distance they don't look very impressive, but close up they show such intricate patterns.
We saved Chapin for our last summit of the trip, and what a quick trip up to the top it was. The Never Summers were covered in angry black clouds that were headed our way. Hail stung our cheeks on the way down, but we had made all three summits.
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