Trip Date: June 19, 2009
Three Brothers Summit Loop: Falls Creek Pass to Gold Creek Basin
Freedom Pass
Falls Creek Pass
Three Brothers Mountain: southwest peak aka Southwest Brother (7303′)
Three Brothers Mountain: middle peak aka Middle Brother (7160’+)
Three Brothers Mountain: northeast peak aka Northeast Brother / Lookout (7169′)
Gold Creek Basin
Etienne Creek Basin fka Negro Creek Basin
Trip Report Summary
Region: Central Washington Cascades
Sub-Region: Teanaway Mountains
Starting & Ending Point: Stafford Creek Trailhead on Stafford Creek Road (Elev. 3100 feet)
Way Points: Stafford Creek & Stafford Creek Meadow & Freedom Pass & Falls Creek Pass & Southwest Brother summit & Middle Brother summit & Northeast Brother Lookout/summit & Gold Creek Basin & Etienne Creek Basin & Freedom Pass & Stafford Creek (trail hike & off-trail hike & rock scramble)
Summit: Southwest Brother (off-trail hike via Southwest Ridge; descent via Northeast Ridge)
Summit: Middle Brother (rock scramble via Southwest Ridge; descent via Northeast Ridge)
Summit: Northeast Brother (off-trail hike via Southwest Ridge; descent via South Slope)
Approximate Stats: 15 miles traveled; 6300 feet gained & lost; 11.4 hours elapsed.
Related Post
Three Brothers Mountain: Southwest Peak via Southwest Ridge – September 19, 2004
Full Trip Report
On a cloudy Friday, I completed a loop over the three summits of Three Brothers Mtn in the Teanaway Mountains with Lisa, Steve, and Eileen. We chose this location to escape bad weather elsewhere, and it turned out to be a real gem.
We hiked up the Stafford Creek Trail about 3 miles, then headed straight uphill to intersect the high trail that cuts across the southeast ridge of Navaho Peak near Freedom Pass. This trail took us down to Falls Creek Pass, from which it was an easy cross-country ascent to the Southwest (and highest) Brother summit (4.8 hours from TH).
- SW Brother From Navaho Ridge Above Freedom Pass
- Standing on SW Brother Summit
Getting over the summit of the Middle (lowest) Brother involved a fair amount of Class 2-3 scrambling on pretty good rock. Once over the top and into the next saddle, we strolled up a silky smooth ridge to the summit of the Northeast Brother (6.5 hours from TH). This NE peak used to have a lookout cabin on the summit, but only the old woodstove remains. We were treated to a most remarkable rainbow before we headed down-trail to Gold Creek Basin.
- Heading Up NE Brother
- Old Woodstove On NE Brother Summit
At 5700 feet, we left the trail and went cross-country several miles, passing through Etienne Creek Basin, to gain Freedom Pass (the saddle between Navaho Peak and Freedom Peak). From there, it was all downhill back to the trailhead (11.4 hours total loop).
- Rainbow Below NE Brother
- Hiking Down To Gold Creek Basin
We can all heartily recommend this as a delightful full-day rainshadow hike, with some nice summits and views along the way.
Photo Gallery
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