Michelle in Hanes Valley and on Crown Mountain:
“All this one mustered was a three-some, which turned into a two-some. John and I had an extended but very enjoyable day completing the full circuit of essentially Lynn Headwaters to Norvan Falls, Hanes Valley, Crown, back to Grouse via Little Goat Pass and Goat Mtn trail. From the PACKED Grind parking lot (packed BEFORE 8am!?) we shuttled to Lynn Headwaters, entering a cloud of fog that we hiked through Hanes. Good thing this quiet valley is truly well marked- little decorated cairns wrapped in glowing florescent orange flagging guided us as we hiked literally from marker to marker in pure faith through the mist in the boulder field (though the GPS agreed). Perhaps not being able to see where we were going or back behind us helped our mental disposition as the elevation gain was seemingly painless. Crown was a little more challenging – especially when you do a bunch of extra wet scrambling/searching at the base when you don’t have to (if everything is mist- follow the orange flagging and red/white bulls-eye paint markers CLOSELY by the beginning of the rock base/forest edge, skirting AROUND on a sideways approach for some time. The final scramble up the summit is minimal. But save some gusto for the stiff climb back out of Crown Pass to Little Goat Pass. I wouldn’t want to do any part of this circuit any wetter than we did on account of what nasty business it would be (too slippery!). Uncrowded valley, “mist”-ical pictures, lovely views atop, tram down, ahhhhh.”
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