Esmerelda Basin, County Line, Lake Ann

Previous reports have described problems with the potholes on the road to Esmerelda basin. Unfortunately, there are yahoos out there who insist on passing very fast.
The flowers are at their absolute peak. Lower down in the basin there are more shooting stars than I have ever seen. Higher up, the glacier lilies (Erythronium grandiflorum), Douglasia nivalis, and Anemone drumondii are at their peak. There are lomatiums, orchids (white rein and northern green bog) and other beauties too numerous to mention. In the boggy places north of the trail look for the violet-like insectivorous plant Pinguincula vulgaris. It has tiny leaves, digests insects that become trapped in its throat. Despite the large numbers of hikers (most evident at the start of the trail), this is a fabulous hike for the views from Mt. Adams to Glacier Peak and the flowers.