Skip to main content

Cascade Pass/Sahale Arm Trail.....North Cascades National Park


We had prior plans to visit Cascade Pass Trail, but after the bad weather and closed roads we had to reschedule and lost our campsite in Newhalem, because we couldn't get to it. So August 24th we got up early, like 3:00 AM early and put our stuff in the rig and hit the road by 4:00 AM. Long drive to the trail head, made good time, only had to dodge a handful of deer that were playing chicken in the middle of the road. Got to the trail head by 7:30 AM, the road from Marblemount to the trail head is in decent shape. Only a few spots that the car sounds like it would like to fall apart at the seams. I would have loved to just sit in the rig and nap, but the trail was calling. We had low fog with patches of blue sky. I was really hoping for blue skies, but apparently I have great timing. We hit the trail made it to the pass in decent time, very few people on the trail only a couple groups coming and going. Spent a few minutes admiring the views from the rock patio at the pass by ourselves before we tackled the last climb up. The views were beautiful with the fog drifting in and out through the pass. The climb up from the pass is a little rough, a few spots where you almost have to pull yourself up, might have something to do with short legs. But over all it is just a great thigh burner to get to the top where you can look down on Doughtful Lake or back down to the pass. Took it slow and took lots of breaks to give the young ones plenty of breaks. Turned into a beautiful day, we never had clear views of any mountains, just short moments when the fog would drift in and out, still lots of flowers blooming up and down the trail. Shortly after lunch the trail starting to get busy with lots of hikers. Explored a little farther up the trail before we headed back down to the rig. Long drive home, good thing Winthrop has a decent Pizza joint we were hungry.
Labels:

Comments

  1. UnknownSeptember 7, 2013 at 2:28 PM

    I was there the next day....first time there and it was incredibly beautiful.....Your photos are awesome.....what kind of camera are you using?

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownSeptember 7, 2013 at 2:29 PM

    I was there the next day....first time there and we only went as far as the pass.....your photos are awesome.....what kind of camera are you using?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Cascade Day HikerSeptember 7, 2013 at 5:41 PM

    Thank you, I use a Nikon D300s with a 18-300 mm lens while hiking, a little heavy but well worth it. Cascade Pass is a pretty incredible hike, lots of nice views of the mountains.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Echo Basin, Eastern Washington

Echo Basin was our last early spring hike in the Eastern Washington area. We were planning to hike the Frenchman Coulee side that heads toward the waterfall but changed our mind due to the amount of cars parked at the trail head. So down the road just a little ways we went to hike the Echo Basin trail. Even with a early start the sun was way too bright, not hot, just bright. We hiked up the jeep trail that starts on the left hand side of the road as your facing the Columbia River. Didn't seem like a real exciting trail till we reached the sand dunes, which put us closer to the rock walls. Up and over the sand dunes and on up a goat trail to get above the walls. Without really knowing were we were going we just winged it. Lots of faint trails and trails in the sand, hard to know which was the true trail. The rock walls are huge and fascinating, the columns are even more interesting up close. We hiked until we had a view looking down into Echo Basin, and a nice look at th
Post a Comment
Read more

Cutthroat Trail.......Snowshoeing North Cascades Highway

I have a confession to make, I have been having some winter blues. Not sure if they can be officially called winter blues due to we have had little to no winter. I have been very impatiently waiting for the snow to arrive, it comes, blows through, makes the ground white, then its gone. The last few days we have been sitting at temperatures in the 40's. What is up with winter. One thing I can say for sure is I am very thankful for the few trips we made up highway 20 before the silver star gate was closed. Our trip to Cutthroat Trail was back in November, when we had visions of winter coming to the valley very soon. The snow was nice and fluffy and deep. Pleasant day to get out and enjoy it, one of those days where your not sure if the clouds where going to allow the blue sky to show it self or not. We parked right off the highway with a couple of other cars and Snowshoed up the road to the trail head. Wasn't very long and more hikers, cross country skiers, and furry
3 comments
Read more

Looking For Mountain Views....................

Since I couldn't get anybody to go snowshoeing with me this last weekend....I went on a drive and took pictures.....It was a lovely day...lots of variation in the clouds...started down on the Columbia River in Pateros and continued on down towards Chelan...stopped at the park...which has a great view of the mountains...then on up around Manson...drove as many roads as I could looking for the best view of the mountains....drove a couple of roads I have never been on....what a festive little town Manson is right now....Drove on up towards Echo Ridge trail area...roads got a little on the icy side up in that area....then found my way back home....now I have a camera card or two loaded with pictures...plus basketball pictures.....lots of computer time...The season is moving right along...lots of new snow in the mountains...Can't wait to get out there and play.
Post a Comment
Read more