My beloved wife and kids are coming back in a few days ( Joy !) and this will be the last report of the "family unfriendly" hiking season or maybe not we will see....
Decided to finish it up with one of 10 best hike in the US ( ref hiking magazine). This time not hiking alone but with my office neighbor and dear friend John.
Camping first to be ready for a very long and
amazing hike Sunday morning. There is probably no way to describe the beauty of this place also known as the American Alps ( les francais pourront juger...) located in North Cascade National Park.
Cascade Pass and Sahale Arm Trail - North Cascade National Park ( WA)
3 hours drive from home including 10 miles of unpaved road...
Rated 4/5 for difficulty ( maybe 5 will be more correct...)
Rated 5/5 for Scenery ( definitively earn it...)
Distance 12.3 miles - 20 km
Elevation gain 3600 Ft-1100 m
Top elevation 7200 Ft - 2160 m
Temperature : 74 F - 22 C nice and cool with a welcome breeze
Duration : 8,5 hours
Wildlife : Marmots, Mountain goats ( far far away...) and no Bear....
Flowers : everywhere, a lot of heather ( bruyere)
Day 1 : Camping
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| Home sweet home for a night |
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| Toilet "rustic" and another camper... not over crowded |
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| Our campsite in the woods... nice and peaceful |
Day 2 : The hike
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| Entering North Cascade National Park. First visit for me |
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| Full hiking menu.... Stehekin looks tempting but 32 miles one way ( 50 km) might be too much for one day. Sahale will do |
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| View from the parking lot... not too bad |
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| Trail mid way to Cascade Pass |
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| Cascade Pass. Amazing Valley |
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| Cascade Pass Panoramic view |
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| After a snack a nice talk with a ranger time to head up to Sahale Arm |
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| Going up on Sahale Trail |
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| Marmot enjoying the beautiful summer day |
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| Sahale Glacier our destination... far far away |
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| View of Mt Baker in the back |
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| Doubtful lake. We will not go down to check it out... very steep trail |
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| Sahale Arm after over 4 hours hike... worth every minutes |
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| Panoramic from Sahale Arm... Speechless |
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| John and I Happy as can be |
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| Mt Rainier over 100 miles away ( 160 km) |
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| Best Toilet ever Had to try it, not very private but can't beat the view |
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| Time to go down, flowers everywhere, prime bear country... |
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| Doubtful lake and wild flowers |
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| Hiking our way down surrounded by boundless beauty |
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| Cascade Pass with late afternoon light |
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| A celebration of friendship and mother nature |
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| Cheers, until next time peace to all and happy hikes |
Well, this is it.... Have so many more pictures of this amazing and very remote location. I will be back for sure. Until next time Peace Love and good Hikes
A bientot
Dom
