July 20th and 21st North Cascade National Park : Cascade Pass and Sahale Arm- Superbe !

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 

Home sweet home for a night

Toilet "rustic" and another camper... not over crowded

Our campsite in the woods... nice and peaceful

Day 2 : The hike

Entering North Cascade National Park. First visit for me

Full hiking menu.... Stehekin looks tempting but 32 miles one way ( 50 km) might be too much for one day. Sahale will do 

View from the parking lot... not too bad

Trail mid way to Cascade Pass

Cascade Pass. Amazing Valley

Cascade Pass Panoramic view

After a snack a nice talk with a ranger time to head up to Sahale Arm

Going up on Sahale Trail

Marmot enjoying the beautiful summer day

Sahale Glacier our destination... far far away

View of Mt Baker in the back

Doubtful lake. We will not go down to check it out... very steep trail

Sahale Arm after over 4 hours hike... worth every minutes

Panoramic from Sahale Arm... Speechless 

John and I Happy as can be

Mt Rainier over 100 miles away ( 160 km)

Best Toilet ever Had to try it, not very private but can't beat the view

Time to go down, flowers everywhere, prime bear country...

Doubtful lake and wild flowers

Hiking our way down surrounded by boundless beauty

Cascade Pass with late afternoon light

A celebration of friendship and mother nature

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