Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Question Re: North Cascades

Sorry--I tried cascadeclimbers.com--got some info, but not a lot--thought I'd try here--

Going to Seattle 9-9 to 12; can do whatever we want. Have permits for Mt. St. Helens but after seeing pics of the North Cascades, I want to do some tromping around up there. I have targeted Little Annapurna in the Enchantments and Cascade Pass/Sahale Arm in NCNP.

Question--the others in my group are fishermen; I gather that in that area (Marblemount) there is no shortage of places to fish? Also, any lodging recommends? I have identified one--the Skajic River (sp?) Resort. Any other beta?

Have you checked out www.summitpost.org ? Lots of good info there in the PNW forum. Try posting there.

I'm not a fisherman, so I can't help you with that. There are cabins and such in Marblemount to be had for relatively low cost. I can't recall the name of the place I stayed, but google seemed to do the trick in terms of finding places. Marblemount is a small place--a couple diners, a couple gas stations, not much else. Beautiful country. A lot of the peaks there will involve exposed scrambling, and it may be hard to avoid glacier travel. Mt. Buckner goes at Class 3 w/ no glacier travel. Sahale can be done with a short stretch over the Sahale glacier, which should be OK to solo with axe and crampons at this time of year. Class 3-4 scrambling to the summit according to Beckey's guide. There are a few folks with good knowledge of the Cascades on SP that might be willing to help you find suitable objectives.

As long as you are on the Cascade River Road (marblemount), hit Hidden Lakes Peak (Sibley Creek)- hike, views. Mt Dickerman (hike, views, huckleberries) on the Mountain Loop Highway out of Granite Falls (or Darrington from the other end). Unless you are dayhiking, the Enchantments needs a permit and Little Annapurna would be somewhat equivalent to Mt Whitney in terms of distance or gain depending on route but not 14,000+

I'm switching with you and heading down to the Sierra.

Clarks Resort is the cabin place, I believe.

Mostly current hiking info:

http://www.wta.org/go-hiking/trip-reports

steelfrog, you probably already know this but I'll throw it out just in case, especially since you're talking about fishing there - the North Casacades is grizzly country, so a different set of rules for awareness and planning from anywhere else in the lower 48 except the Yellowstone/Glacier habitats. The population is diminished and not very dense, but they are there - don't forget the Counter Assault, especially if you're planning on fishing. I've done some hiking in NCNP and it's beautiful country - it's called the American Alps for a very good reason. It's just a different feeling knowing that potential bear around the next bend could be a griz instead of a black. I hiked there with my head on a swivel watching for browns; my 8 YO daughter's head was on a swivel looking for bigfoot. She was disappointed, I wasn't. Have a blast.

Ya. I don't mind admitting I hope I see a bear, but ya, not too close, obviously. Saw two blacks close up in Yosemite a few weeks ago. Big ones. Near White Wolf.

The last 2 trip reports on cascadeclimbers about Sahale Arm, which were a couple days ago, each reported seeing 5 bears grazing along the trail.

Blacks I don't get worked up about - grizzlies are a different story. I saw an amazing video on You Tube not long ago - Alaska, I'm sure - where a lone griz boldly broke up a group of about a dozen guys fishing at a lake. Absolutely no fear, and the tools to back up that swagger.

I've been hiking in the North Cascades for the past 20 years, and I have a few hikes in mind for you. Do you want day hikes or multiday? Most of these are day hikes. Don't waste your time with Annapurna or Enchantments. Mt. St. Helens will be like an ash tray, hike that in the spring, early summer. I'll try to add a few pics also, but I'm not sure how. Double check on all access roads to the trailheads.

1Cascade Pass/Sahale Arm-you will get awsome views of narly, jagged, peaks with hanging glaciers (Cascade Peak, The Triplets, Mix-up Peak, Magic Mtn, Mt. Formidable...). The views start at the trailhead and just get better. It is about 12 miles round trip with the steep sections.

2)Hidden Lakes Peaks-this trail is a couple valleys from Cascade Pass. You will get good views of some of the same area. There is a look out on top of Hidden Lake Peak. About 8 miles.

3)Park Butte/Railroad Grade-This is on the south side of Mt. Baker and hikes through meadows, and around, between, and over Easton/Squak glaciers. Awsome view of the south side of Mt. Baker, you are very close to the mountain, but no too close for good pics. There are a few trails to wonder around the area and it can be a one day loop trip. Park Butte lookout cabin gives perfect views of Baker and the North/South Sister mountain range to the south. About 11 miles total.

4)Lake Ann-this is a very popular trail, but it gives perfect views of the west face of Mt. Shukson. The trail continues to Lower Curtis Glacier then climbs through the "Hourglass" for a classic alpine route. About 7 miles, but crowded.

5) Mount Pugh-scramble 7200' summit to get great views of all the mountains. Awsome meadow flowers also. 10 miles, not very crowded.

6)Spider Meadow/Gap-this can be a one day trip that includes hiking through forest, a huge meadow, steep switchbacks, snowfield, then a small pass. You can continue to Lyman Lakes. Make it a 45 mile loop also, Spider Gap-Buck Creek Loop. I did the loop 2 years ago (6 days)....bugs!!! Lovely area, flowers, meadow, glaciers, view of Glacier Peak.

You can probably tell most of my trips are north of Stevens Pass. I'll try to include some pics. I recommend Ira and Harvey Spring guide books and Green Trails Maps.

Sorry I don't know much about fishing in that area.

how do you add pics?

You need to have a photo hosting web site. That will give you the ability to post pictures like these. If you don't have a site send me an email at kurtwedberg @ sierramountaineering .com with the pictures you want to share and captions and I'll get them up there for you.


North Cascades: Boston Basin from Eldorado. Forbidden Peak is on the left and Sahale is in the center above the glacier.

Many thanks--great advice!

be sure to check road access for the trailheads, every spring roads and bridges wash out.

I'll send you pics to post

Pictures from rpm4463. His original post is 5 posts above. He emailed me pictures and these are the captions that go with them.


Cascade Pass/Sahale Arm-you will get awsome views of narly, jagged, peaks with hanging glaciers (Cascade Peak, The Triplets, Mix-up Peak, Magic Mtn, Mt. Formidable...). The views start at the trailhead and just get better. It is about 12 miles round trip with the steep sections.


2)Hidden Lakes Peaks-this trail is a couple valleys from Cascade Pass. You will get good views of some of the same area. There is a look out on top of Hidden Lake Peak. About 8 miles.


3)Park Butte/Railroad Grade-This is on the south side of Mt. Baker and hikes through meadows, and around, between, and over Easton/Squak glaciers. Awsome view of the south side of Mt. Baker, you are very close to the mountain, but no too close for good pics. There are a few trails to wonder around the area and it can be a one day loop trip. Park Butte lookout cabin gives perfect views of Baker and the North/South Sister mountain range to the south. About 11 miles total.


4)Lake Ann-this is a very popular trail, but it gives perfect views of the west face of Mt. Shukson. The trail continues to Lower Curtis Glacier then climbs through the "Hourglass" for a classic alpine route. About 7 miles, but crowded.


5) Mount Pugh-scramble 7200' summit to get great views of all the mountains. Awsome meadow flowers also. 10 miles, not very crowded.


6)Spider Meadow/Gap-this can be a one day trip that includes hiking through forest, a huge meadow, steep switchbacks, snowfield, then a small pass. You can continue to Lyman Lakes. Make it a 45 mile loop also, Spider Gap-Buck Creek Loop. I did the loop 2 years ago (6 days)....bugs!!! Lovely area, flowers, meadow, glaciers, view of Glacier Peak.

You can probably tell most of my trips are north of Stevens Pass.

Hey RPM !

Those are GREAT Photos !

Looks like fight promoter Bob Arum's son is about 4 days overdue up there:

http://boxing.fanhouse.com/2010/09/02/backpack-found-belongs-to-promoter-bob-arums-missing-son/

Was attempting Mt. Storm King

How was your trip? Where did you end up going?

Well, we went to Ft. Lewis and saw how our Ranger friend lives; met rangers, etc. Did the obstacle course. Then went to Sahale on Friday; sub optimal conditions--could see about 200 feet. Sat, went fishing at Grandy Lake near Concrete; caught a 3 pound rainbow; caught a variety of slugs, including the Albino Slug King; then, hiked to Hidden Lake Lookout, with better weather. Made good time on this trail--2 hours and 40 minutes round trip (9 miles, 3300' gain).

Overall, very good scouting trip and I do want to make a "big" trip out there in the coming years, at a time designed to find the best weather (late July, August?).

Another one that doesn't turn out the way you'd like it to:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/09/04/national/main6835481.shtml

Obviously, you mean Army Rangers, not FS or Park Service Rangers...

I've been watching "Surviving the Cut" and wonder whether I'd be able endure a small percentage of what those guys have to go thru in the "culling" process and then the months and months of hardcore training.

Welcome to the PNW!