After telling family and friends we're headed to the North Cascades, the typical responses have been "Where?", followed by "Alaska?, Canada?, Glacier National Park?" The North Cascades encompass several national forests as well as the North Cascades National Park. The North Cascades contain most of the remaining glaciers in the lower 48 states; think old volcanoes, several hundred active glaciers, and 400 to 700 inches of snow each winter. The national park is unusual in that it has no lodging, large gift stores, or the other typical amenities found in national parks. It's camping, hiking, boating, and fishing in a true wilderness setting.
When we were living on the Olympic Peninsula a few years back, we could see the icy mammoth of Mount Baker in the distance. We looked over several times and remarked how we would get over there and do some hiking. Since the opportunity never presented itself, we are headed back to the Great Northwest for some unfinished business.
If anybody needs to locate us, here is our rough itinerary in Google map view. Best of luck tracking us down!
On Monday, we will drive from SeaTac Airport to a cabin on the Noosack River near Mt. Baker. It's on 5 acres just outside the metropolis of Glacier, Wa., and was built by the owner using trees from the current footprint of the cabin. The view above is looking east towards the coast. The yellow line on the right side is the Canadian Border.
On July 29, we will depart the Mt. Baker area and drive east through the North Cascades on the scenic highway to the teeny tiny town of Mazama, Wa. to hopefully take a day hike and an overnight 20 mile backpacking trip.
On August 1, we will head back west, spend the night in Anacortes, and head out to Orcas Island for our last 5 nights. Star has us an Orca/Whale watching tour planned. I hope it's a big boat.
If we find internet service, we will update the blog next week. As we learned last year at Glacier National Park, that could be easier said than done. Star says maybe we can find another laundromat and "borrow" their internet service. Last year, we washed clothes while blogging at a place 15 miles out of the park. Once we were done washing clothes, however, the owners started dropping huge hints aloud until we were forced to leave like the internet stealing outlaws we are.
Until then, here are a few photos of some area hikes we did this earlier this summer. The creeks, rivers, and lakes in this part of the world are flowing as full as we have ever seen them. In fact, as I type this we are in the midst of thunderstorms...again.
Eastatoe Gorge looking good!
Testing out our new equipment on an overnight trip in the Pisgah National Forest mid-June.
Chattooga River running above flood stage after the monsoons of July 4th week.
Dead tree, add water, more life
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