Maple Pass Loop Splendor

Our favorite hike of the trip thus far, this 7 mile 2,000 ft. loop day hike was a fantastic sampling of everything the North Cascades has to offer.  We saw glacial lakes, unfamiliar flowers, fantastic meadows, and big 360 degree views for 5 of the 7 miles.  From Maple Pass, we could see legendary Glacier Peak and even Mount Rainer in the distance.

It's difficult to find really good loop trails, and this one is a gem.

We started at 4,900 feet, and climbed steadily for 4 miles traversing two mountain passes.  And when we finally reached our high point on a flank of Frisco Mountain (6,900'), we started a bone jarring 2,000 ft. descent in 2 miles winding our way along a knife’s edge ridge.  It’s another one of those places where you keep thinking to yourself, “I can’t believe I’m actually hiking in such an otherworldly place.”

Although this is one of the most popular trails in Washington State, we ran into very few people.  The ones we did meet, however, were fascinating.  One couple from Tacoma caught up to us at Heather Pass, and hung with us for a while.  They were part of an online group called Pacific Northwest Hikers, and seemed interested in us coming all the way from South Carolina to hike in the North Cascades.  They took several photos of us approaching Maple Pass before parting ways, and the gentleman told us our story and photos would be showing up on their site.

When a second group of 11 hikers later caught up with us, we found out they were from the Northern Applachian Trail Hikers Club.  We think they were mostly from the New England area, and were extremely friendly and curious about our adventures.  One of them asked about the debacle known as South Carolina politics and our history of unscrupulous politicians.  We politely declined to participate in that discussion.

In the right circumstances, social interaction on the trail can be one of the most rewarding parts of hiking.  I still say you can have more open, direct, conversation with people on the trail than you will ever have in a church, bar, or most any other place on this planet.

 

We are checking out of the quaint, peaceful Freestone Inn today, and headed out for one last overnight backpacking trip in the North Cascades before heading back west tomorrow afternoon to Orcas Island.  From that point on, there will be no hiking reports, because there will be nothing but R&R for our last 5 days.  To quote a man we passed a few years back hiking in Linville Gorge, "My legs is burning!"