Week 96.7 Jul. 5 & 6 - Cascade Pass and Sahale Arm

Total Distance: Approximately 13.2 miles
Elevation Gain: Approximately 4000 ft.
Time: Thurs. 1:30 pm - Fri. 7:00 pm
Weather: Sunny, beautiful.

Here are the journal entries from the 5th and 6th of July:

July 5th - [Today] we began a 3 day 2 night backpacking trip in the North Cascades. We reached the trailhead at 1:30 pm.  I have never seen such a beautiful trailhead.  The peaks above and around were amazing.  We geared up.  My pack was about 50 lbs.

We started hiking up, Creighton, our two friends, and me.  We were on snow immediately. It was patchy and the 1st hour of hiking had more trail than snow.  We were trying to get to Sahale Glacier Camp 5.8 miles from the trailhead.We should reach Cascade Pass in 3.6 miles.   It was constant uphill with breath-taking views and switchbacks.  Another hour of hiking up went by, this time with more snow than trail.

We hit the final turn and began traversing along the ridge to Cascade Pass around 3:45 pm.  I was thinking about time, since it was probably going to be 3 hours by the time we hit the pass.  The trail past the pass was steeper.  My nervousness about time quickly switched to the traverse.  It was all snow, and I was shaky.  I could see Creighton and one of our friends ahead, and the other friend was behind out of sight.  As I was making my way, I could not focus on anything but my steps.  This feeling is one reason why I don't do snow travel.  There was a spot of trail right before it opens up to the pass.  I made it to the trail and turned to find the fourth member.  I saw no one.  I could see al most the entire traverse I had just done.  I looked ahead and could see the pass above.  I hollered for Creighton.

Creighton came down.  He did not see any movement on the traverse and was able to go back a look for our friend.  Our other friend went too.  I continued on to the pass to stay with the other guy's packs. I made it to the pass soon enough, put on a warmer layer, grabbed a snack, and walked where I could see the traverse and was close enough to our gear to keep animals away.  I watched anxiously.  Finally, I saw movement and could count 3 moving bodies, one with a large pack.  I was relieved, went over to the packs, and waited.

The other three arrived, and the one member of the group had fallen through the snow and sustained a few scrapes and bruises.  It worked out well, he needed to stay put, and we had found a place at the pass that was melted out just enough for 2 tents and a bit of a kitchen.  It was about 5 pm too.

We piddled about setting up camp.  The friend who took the fall took it easy, while the other friend and
I practiced self arresting with ice axes.  Creighton and I cooked dinner.  We were visited late by two day hikers.  We fed them a bit of our pasta.  We cleaned up, buried food in the snow, and got in our tents.  It is now 10:30 pm, and I am going to bed right after I look outside to see if the moon is out yet... Nothing.

July 6th - I was awake a 5 am and for the first time since I can remember when camping I got out of the tent.  I was the first out, and no one else joined for an hour.  I fetched water and made coffee.  The morning was beautiful.  By 6:30 am, our camp was stirring and soon enough our day was beginning.  I made scones to start the day.  We then made our plan.  Three of us would day hike up to the Sahale Glacier camp and come back down.  Then all four of us would backpack down the other side of Cascade Pass out continue the trip out to Stehekin camping at Cottonwood camp.

The three of us took of at 8:30 am with nothing but the clothes on our back and ice axes.  Most of our 2.2 mile hike was on snow.  That snow was not just snow, it was snow clinging to steep slopes blocking any semblance of a trail.  Thankfully it was early, and it was easy enough to get a good purchase with my boots.  I was also happy my friend encouraged me to join him yesterday practicing how to self arrest.  I got up on the Sahale Arm and was blown away by the endless peaks to the south.  The stretch on the arm was insanely beautiful.  Marmots were everywhere.  I have a special love for marmots.  I stopped short of the camp.  It became rocky with no snow, and I was tired.  I enjoyed some views and a few snacks I had put in my pocket.  I tried to look in one direction for a long time, then change to a new one.  I wanted the sights to be seared into my optical nerve.  This park is majestic and beautiful like no other park I have been to.  The hike down to camp was good and fast but challenging at times too.  We were back by 11:30 am.

Next
-Pack
-1 pm leave Cascade Pass
-Walk through the Pelton Basin (UV oven, slow cooker)
-through trees with route finding
-spot trail, but turn around too dangerous (new plan)
-back at car by 7pm
-Cascade Pass at 4:30 pm, cabin in Mazama by 11 pm

As you can see, the 6th of July was a long day, and I had to outline the rest of the day before I fell asleep in the living room of the cabin and not in a cozy bed.

Orchid: Ice Axe skill acquired and the Sahale Arm.

Onion: Scare when I couldn't see my friend.

Picture:

Google Map