North Cascades National Park- July 2023

By on
This park isn't nearly as popular as the others in the state (it's like, really far north), but absolutely worth a trip to visit. The road up to this part of the park was sketchy at best, but we made it in my friend's Honda Fit, which maybe isn't recommended but feasible.  

Cascade Pass Trail 

We only had time for one hike, and opted for this 6.7 mile with 1700ft of elevation gain up at the top north corner of the park. There was a big lot at the trailhead that was surprisingly mostly full for how little traffic we saw on the way in. The views from the parking lot alone were absolutely stunning. This hike took us about 3.5 hours. 

The hike started with a lot of switchbacks in the woods with some occasional breaks in the trees, which being the first hike after The Enchantments, were welcomed. It then came to a couple of straight aways with clearings to look over the valley. It was foggy and misty and was just serene. There was also park of the trail that was mostly just rocks in all directions. We ended at Cascade Pass, where a rather cold rain had set in. The trial kept going down the Sahale Arm, more than doubling the length to 15 miles. When I come back, seeing the rest will absolutely be the goal. We started mid-afternoon since we had driven up from Seattle that morning, and the rain was freezing, and had more driving to do after, so we had to call it for the day. This is a pretty popular spot for backpacking, and it would be a great way to take some more time to explore it. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Mount Rainier National Park- July 2023

By on
Image
Before visiting Seattle, I thought people were a little intense with how much they love this mountain. But, I can confirm it's justified. I lucked out with another beautiful, sunny day. The mountain really can hide behind clouds that come out of no where at a moment's notice, though. There are two main sides to the park, Sunrise and Paradise. They are about an hour and a half drive apart, so best to do some research and decide which you'd rather visit, as both in a day would be challenging. I chose the Paradise side, which is the more popular side, especially for wildflowers during the summer. Even on a Thursday, I got there before 8am, the main lot was almost nearly full. So get there as early as you can!  Skyline Trail According to AllTrails, this is about a 6 mile loop with 1800ft of elevation gain. There are a ton of other trails off of it, so I ended up at about 8 miles with the different routes I took, with about 5 hours worth of meandering. I started in a counter-clo...
Read more

Zion National Park- February 2023

By on
Image
 A magnitude of incredible that can't be described.  I've saved this page for last, mostly because I want to dedicate some time to doing this park justice, but understand it is so much more than I can say. Zion has been the top of my National Parks Bucket List for as long as I can remember, and it really was an ethereal experience. Looking back on these pictures honestly feels like a dream, and I'm so lucky to have experienced all that I did over the two days I spent hiking here. I have never been so tempted to pack up and move somewhere in my life. Okay, I say that every time I go somewhere. But, I meant it more this time. There is something about this region of the country that resonated deep in my soul and I cannot wait to go back. The minute you drive into the park is jaw-droppingly beautiful, and there is so much to love and feel and experience. 10/10 would recommend, and take me back with you when you go.  Angel's Landing  It's really fun. It's kinda scary...
Read more

Rocky Mountain National Park- October 2023

By on
Image
I have been to Denver at least 6 times in the last decade to visit friends. Every time I go, I state I want to go to the Rockies, because I've never been. So this time, I rented a car and took control of the situation, and even got to drag my boyfriend on his first trip to the mountains. We stayed in Estes Park, and it quickly became one of my favorite towns I've ever seen. It was so beautiful and adorable and there were herds of elk just hanging out. There were perfect coffee shops (this picture was from Coffee on the Rocks), and the fall colors at that elevation were at their peak the second week of October. I loved everything about it.  Four Lake Loop Trail  We had one day to fit in a good hike, since neither of us adjusted well to the elevation, and that definitely had nothing to do with an EDM concert at Red Rocks the day we got there. But, this hike was the best given those circumstances. There are two parking lots that allow you to access this loop, one at Glacier Gorge...
Read more