Just a couple weeks ago, the dirt road to the Welcome Pass trailhead was still holding snow, making it impassable, even in 4WD. But it's all gone now.

The summer trail started off pleasantly enough today, but things changed quickly. Not far up the trail, lots of deadfall / blowdowns slowed our progress. It was like a war zone in some sections. We did some trail maintenance, but most of it would require a chainsaw.

At one point on our ascent, I noticed a small dead tree right in the middle of the trail. It was really odd, and I even mentioned how strange it was to my wife, but we continued up the trail without much thought. A few minutes later, I thought more about it, and I decided to check it out on the way back down.

We encountered the first patches of snow at about 3,700 feet. Some of it was avoidable. But by 4,000 feet, snow pretty much covered the entire summer trail. And that happens to be where the trail becomes steeper than hell. This is where we donned our crampons ... and we were glad we brought them. I also switched from poles to an ice axe.

Most of the snow-covered ridge up to Welcome Pass is rather steep. Much of it ranges between 30 and 40 degrees, but for at least 50 feet or so, we ended up climbing a 43-degree slope. So glad I brought my axe, as I wouldn't have attempted the slope without it.

The snow, by the way, was pretty consolidated. Great for cramponing.

With the rain picking up and the views diminishing to nothing, we decided to turn around at 4,800 feet.

On our descent, we came across that odd tree again. To our surprise, it turned out to be a widow maker. It was about 4 inches in diameter and about 8 feet tall, and it had fallen with such force (from so high) and in such a vertical fashion that it actually impaled the trail almost a foot deep. When we came across it, it was sticking straight out of the ground. Lucky no one was around to get hurt!

Even though we didn't gain the pass this time, we enjoyed the climb ... and we got to hear the "drumbeat" noises of the ptarmigans (around 4,000 feet and up).

Our original plan had been to come in on Canyon Creek road and hike the Damfino Lakes trail to Excelsior Pass and across to Welcome Pass. This plan was thwarted when we found out that the CAnyon Creek road has been closed due to washouts, likely for at least this season. So the fallback was to leave a car at Excelsior trail and bring the other cars to the Welcome Pass TH where we started the traverse. This turned out to be a very good plan, as the climb to Welcome Pass (68 switchbacks, 3500', 2.5 miles) went quickly and the trail was in very good shape. Arriving at the pass we saw the first of the incredible flower fields that would accompany us the entire day. Turning west to follow the high divide we found very good trail conditions, little snow, panoramic views to Baker, Shuksan and beyond, and FLOWERS, OMG!! The trail wandered along the ridgetop, with modest ups and downs, for approx 5 miles. We took a short side trip to the top of Excelsior Peak, then went back down and traversed around the front (south) of the peak to Excelsior Pass where we found some people camping - the first of the day. From there (with a big sigh to leave the loveliness of the ridge) we headed down the 4.5 miles along the Excelsior trail to the car. I would strongly recommend going up Welcome and down Excelsior - the trail going down was rocky with big steps in places, much better going up the other end. Very few bugs, even 3 ripe huckleberries!!

After a couple of days of good weather, I found I couldn't take being cooped up inside anymore. So, Friday became a vacation day, and off I went into the North Cascades.

When the guidebooks say that the trail is steep, it isn't kidding. Wow. But, you just keep plodding up, and before long you hit the pass. There weren't a lot of flowers blooming at the pass, but that was about to change.

After reaching the pass, I turned right, up a bootpath leading towards Yellow Aster Butte. This day was sunny and warm, the views were wide-open, and I found myself very quickly entering a spectacular field of flowers. All the best elements of hiking seemed to coalesce and my increasingly ebullient spirits reflected this. I found a suitable spot for lunch, plopped down, and drank in the surroundings (figuratively).

I finally got moving again, dropped back down to the pass, and proceeded along the high divide toward Excelsior Pass. There were a couple of snowfields immediately out from the pass, but nothing unnavigable. Pretty easy stuff. Then it was back into the flowers. Surprisingly, the flowers appear to be just approaching their peak...at the end of August! Strange year.

The were a tons of bugs, but there was enough of a breeze that I didn't have a problem with them. If that breeze hadn't been there, though...

This was hike 13 of my 30/300/30000 @ 30 challenge.

1. Deception Pass
2. Wallace Falls
3. Spencer Island
4. E. Fork Foss River
5. Lake Serene
6. Wallace Falls
7. Goat Lake (N. Cascades)
8. Boulder River
9. Third Beach to Toleak Point (Overnight)
10. Big Quilcene/Marmot Pass (Overnight)
11. Lake 22
12. N. Fork Skokomish (Overnight)
13. Welcome Pass/HIgh Divide

So far: 13 Hikes, 114.3 Miles, 24300' Elevation Gain

Perfect day for a hike, this one is hikeable to the top-most vantage points as the snow, starting at the meadows, is easily traversed and the ridge-tops are free of snow. Many thanks to the WTA trail repair crew out on this one, There were about 5, including Marty, working away on the trail. The trail is in great shape with no blowdowns or slumping tread.

Very few bugs, and spectacular views from the summit. No $5 trail pass needed for this one, according to the ranger station. Wildflowers are blooming in the meadows.

Be advised that this is quite the strenuous hike, there are 2 miles that are seriously steep!