Big Beaver

Took my Boy Scout troop out to the North Cascade National Park for the first time this weekend. We had 13 boys and 5 adult leaders with us, which of course is over the 12-heartbeat limit. So I called ahead to the Ranger station on Friday and let them know we were coming and to let them know our needs (2 nights in 2 different camp sites, 15 mile minimum.)

Rangers in the NC Park are the BOMB. They were totally ready for us when we arrived around noon on Saturday, and had mapped out several options for us to choose from. Once the permits were issued, one of the rangers gathered the whole group of boys around and gave a 20-minute talk about Leave No Trace, and showed them the route we were going to take on the big park map.

Then we headed out on the trail. Drive to Mile Post 134 on SR 20 and park at the Ross Lake Dam trailhead. Hiked across the dam and into the woods. The first group stopped at the Green Point campsite, while the second group continued on to the Big Beaver campsite. The second day, we swapped locations, and then hiked out on Monday.

The trail was in absolutely fabulous condition. The views were incredible. It felt like a stroll in the Park :) The campgrounds were positively luxurious. Vault toilets, with toilet paper! Bear boxes. Level sites for setting up our tents. Fire rings with bar-b-que grates. There were even picnic tables! I felt like I was at the Hilton or something....

There were just a few mosquitoes, but nothing I couldn't live with.