Cascade Pass,Horseshoe Basin (Stehekin)

Our group of 5 left the Cascade trail head at 8 am - missing 3 people from Seattle. Most folks really don't believe that the 22 miles from Marblomount are indeed going to take a good hour to drive. About half these 22 miles are gravel - much with spiffy ""washboard"" effect or nifty potholes to swear around. We took off for Cascade Pass. This trail is in shaded forest for the first ~3 miles with gatzooks of gentle switch backs going relentlessly up - but mostly at a very gentle incline. Someone in our group claimed he counted 35 switchbacks, but seemed like alot more than that to me. The trail is very very well maintained. At Cascade Pass, there is a glorious view of the Stehekin Valley. The kind of view that one could sit for hours looking at and is a very worthy destination in and of itself. However, our group had much more ambious plans to make it to Horseshoe basin. 15 minutes later, the remaining 3 people from our group roared up the trail, saying something about how could it possibly take 3 hours to drive to this trail head from Seattle. Yup! 3 hours and worth every minute of it!! While waiting for them to revive, we pleasantly chatted with quite a few other groups that passed thru - most headed up to Sahale Arm/Sahale. Most had never heard about Horse Shoe basin, but expressed future interest in going.

We descented gradually down thru Pelton basin hoping to see a Grizzly Bear - preferably off in the distance. Mother Nature provided up a huge Marmot instead who posed for a few shots and then trotted across the trail. The trail is very well defined and is alot of rock until you enter a nice forest of trees next to the Pelton Basin campground.

Then we continues on the trail - which dropped off Pelton basin and switched back down and down until we crossed the Doubtful Creek. At Doubtful Creek, we took a nice long break and filled up on water. A mile of so pass this lovely little oasis we came to the turnoff for Horseshoe Basin. This intersection is well signed and at the end of a switchback at about 3600 feet. Note that we had descented as much as we had assended by this point (ie the trailhead is at about 3600').

It's gradual uphill into Horseshoe Basin. Last year, this trail was very brushy, muddy and we were prepared to wack alot of bushes. However, someone has very recently been thru here and done one heack of a job of trail maintance/trail clearing so that this is now a walk on an old road. Still a bit rocky and muddy in a few places, but fabulous compared to last year.

The basin opens up and you are surrounded by about 15 glacier fed waterfalls. Totally awesome!!

If you want to go to Black Warrior Mine, be prepared to do some rock hopping and uphill. The trail is occasionally marked with carins, but very easy to lose as you get closer to the Mine. However, the mine entrance is fairly obvious. You have to approach from the left of the mine. (A huge waterfall is on the right.)

For those with flashlights, boots (it's wet in there), and a sense of adventure (and a willingness to duck alot so as not bang one's head), the mine can be explored back a ways. We took the right fork and came to the end of the tunnel. It was a 5-10 minute walk from the mine entrance to this end.

After chowing down lunch and enjoying the views and wondering how any miners could have lived in this small little place, we headed back down. We went down hill slowly so as to enjoy the view (and the foot work is a little tricky in places). Once to the main trail, we started up retracing our steps towards Cascade Pass. It was a sunny day and this is Eastern Washington with no shade. Slow & drink ALOT of fluids was the name of the game. The Doubtfull Creek Oasis was a vert welcome respite!! Gentle wind, shade and lots of filling up with water was wonderful. Several of us soaked out feet in the cool cool water. Forunately, the next trek up to Pelton basin was in the shade. Once emmerging from the Pelton Basin shaded area, it was, again slow going in the direct sun. However, Cascade Pass was in sight, the views were splendid, and we were well hydrated from out Doubtful Creek break. Cascade Pass, as always (or atleast every time I have been there) had a nice breeze going thru it. Loads of people were enjoying the view. If you sat on the Western side in the shade, you quickly cooled down. If you sat on the Eastern side (in the sun), you warmed up quickly (a difference of about 30 feet)! The views were splendid!! We finally left for our 3.7 miles trek down the gentle switchbacks in the shade. By now, the flies had woken up and were around, but none of us got a bite. We last of us rolled into the trail head at 7 pm and were shortly headed down to Marblomount for dinner. Truly a delightful day!! Total milage was approximately 18. One could easily spend alot more time relaxing in Horseshoe Basin enjoying the flowers, the meadows, the 15+ waterfalls. However, if it is a hot day and the sun is out, the trek back to Cacade Pass can be brutally hot! Be prepared