Wow. Cascade Pass Trail is in fine shape, easy grade and our surveyors carfully counted, there are indeed, as the guidebooks say, 33 switchbacks. Unless you count that little turn on the steps out of the parking lot, and call it 34.. The trail from the pass up Sahale Arm is a little less formalized - and at the same time has some truly impressive stone trailwork in it. On top of the arm there was light fresh snow, and fresh snowfall was in evidence on the surrounding summits. Surrounding Summits! Gracious, what a fantastically pretty place. Climbing up (and up) onto the arm was very worth the additional effort, certainly for this crew of view-inspiration junkies. Two young bucks, ptarmigan, nine climbers across the way climbing past LARGE fresh rockfall to Cache Col and the Ptarmigan Traverse, were all in evidence, along with what looked like a lot of folk camping at the only allowed spot up the arm, the climber's camp at the base of Sahale Glacier.. The corps wants to return to be sure it wasn't all an idyllic dream, and to have more time higher up enjoying the views.

When nice, sunny, late-summer days happen, you gotta go for it! Fair number of cars at trailhead, but only ran into a handful of parties on the trail. Minimal bugs, even though it was quite warm. Strong breeze and usual exhilarating views from the pass. Route is easily discernible (on a clear day) through the rock fields below Sahale. Sat at the foot of the glacier wishing we'd brought gear for the summit horn. I had packed for a hike. Maddog wanted to go the distance. All those bugs that missed us going up found us between Cascade Pass and the parking lot. No stopping on that stretch. Two items of note: 1) Even though the calendar says September, sunscreen is still warranted. You figure out why I tell you this. 2) The Cascade River road currently has fewer potholes than I can ever remember.