Cascade Pass and Sahale Arm — Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025

Got up before 4am to make the 3 hour drive to the trailhead. Arrived at 7:15am with the lot just filled. Got a spot 2 cars down on the side. Not too bad!
As others have said, the dirt road to trailhead has some washboarding and just a few potholes. Not bad as these things go. The switchbacks up were pleasant and pretty until a bear hopped up on the trail right behind me! It was a young bear, not a large adult (but, still!). I was turning to go up the next switchback (approx midway through that section) when I saw him/her about 15-20 feet back. It crossed up, down, toward me and away from me then walked toward me again until I said “noooo bear!” - it finally chose to climb up up and away. Whew! I clung to another group instead of continuing alone. A lovely trio of women around my age (mid-50s) allowed me to tag along. Thank you!

Cascade Pass revealed a gorgeous deep valley of tall peaks dotted with blue streaked glaciers. Loads of people were there enjoying a snack and hydrating while a chippy held court facing his audience. (Pic)

Onward! Up up up to the Arm we go… there were several pikas and marmots fun to hear and watch scurry across the landscape into their hidey holes. The wispy clouds obscured some peaks to the west and north, but those to the east including Doubtful Lake down below were clear and gorgeous! The loooooong waterfall down to the lake was beautiful!
Poles and a 2L water bladder were key to me making it all the way to Sahale Glacier and down again bc the majority of this hike is a thigh burner. I had only done a few hikes this whole season and this one was pretty hard for me.
The last section of rocky steps, boulders, and loose scree was tricky and slow-going. The views every which way made up for my weakass pain :)
On the way back down on the Arm, I saw a group of people gathered ahead along the trail looking at something and I swear I saw the fur of a polar bear! Ummmm, nooo - it was a gorgeous mountain goat - all I saw first was only its back bc its head was down for grazing. We stood in awe as it sauntered off, nibbling away.
You will rarely find yourself alone here and it’s understandable… adorable marmots, pikas, along with misty low clouds, sunshine, and mind blowing VIEWS of tall peaks in every direction - this is one to put on repeat.
I only saw one orange peel on the trail, so kudos to folks packing out their rubbish!