A buddy and I made it up Easy Pass and got to see the very first tinge of yellow larches on a pleasant day. A great, moderately challenging window into this side of North Cascades National Park
The trailhead is right off Route 20. The privy is clean and well stocked with paper and air fresheners. You immediately head down to cross Granite Creek, then start climbing upward on a meandering path with some roots across it and occasional boardwalks across marshy terrain. Early on is a brief boot path to Easy Pass Creek, where you can stock up on water
The path is unremarkable and straightforward through the forest save for a small downed tree. Toward the end of the woodsy section is the creek crossing, not a challenge this late in the season. It does get a little muddy around here. Soon, you break out of the trees and get a glimpse of what lies ahead of you between Graybeard Peak and New Morning Peak -- this is about halfway distance-wise, but not in terms of effort or time
The WTA summary claims you can see "Mount Henry." I assume they mean Mount Hardy. I could not find a Mount Henry around here
You cross a rugged talus field below a small hanging glacier with a waterfall, climb upward over medium-sized rocks, then skirt at the edges of more forest before diving into it again and switchbacking. It does get a little overgrown in parts, but no bushwhacking is required
The pass looks deceptively close, but the approach is long and involves a number of switchbacks where you have to watch your footing a bit. This continues until you cross across the glacial valley on manageable talus, switchback a little more, then arrive at the network of boot paths at the top overlooking larger glaciers and the Fisher Camp area
We left around 11:30 AM, arrived around 2 PM after I stopped to take many pictures, left around 3 PM, and got back to the trailhead around 5 PM
Comments