Hannegan Pass and Peak — Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009

North Cascades > Mount Baker Area

A gorgeous hike. The road to Hannegan Pass was cleared just a couple of days before our trip. On the trail itself, a WTA crew was doing yeoman work cutting back brush and building a navigable path across the avalanche debris on the first part of the hike. The snow/debris was a little slippery in places, but not difficult to traverse. Other than the snow and a couple of minor blowdowns, the trail was in fine shape, although you could certainly tell the difference between the parts the crew had cleared back and the parts that remained brushy! The trip out was cool and grey, which kept the bugs almost completely at bay. On the way back, the sun started to bring the flies out. There were plenty of ripe salmonberries, and the huckleberries are just starting to ripen. The WTA crew reported seeing a bear across the valley, and we saw plenty of bear sign along the trail. Hannegan Camp is near Ruth Creek, a lovely mountain stream, and there couldn't be a more idyllic place to pump water of a summer evening. Saw a couple of mule deer and heard grouse. Plenty of marmot and pika calls along the trail, and I actually saw a pika dart across the trail on the hike out.