Windy Pass — Monday, Aug. 2, 2010

North Cascades > Pasayten

Spectacular vistas, flowers, snowfields, tarns and meadows. Very little effort. Sunny on Monday and Tuesday. Tons of bugs. We hiked from Harts Pass to Windy Pass in about 2.5 hours. My boy Auggie carried 25 pounds on his 11-year-old frame. There are about 4 campsites within the first 5 miles, the first one is about 2 miles north of Harts Pass. Two other backpacking groups spent the night at the pass. We spent the night at the south switchbacks to Windy Pass, probably the best site of the bunch. Plenty of day hikers midday. I imagine Sept. is perfect here with red larch and no bugs. Maybe we'll return when Auggie carries 50 pounds and Dad carries 25 pounds.