Twisp Pass, Stiletto Lake — Thursday, Sep. 29, 2016

North Cascades > Methow/Sawtooth

As noted in my trip report yesterday about this trail sharing it’s first two miles with the Copper Pass Trail, we hiked to the bifurcation once again this morning. We encountered another equally fresh bear scat almost immediately after departing the parking lot. Is that TMI? After the split the Twisp River Trail climbs steadily up the valley wall. Needle strewn trail alternates with long rocky stretches. Eventually more and more of the trail is blasted into side of the mountain. Colorful vistas stretched far and wide. Larches, thimbleberry, huckleberry, the flaming yellows and reds are fabulous. Twisp Pass was our entrance to the North Cascades National Park. It seemed almost mischievous to be sneaking into the park this way. We wandered a bit and visited tarns both to the north and south of the pass. Dagger Lake glistened in the sun to the west of us. The Saw Tooth Range chases the sky to the south, Goode, the Liberty Bell Group and the others fill your vision to the west, and the steep flanks of Twisp, Lincoln Butte, and Kangaroo Ridge dominate your immediate views. Stiletto Peak and it’s former fire lookout called to us but despite some wandering we left it’s summit for another day. The larches were in a riot of color against the azure sky. A few wispy cirrus clouds added accents and a reminder of impending change to the weather. All told our day was 14 miles RT. A trip to the pass only is a bit over 9 miles RT.