Squire Creek Pass via Eight-mile Trail — Saturday, Jul. 1, 2017

North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway

Getting there: After about forty minutes driving the six miles of Forest Service road, we got to the trailhead at 8:45 and had no trouble parking -- we were only the third car there. I think it could fit about ten vehicles. Getting up: Constant elevation gain for the first part (1.5 mi?) will definitely get your heart beating. Got to the snowfields the latest trip reports have mentioned in about 1.5 hrs. With a general idea of where the Pass was, my hiking partner and I were able to find our way in about 30-40 minutes. The cairns at the very end were incredibly helpful. The view was a nice payoff, but if you aren't comfortable route finding, I suggest turning back. We relied on our footprints in the snow to guide us back, but with the warm day, our prints melted out. We were thankful for those that followed our path (we broke trail) for creating a more obvious trail. Being prepared: Even in my water resistant hiking boots, my feet got soaked crossing slushy snowfields, muddy trail portions, and granite slab "streams." I'm thankful for the sandals I brought for the ride home. These wetter trail conditions are likely to be more so in the afternoon as snow melts in the sun. We enjoyed less slush with our earlier ascent. The sights: We enjoyed the granite slab "streams" where runoff quickly slides down and the mountain view at the end.