I will not try duplicating the flowing prose of the prior report - great report. I admit I was knackered getting to the Pass and doubly knackered getting back to the car. Also as reported, the parking lot was almost completely full and cars were parked along the road. While the road is in fine shape, having a Crosstrek's manual gears helped with both the climb up and the descent down the steep winding road.
The flies did not seem to be biting in the main but they were omnipresent for the entire hike joined, but only at the pass by horseflies. Flowers along the way. I found a nice rock on the way up where I sat surrounded by Columbines. A trio of ladies compassionately offered me Shot Blox (spelling) as they passed my slow paced crawl.
But stubbornly I dragged my body to the pass. Snacked a bit, drank more water - it was a pretty hot day on the sunny stretches - and enjoyed the views.
Made my way back down, passing more people on the way up. Lots of backpackers heading up for extended overnights.
It was a truly superlative in an incredible scenic wonderland.
Comments
Muledeer on Cascade Pass
Thanks for the info, especially the honesty about how hard it was for you. I have a Crosstrek, but it hasn't been up that kind of road yet, what gear did you use? I was also wondering about the smoke, if there was any from the fire over by Stehekin? It doesn't look like it from your pics, tho.
Posted by:
Muledeer on Aug 13, 2022 11:37 AM
Just a hiker on Cascade Pass
Getting older and, ahem, heavier has made some of what use to be easy hikers harder - what can I say. In the past I've climbed Sahale and been up the Arm a number of times. Yesterday was real work.
The Shift Paddles are really nice. I moved between 1, 2 and 3 on the way up and mostly 1 and 2 down. It really is only the last bit on the curving steep pitches. New asphalt has made it much nicer. I did not really study the vehicles in the lot but presume some of them were standard sedans. Fortunately, we did not cross paths in either direction with other vehicles.
Oh, I guess I did not post the picture down into the basin. There was no evidence of smoke.
As we started to see all the vehicles parked on the road below the parking lot I commented to me friend that probably coming Friday might have been a mistake and be almost as crowded as a weekend. I've never seen it like that. But then again, it is a National Park and it was spectacular.
Enjoy the hike and hopefully you can beat smoke.
Posted by:
Just a hiker on Aug 13, 2022 12:10 PM
Muledeer on Cascade Pass
HAHA the getting older part, the more birthdays stack up behind me the less badassery I'm inclined to do, I didn't have any trouble with this hike either in previous years either. It's nuts with people everywhere this year, if you live anywhere else in the country this is the place to be in August. Down at Rainier yesterday, nuts, pure nuts, I grew up when the PNW was a hidden gem
Posted by:
Muledeer on Aug 13, 2022 03:28 PM
Just a hiker on Cascade Pass
"I grew up when the PNW was a hidden gem"
I also grew up when the PNW was a hidden gem clear across the country from Da Bronx. But I've been here for more than 40 years and I do know what you mean. Did the Ptarmigan Traverse forty years ago.
Posted by:
Just a hiker on Aug 13, 2022 10:06 PM