Chelan Summit — Monday, Jul. 26, 1999

North Cascades > Methow/Sawtooth

We accessed this trail via the Safety Harbor TH. After reaching the junction with the Summit Trail coming from So. Navarre, there was an increase in blow-down. Several trees of various size were over the trail. As we reached an elevation of 5,300, there was also large snow patches lingering in the cool shady forest. We stayed overnight at the Miner's Basin camp. It was cool due to the snow patches. Rather like camping in a refrigerator. The open meadow was filled with early flowers, including snow buttercup, Western Anemone, globeflower and Potentilla sp. The next day, we moved on to a ridge coming off of Switchback Peak. To get there, we had to climb to Deadman's Pass, to the junction with the Summer Blossom Trail. There was fairly heavy snow on the north side of the pass, which we crossed carefully. The meadows below were clear of snow and flowers were beginning to bloom. The ridge was a fine camp for two nights. Winds picked up the first night as a front passed through, but morning found the sky clearing, although temperatures were still nippy. We did a dayhike to Hoodoo Basin and Boiling Lake, taking in the various wildflowers and trees in the area. We saw a small party at Boiling Lake and two motorcyclists. Other than that, the area was pretty much ours. Good camps at Hoodoo and Boiling Lake. There is some erosion damage due to bike travel along all the major routes. The last two days of the trip found us backtracking our steps over Deadman's Pass into Miner's Basin and out to Safety Harbor. The last two days were very hot, with snow melting rapidly. The area should be melted out pretty well in about two weeks. Motorcycles coming in from the Eagle Lake Trail are testing the limits of the snow patches. One was stopped cold by the massive snow patches still left at Deadman's Pass. Damage is being done to delicate meadows and switchbacks by careless riders. The views of Glacier Peak, Mt. Baker and the North Cascades from Deadman's Pass (just above it) are great.