Downey Creek — Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2001

North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway

Hmmm, part of this trip is in WTA's ""North Cascades"" section, part in ""Glacier Peak"" section. Hope the database folks can handle this incredible complication! The Cascade Pass trail is in excellent condition to the Pass. Usual splendid views. We continued to Cashe Col on Aug 25, which had a slight moat problem. From there we climbed ""not Magic Peak"". Oops. Over the top of Cashe Col is a trail to Koolade Lake, our first camp. The next morning we scrambled Magic (for real this time) then hiked to Red Ledge. The snow is steep and hard to the ledge, but not a problem in crampons. The trail continues to the Middle Cascade Glacier. One moat problem there with a 10' 75 degree angle ice climb to cross a crevasse. Should be ok for a little while longer. A steep descent where we saw the only people on the traverse doing some geology studies. Then traversing on talus and snow to Yang Yang lakes for the second camp. Then trail up and up and a traverse along the Le Conte Glacier. One belayed crevasse crossing for one climber whose legs turn to rubber when spreadeagled across a crevasse. We scrambled Old Guard Peak. Then down some snow and talus to the South Cascade Glacier (easy travel) then pretty steep snow and talus to White Rocks Lake for our third camp. A trail that seems to descend way too low drops from White Rock Lakes, so we stayed high and traversed on heather, talus, and snow to the Dana Glacier. It was a straight-forward ascent to the base of Spire Point. We climbed up Spire, then dropped towards Cub Lake. The trail is in good shape to the lake. Beyond the lake is a fabulous blueberry patch, severely restricting travel. Much stained, we continued to a camp at the upper end of Batchelor Creek. The trail down Batchelor is very brushy in sections, but easy to follow. We got wet from the dew. The Downey Creek trail is in very good condition, with a few muddy sections and some possibly slippery bridges. That area was a nice contrast to the high country, with superb rain forest moss carpeting and some huge trees.