Hannegan Pass and Peak — Saturday, Sep. 21, 2002

North Cascades > Mount Baker Area

holy cow what a gorgeous day. views start about a half mile in, up valley to ruth mtn. & its amazing snow. mt. sefrit & granite to the right & left. most of the way is in avalanche greenery, hate to be here before it gets brushed out in spring. moderate ascent to the pass, 2000' in 4 miles. go hard left at the pass & ascend trees a bit, then long, stunning meadow switchbacks up to the ridge (blueberries are ripe!). from there it's a grunt but trail all the way. shuksan, then baker come into view over mt. sefrit. at the top a 360 of the cascade crest; picketss, challenger, spikard, etc., up into canada, & even glacier far off to the south. an hour on the summit was way too short. drank 3 liters. flies persistent all the way to the summit. skeeters are all dead. yay!