Thunder Knob — Monday, Apr. 18, 2005

North Cascades > North Cascades Highway - Hwy 20

Rather than head out for one longer hike I opted to do a few shorter roams instead. More diverse photography and, well, it feels like covering a lot more ground when the areas are so diversely different. After first heading up the Pyramid Lake Trail off of Hwy 20 just east of the 'Y' to Diablo Dam I headed 3.5 miles further east on Hwy 20 to the Colonial Creek Campground at Thunder Arm with the desire to finally hike up the new Thunder Knob Trail. Nice signs along Hwy 20 at the north gated entry to the campground. Holy cow, what a feeling it was to hike through the devastation of the October 2003 floods that Colonial Creek left on the campground! You get to campsite #10 and then enter a pile of boulders, river rock, silt, sand, and foot logs to hike through the rest of the campground. Old asphalt crushed apart scatters the scene. It is worth the stop just to see this alone. The hike up Thunder Knob was very enjoyable as it does a tremendous job in passing simply beautiful aspects of the terrain. A smooth gravel trail for the full nearly 2 miles up but oh how the terrain is diverse. Dark mossy forest gives way to open mossy rocky meadows which will be a bomb of a wildflower show by mid-May it looks with all that is coming out. Then the last 1/2 mile is like being transported to 6000' in the Loomis State Forest or something...nothing but a dry lodgepole pine open forest, kinnickinick, Oregon grape, and mossy/grassy open rocky knob! What a change. Views to Davis Peak, Jack Mountain, Colonial, Pyramid, and overlooking Diablo Lake all were enjoyed. Flowers were happening for starters as well, with yellow violets all over the lower part. Alumroot was getting close. Red flowering currents were attracting hummingbirds, and ospreys were romping in the air overhead. A surprising highlight was just before reaching the top of the knob the way comes to a large pond up there, and the mid-day noise of dozens of frogs getting on a rowdy chorus of ribbitts was awesome! The impressive views and changed open lodgepole pine terrain would lead you to believe you were 4000' higher elevation than the 1875-1900' that the knob boasts. A very fun hike worth adding in to any other day visiting areas off the North Cascades Highway! Alan L. Bauer 04/19/2005