north cascades

As July turned into August, Jenny West and I worked our way up to the Inspiration Glacier and then summited Eldorado Peak. It is during one of the more regular heat spells that come that way more often these years. As time passes, I start to count nights in the alpine more than summits visited...

Glacier Peak is the only deep wilderness volcano in the northwest. At over 10,000 feet and many miles from the nearest road, it is a commitment. I climbed the twenty mile round trip route, from the west, via the Stikum Glacier, in 2 fast days in 1998. It was a delight and I knew I wanted a...

Another retro trip report killing hours self distancing in the time of Covid. Classic North Cascades National Park backpack and peak scrambles of Black Peak 8970' and Corteo Peak 8090' with Larry, back in the day. Aug 21: We began the trip in the tail in of a rainy cycle, counting on...

After 10 days, a tendon around Jenny's knee was complaining. I will say upfront that NO ONE is tougher than this gal. So I put a hand on the tendon and was shocked and appalled. Swollen bigger than a golf ball! How was she able to even walk on that thing? Oh yeah...she is tough. Sigh, alas she...

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Alas, it was time to go down the hill. And a long hill it was. Within an hour, we were in the heather, at treeline. With the trees, came the bugs. The sweat. The cliffs, we weaved around, on the ridge top, that dropped over 5,500 feet, mostly trail less, to the...

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Questions asked from the first two segments. The trip was July 11th-16th and yes it was before the fires. We saw our first plume of smoke on the 18th. I have no idea what kind of tent it is. I don't know tents. I am a tarp type of fella. After arriving on the summit...

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 When we woke up the 4th day, we vacillated on which way to go. Back where we came from, or to continue on, with a long way to go. Going back would put us in the low lands, on a weekend night, among the crowds. Forward would be sans a safety net. But the weather...

In early July, Jenny West and I did the Inspiration Traverse, in the North Cascades. We got up 3 peaks and traversed 6 glaciers. We took our time and it took 6 days. Days above treeline in the Cascades, in good weather, is as good as it gets. Here is the first 3 days, including the ascent of...

My kids are getting old enough (9-year-old twins and a 5 year old) to start joining Mom and Dad on adventures. In July 2018, we did an 11-day journey through Washington including 6 bag nights. The trip started with 4 nights kayak camping in Baker Lake and Lake Diablo, car camping in the North...