Tres Westbrook
Member
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2013
- Messages
- 122
My wife and I took our first backpacking trip over Labor Day week in 2012. At the beginning of the year I did not even know that North Cascades National Park existed. Hiking, camping, and backpacking were not on my radar. Then I saw a copy of a Backpacker magazine at a newsstand. On the cover was a photo of a hiker standing at what appeared to be the edge of the world, jagged, snaggletoothed mountaintops at his feet, ridge behind ridge, extending into infinity. I purchased the magazine and perused it. It introduced me to the world of backpacking. My wife and I began hiking local trails for exercise, scenery, the solitude, and a sense of adventure. I decided that regardless of my work load, I was going to devote at least 2 weeks per year to backpacking trips. We decided our first trip was going to be over the week of Labor Day (so I would only miss 4 days of work). When it came time to pick a location, I just looked at the cover of that first Backpacker magazine (by now I had become a subscriber) and said, "I want to go there." "There" is Sahale Glacier camp in the North Cascades National Park, at the end of a six mile hike with around 4,000 feet of altitude gain. So, I started planning our trip. The only requirement my wife had was that there had to be a hotel with a spa and/or gambling at the end of it all. In addition to a few day hikes, I planned two overnight backpacking hikes. I found both of the overnight hikes in Backpacker and conducted additional research on the internet.
The Heather Pass / Maple Pass hike is a 9 miles loop around Lake Ann on the eastern side of the park. We followed the trail counterclockwise from the trailhead up to Heather Pass, with spur down to Lake Ann for lunch. The total elevation gain to Heather Pass is around 1,400 feet. We camped on a ridge under Black Peak, which rises another 2,800 above. The next day we continued our loop hike up to Maple Pass, topping out at the end of Frisco Mountain arm at around 7,000 feet. From there it was along the ridge and then steeply back down to the car. A very satisfying first night out in the North Cascades.
Emerging from the old-growth forest, with Whistler Mountain in the background.
Resting on driftwood on the shores of Lake Ann.
On the trail, the three prongs of Corteo Peak in the background.
Looking down at Lake Ann from the trail.
Approaching Heather Pass.
Setting up camp.
View from the campsite, Black Peak.
Exploring the area.
Campsite.
Back on the trail the next day.
The hills are alive with the sound of music.
Taking a break at Maple Pass.
Looking southwest from Maple Pass over the North Cascades.
Close up of Glacier Peak.
Climbing up to Frisco Mountain arm.
Another break, at Frisco arm.
Video of the hike:
Featured image for home page:
The Heather Pass / Maple Pass hike is a 9 miles loop around Lake Ann on the eastern side of the park. We followed the trail counterclockwise from the trailhead up to Heather Pass, with spur down to Lake Ann for lunch. The total elevation gain to Heather Pass is around 1,400 feet. We camped on a ridge under Black Peak, which rises another 2,800 above. The next day we continued our loop hike up to Maple Pass, topping out at the end of Frisco Mountain arm at around 7,000 feet. From there it was along the ridge and then steeply back down to the car. A very satisfying first night out in the North Cascades.
Emerging from the old-growth forest, with Whistler Mountain in the background.
Resting on driftwood on the shores of Lake Ann.
On the trail, the three prongs of Corteo Peak in the background.
Looking down at Lake Ann from the trail.
Approaching Heather Pass.
Setting up camp.
View from the campsite, Black Peak.
Exploring the area.
Campsite.
Back on the trail the next day.
The hills are alive with the sound of music.
Taking a break at Maple Pass.
Looking southwest from Maple Pass over the North Cascades.
Close up of Glacier Peak.
Climbing up to Frisco Mountain arm.
Another break, at Frisco arm.
Video of the hike:
Featured image for home page:
