FIRST 2 WEEKS IN OCTOBER
North Cascades- Just outside North Cascades National Park
Out of Canada and into Bellingham, Washington. I decided to take a break and figure out what direction to head out in. In the meantime, I ordered some new shoes and picked up a new set of poles at REI. I did get a few day hikes in the area before my package arrived and headed towards the North Cascades National Park.
I learned a valuable lesson after arriving in the park only to find dense forest fire smoke that the wind was blowing south from fires in the north. It meant waiting for 3 days before a hike I had found nearby with the help and suggestion from a park ranger. Almost always a good resource, regardless what I had found online on my own.
Thorton Lake trail to Trappers Peak
I try to always research road conditions (besides weather and trail conditions). However, it can be an exciting surprise to find the conditions more challenging! A lot to times it comes down to very narrow roads that are one lane and can be difficult to back down. Fortunately, the van has been pretty amazing getting me to some remote destinations.
When I finally got on the trail around 5am, it meant about an hour by headlamp. I have to admit, the dark forest, alone, can increase the adrenalin. But, as always, it’s about risk management. Mostly, leaving fear of the unknown to review. It can be a powerful experience.
Even with the smoke, fog and then a rain shower, this was a fantastic hike that had an exciting little ridge scramble and views of the Northern Cascades National Park and the Pickets Range.
The ridge scramble
I made a last minute decision to finally abandon hopes of doing more in the North Cascades National Park area. The smoke was still not clearing out after more than a week of waiting and planning. I knew I wanted to make my way south as Fall was quickly approaching and I hoped to get more in before dealing with snow and freezing temps. I found an interesting peak south east in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. Getting there proved to be another dirt forest road that abruptly appeared along the Mountain Loop Highway and to get to the trailhead about 16 plus miles. Apparently Google Maps failed to tell me we were going off pavement… The final forest road was a narrow, tightly brush path where I finally parked for the night.
Vesper Peak is a peak along the Mountain Loop Highway region of the North Cascades of Washington state. It is about 18 miles (29 km) south of Darrington and 21 miles (34 km) east of Granite Falls, in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. Its gentle south and east slopes contrast with a sheer north face which offers "excellent technical routes".[3]
Climbers and hikers eventually showed up and took to the hills as well. It was pretty remote and it’s always good to see a few people out there.
No smoke this time. Fog and clouds for the most part. It was an exciting long day out exploring a new mountain region and route finding on the upper granite slabs.
Vesper Lake
Upper sea of granite
Summit
Descending…
