rebeccad
Trail Wise!
Writing like a maniac
Posts: 12,667 
|
Post by rebeccad on Apr 14, 2017 19:58:06 GMT -8
It's still early, but does anyone have any sense of what the snow pack in the North Cascades is looking like? We'd like to be able to backpack there in late July, but given all the snow most places, I'm wondering.
I'm open to suggestions of areas that might be more likely to be accessible, too. We are willing to hike far, work hard, and deal with some snow, but not hazardous conditions, and we don't have 4WD for getting to THs.
|
|
|
|
Post by cweston on Apr 15, 2017 8:55:25 GMT -8
It's still early, but does anyone have any sense of what the snow pack in the North Cascades is looking like? We'd like to be able to backpack there in late July, but given all the snow most places, I'm wondering. I'm open to suggestions of areas that might be more likely to be accessible, too. We are willing to hike far, work hard, and deal with some snow, but not hazardous conditions, and we don't have 4WD for getting to THs. I haven't been following the snow year out there, but my sense is that getting to trailheads in late July is pretty-much never a problem. What trips do you have in mind? I have an opinion or two about the area  |
|
RumiDude
Trail Wise!
Marmota olympus
Posts: 2,361 
|
Post by RumiDude on Apr 15, 2017 9:04:49 GMT -8
There is a good snow pack in the North Cascades, but not epic snow pack. All trailheads should be accessible. I would guess that you will deal with a few snowfields but nothing overly hazardous. Of course, it all depends on weather conditions between now and then. A hot spring could melt most of the snow by then. A cool spring would preserve much of it.
Rumi
|
|
texasbb
Trail Wise!
Hates chicken
Posts: 1,223
|
Post by texasbb on Apr 15, 2017 9:07:12 GMT -8
It's still early, but does anyone have any sense of what the snow pack in the North Cascades is looking like? We'd like to be able to backpack there in late July, but given all the snow most places, I'm wondering. I'm open to suggestions of areas that might be more likely to be accessible, too. We are willing to hike far, work hard, and deal with some snow, but not hazardous conditions, and we don't have 4WD for getting to THs. Most of the SNOTELs (Easy Pass, Beaver Pass, Brown Top, Thunder Basin) are showing current snow levels (snow water equivalent) at only 5% to 8% above the median for this time of year. It could still snow more, and we're having a cool spring so far, but the pack doesn't seem to be that exceptional at the moment. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2017 12:22:06 GMT -8
|
|
rebeccad
Trail Wise!
Writing like a maniac
Posts: 12,667
|
Post by rebeccad on Apr 15, 2017 19:04:22 GMT -8
There is a good snow pack in the North Cascades, but not epic snow pack. That sounds promising. only 5% to 8% above the median for this time of year. Ditto that. What trips do you have in mind? I have an opinion or two about the area Haven't gotten very far in planning, and it's been 30+ years since either of us packed up there, so share your opinions freely! We will have our car, and a reasonable amount of time for drives to THs. Looking at doing a 7-day trip, but our daily mileage is low, so probably less than 50 miles. Might also try to pull off a 4 or 5 day trip with our offspring. I am unlikely to be organized enough to get permits for popular spots, and don't want to hike where everyone else is anyway |
|
|
|
Post by bumknees on Apr 15, 2017 19:59:17 GMT -8
Just got a permit for a North Cascades hike. Copper Ridge & Chilliwack River loop. TH is Hannegan Pass, not far from Mt Baker. We are doing the ~34 miles in 5 days. That may fit the bill.
|
|
|
|
Post by cweston on Apr 16, 2017 4:13:39 GMT -8
The trip from Hannegan Pass (just mentioned in another response) over Whatcom Pass to Ross Lake is classic, although I have a caveat: I don't think it's worth the mileage/elevation to Whatcom Pass if you don't spend at least a day or two in the high-country which is (easy) off-trail from the pass: Tapto Lakes, Middle Lakes, etc. Red Face Mt (west pk) is a straightforward class 2 scramble from Tapto Lakes.
Very few hikes in the area are popular enough for permits to be a real problem. Copper Ridge is limited by the scarcity of watered camps on the ridge, so they ration the permits.
I am a big fan of Park Creek Pass and North Fork Bridge Creek for shorter trips.
Also, still the North Cascades technically, not NP, no permits, etc: have you considered the Spider Gap-Cloudy Pass-Image Pass-Buck Creek Pass area? You could do a loop there in 7 days with lower-mileage days. Might even be able to detour up Leroy Creek (steep, but good trail) over the Entiat Crest to Ice Lakes.
|
|
|
|
Post by cweston on Apr 16, 2017 4:22:01 GMT -8
A couple more things about going off-trail from Whatcom Pass: unfortunate NPS red-tape stuff.
1) NCNP requires bear canisters and blue bag use in the cross-country zones. (You'll be glad you have bear canisters, though, because you WILL see (black) bears. Middle Lakes are bear ground zero.) Blue bags are definitely overkill for that area, but whatever.
2) Unfortunately, Middle Lakes and Tapto Lakes are in separate cross-country zones, even though they're only a few easy miles apart. That makes trip planning/permits a little trickier, since you might otherwise prefer some flexibility on where you camp offtrail in the area.
|
|
|
|
Post by cweston on Apr 16, 2017 4:32:17 GMT -8
|
|
rebeccad
Trail Wise!
Writing like a maniac
Posts: 12,667
|
Post by rebeccad on Apr 16, 2017 9:42:20 GMT -8
bumknees and cweston Thanks for the suggestions. I'll look into those. I know I went over Spider Pass and Buck Creek Pass back in the dark ages, and I like the suggestion about adding some off-trail time up Whatcom Pass (but don't like the sound of the NPS red tape, and I don't think I'm up for the blue bag issue, so that might be a deal-breaker for me. And geez. When I was last in that area, there were no rules at all. I don't think that we did more than sign in at the TH, if that. I do miss the old days sometimes).
|
|
|
|
Post by cweston on Apr 16, 2017 9:59:50 GMT -8
bumknees and cweston Thanks for the suggestions. I'll look into those. I know I went over Spider Pass and Buck Creek Pass back in the dark ages, and I like the suggestion about adding some off-trail time up Whatcom Pass (but don't like the sound of the NPS red tape, and I don't think I'm up for the blue bag issue, so that might be a deal-breaker for me. And geez. When I was last in that area, there were no rules at all. I don't think that we did more than sign in at the TH, if that. I do miss the old days sometimes). I'm a big-time rule follower, and we did not blue bag at Middle Lakes, because, frankly, it seems ridiculous to me. There was plenty of ground that was just about ideal for cat holes. Obviously, if you're up on the glaciers, that's a different story. I also *hate* permit red tape, but I've never had an issue getting the permits I needed at NCNP. Another weeklong trip you might look at is the Napeequa River via Little Giant Pass. You could do some great basecamping with side trips up Louis Creek, to High Pass, and to the Clark Mt. glaciers. |
|
rebeccad
Trail Wise!
Writing like a maniac
Posts: 12,667
|
Post by rebeccad on Apr 16, 2017 19:23:21 GMT -8
Inspiring TR! Not sure if we are up to all that, but I'll be looking at it. |
|
|
|
Post by cweston on Apr 20, 2017 7:32:04 GMT -8
One more idea--you could do all sorts of great trips that involve a stay in Stehekin. (Lodge, restaurant, shower, laundry, etc) The long way is from the south: Phelps Creek over Spider Gap and Cloudy Pass, or from the Entiat River (catching the boat at Lucerne).
Or, more directly, you can come over Cascade Pass (crowds), or Park Creek Pass (spectacular), or enter at Rainy PAss on the PCT and take side trips up N Fork Bridge Creek and/or Park Creek.
If you could arrange a shuttle, you could hike in and take the boat out to Chelan. Just a thought for a little different type of BP trip.
Perhaps your sons would enjoy the challenge of the dayhike to Boulder Butte from Stehekin (which is about 6,000 feet of elevation gain!)
I've hiked pretty-much every trail in the Stehekin Valley, so I can give specific info if you're interested.
|
|
rebeccad
Trail Wise!
Writing like a maniac
Posts: 12,667
|
Post by rebeccad on Apr 20, 2017 21:21:29 GMT -8
I have friends who live in Stehekin much of the year. I am definitely considering hiking through there. I included it on my PCT section (Canada to Steven Pass) in 1990, and have fond memories of the bakery there. Actually, that stretch of the PCT, especially around Glacier, is one I wouldn't cry over repeating, maybe at a more sane pace than I did then, and with a much lighter pack!
|
|
