North Cascades, Washington: Another World

Music: Hello Meteor — Photic Glitter

In June 2023 my friends and I explored the North Cascades area. We stayed in Twisp and drove out to different trailheads daily: Blue Lake, Lookout Mountain—Methow, and Heather-Maple Pass Loop. We didn't hike into the actual North Cascades Wilderness Park, and mostly stayed in the Okanagan-Wenatchee National Forest area, but even these relatively short daytrips felt like traveling to another world.

Blue Lake:
We drove through the rain on Highway 20 past the small town of Mazama. The trees suddenly cleared, and we craned our necks to see the peaks and ridges of Washington Pass disappearing into the sky. We didn't realize that the Blue Lake trailhead was just past this, and that we'd be getting an even better view of the other side of the pass. I saw many different ages and levels of hiker on the trail. Maybe it was the dreamlike fog and the bright blue of the glacier-fed lake, or the constant sprinkle of pleasant rain, but this might have been my favorite hike.

Lookout Mountain–Methow:
A very short drive from Twisp, but not the easiest one. The road that leads to it is a rocky, narrow climb, but the views rewarded us for our worry about the rental. A short, steep hike lead us to the fire lookout tower with the rolling green Methow Valley to the east, the distant mountains that lead into the wilderness park north of us, and imposing peaks under darkening skies directly to the west.

Heather-Maple Pass Loop:
The most scenic and strenuous hike of the trip. This was an all day experience, one that started us up gentle forest switchbacks, into rocky clearings and scree that reflected the midday sun, then along Heather Pass with its forested views of Ann Lake. We noted how the air was thinning as we ascended the basin, and began clambering up the snowy and steepening trail (with frequent breaks) to reach the stunning alpine ridge of Maple Pass. At the beginning of the trail you can choose to start hiking the loop in either direction, but I recommend starting on the Heather Pass side, leaving Maple Pass for the grand finale.

Видео North Cascades, Washington: Another World канала Anthony Valli