More glaciers than Glacier National Park and a lot fewer people - that's what initially attracted our attention to North Cascades National Park. But there's so much more....a quote from the NPS website:
"North Cascades National Park Complex spans the Cascade Crest from the temperate rainforest of the wet west-side to the dry ponderosa pine ecosystem of the east. The park encompasses landscapes with over 9,000 feet of vertical relief. There results a high diversity of plants, over 1,600 species so far identified, and many other organisms adapted to a wide spectrum of habitats.
The relatively new mountains, glaciers and streams of North Cascades lie near a dynamic interface of tectonic plates and provide an opportunity to study geologic processes unfolding through time. Geologists and others seek answers to questions of global climate change, mountain building and erosion, volcanism, glaciation, stream dynamics, and more."
We did a 44 mile loop trail through some of the most spectacular backcountry we've yet experienced, here's the highlights:
Pics below, but first, enjoy a video:)
Clearwater streams:
Splendid fall foliage:
Public land a-plenty:
Free blueberries:
Incredible stealth camping sites:
Invigorating breakfast perch:
Well-built and maintained trails:
Keeping limber:
Epic alpine wonders:
Inspiring color palettes:
Dynamic weather (clouds moving in):
Hiking in the clouds:
Happy fungus:
Rain gear test (failed):
The sun returns!:
Friendly snake:
HUGE slugs:
Happy Campers!
