9/5/11 Posting

This weekend I finally got to hike the famed Lake Ann/Maple Pass loop on the outskirts of the North Cascades National Park. I had tried to do it a couple of years ago, but it started snowing the night before we were set to do it. So I kept hearing about how great it was for two more years until I finally got to see for myself this last Saturday. The hike did not disappoint—it was spectacular. We had a perfect day to do it and we got there early enough so it wasn’t too crowded. The late snow melt also meant that we got a really nice flower display along with awesome views of mountains. I’ve added a couple of pictures I took.

Perhaps there are some hikes that you have wanted to go on and for some reason, haven’t gotten around to it. You’ve been busy doing something else or the hikes have been under snow until recently. Whatever the reason, get out now and go to them! You won’t regret it.

If you need some ideas on some awesome destinations, here are several:

• Aasgard Pass/Upper Enchantments
• Cascade Pass/Sahale Arm
• Copper Mountain
• Cutthroat Pass/Pacific Crest Trail
• Elliot Creek/Goat Lake
• Gothic Basin
• Headlight Basin/Ingalls Lake
• Hidden Lake Peaks Lookout
• Image Lake
• Indian Bar/Wonderland Trail
• Kendall Katwalk/Pacific Crest Trail
• Lake Ann/Maple Pass
• Lake Caroline/Windy Pass
• Lake Stuart/Horseshoe Lake
• Mt Aix
• Mt David
• Mt Dickerman
• Navaho Pass/Peak
• Snowgrass Flats/Goat Rocks Wilderness/Pacific Crest Trail
• Sourdough Mountain
• Spectacle Lake/Pacific Crest Trail
• Spider Meadow/Spider Gap
• Stiletto Peak
• Summerland/Wonderland Trail
• Tuck & Robin Lakes
• West Cady Ridge/Benchmark Mtn

I hope that you are able to get to some of these awesome destinations soon or in the near future. Snow is melted from most of these places and now is the time to go. What are you waiting for?