NORTH CASCADES WEEKEND

Weather gets iffy as fall approaches and the forecast called for showers sweeping in and out of the Northwest.  We made the final decision for the weekend at 6am Saturday morning and were on the road shortly after 7.

Little did we know as we headed north that mixed forecast really meant the rain was going to park over the northern part of the state.

We swung into the Goodell Camp ground about 2 hours later, found an open slot and pitched the tent.  Leigh had done some research and all the reservable sites were, in fact reserved, but  we had no problem on this late August weekend finding a spot.  $16 for the weekend and we were set.  Base camp established, on to the first hike.

The Maple Pass loop would be a great hike in good weather, but the rain and the mist curtailed the views.  There were a few hikers on the trail and the common sentiment was the rain sure beat the smoke that had hung around western Washington for a couple of weeks.  The weather system we were in acted like a natural washing machine, cleansing the air.  Damp, but a welcome change from the smoke.

We didn't make the entire loop.  Just above Heather Pass we called it and retraced our steps back to the car.  A good outing and by now it was late afternoon.  Perfect time to get back to the tent for happy hour then dinner

The campsite was a standard campsite.  Somewhat private, but no real view.  I thought I had seen an access to the Skagit river as we drove out earlier in the day, so Leigh and I strolled around the camp property and found a picnic structure that was for 'day use only'.  By that time, most of the sites were filled and the various parties were huddled around their vehicles and tent sites preparing dinner.  There was no one at the picnic shelter and better yet, there was beach access to the river with nary a sole around.  Leigh proclaimed this is where we would have dinner.  Perfect.

In short order we had the chairs and table set with a bottle of wine open and breathing.  More perfect.

After nice happy hour appetizers, Leigh rehydrated her Hungarian chicken soup and we relaxed and chatted over dinner. As twilight fell, the first swallow appeared, darting above the water catching whatever swallows catch.  Soon there were swarms of swallows darting in and about, some coming quite close to us.  They were fast and pretty cool.  There were so many!

 At which point we began to realize these probably weren't swallows.  I grabbed the camera, but had trouble with the camera speed.  With only the standard flash attached to the camera it was difficult to get a clear shot.  The shutter speed would only go to 1/200 of a second and these things were fast.  I did manage to get a fuzzy picture of one.

You can see the thing just above center left.  Could it be?

Here it is again, greatly enlarged.  That's no swallow.  We were surrounded by bats.  Pretty cool little animals and extraordinarily agile.

After the bat show we retired to the tent and slept pretty good as the rain returned.

The great thing about car camping is the bigger tent.  Ours isn't that big, but there's room for a small table and two chairs in addition to a sleeping space.  The morning routine is firing up the stove and making coffee, then relaxing in the chairs.  

After a luxurious hour we decided to break down camp and make our way to Cascade Pass, one of the most picturesque hikes in the state.  So the book said.  On a clear day.  

There's a 23 mile road out of Marblemount to the trail head and about half of it is paved. The other half is washboarded in the extreme with a few pot holes just for added fun.

Cascade pass was used by first nations tribes going back and forth across the state as well as miners and settlers in the early days.  You can get to Stehekin from the trailhead via a 23 mile trail.  Which just went to near top of the list for next summer.

The hike itself isn't bad.  Good for exercise and the views, well, there weren't any.

We did make it to the top, saw the sign for Stehekin and took a selfie for posterity.

We'll be back to Cascade Pass, but hopefully next time in less soggy fashion.

On the way back to the house we stopped by the Roanoke for dinner.  Leigh had been thinking French Dip for most of the afternoon and I couldn't quite get a steak sandwich out of my mind.  We ordered one each.   Perfect end to a good, but somewhat damp, weekend.

Note:  I haven't been blogging for a bit, but will try to get back on track!!!