Cascade Pass and Sahalie Arm

Sahalie Mtn from Sahalie Arm

Another window of beautiful fall weather gave us a chance to get back to an old favorite hike:  Cascade Pass.  This is one that we've always recommended highly to visitors, because it's a big bang for the effort.  And our experience this time was no different.  After switchbacking up through the forest for a couple miles, we broke out into a world of brightly colored meadows and commanding peaks.  From Cascade Pass, we headed up Sahalie Arm to further immerse ourselves in this world.  It's definitely some additional elevation gain, but the winding path and constantly changing views of colors, mountains, and lakes is mind-blowing!  Excellent day!

View East from near Cascade Pass towards Pelton Basin

Pelton Peak and Magic Mtn from Sahalie Arm

Unconcerned Bear

Doubtful Lake

Johannasburg Mountain from Sahalie Arm

Western panarama from Sahalie Arm (Hidden Lake Peaks, The Triad, Eldorado Peak, Mt Torment, Forbidden Pk [l to r])

Summits Behind Salahie Arm (Pelton Pk, Magic Mtn, Mixup Pk, The Triplets, Cascade Pk, Johannesburg Mtn [l to r])

Fall Colors and Magic Mtn

Descending Salahie Arm

More Photos

Activities

• Hiking:  Cascade Pass and part way up Sahalie Arm

"Oh Wow!" Moments

• The constant colors on the rounded hillsides contrasting with the dark angular ridge lines and peaks!
• A couple of bear sightings ... and pretty close!  But they simply ignored the humans.

Random Questions

• What's that cute little critter that stuck it's head out of the hole at the bottom of the boulder beside the trail?  Based on only seeing it's head and neck twice for very short times, it's probably a long-tailed weasel. 

Sleeps

• Bellingham:  Holiday Inn Express - fine, and ok breakfast

Noteable Eats

• Sedro-Woolley:  Liberty Bistro - very good dinner