The Okanogan, an area east of the main Cascades Range and adjacent to the Canadian Border, provided an early-season backpacking opportunity. It's a long drive from Seattle, but without any real time constraints, we saw a great opportunity to go mid-week. After a day of driving, including a spontaneous brief visit to Grand Coulee Dam, we spent the night in Omak, and headed out the next morning. After a day's delay due to a mishap (see Random Scenes, below), we headed out again. A good chunk of the first 5 miles is in an old burn ... providing interesting contrasts of dead silver trees, charred trunks, saplings, and incredible flowers. Needless to say, the going was slow for Tom.
After reaching Sunny Pass, gateway to Horseshoe Basin, the scenery really opens up. Broad meadows with groves of subalpine fir. And amazing carpets of flowers! We camped at beautiful Loudon Lake, which is a little further along the Boundary Trail (which, as the name implies, parallels the US/Canada border). Explorations included a dayhike about 7 miles further out the Boundary Trail, and a morning jaunt up nearby Armstrong Mountain. Great views, plus the opportunity to visit the actual border!
Overall, a great trip! Elevation gain was relatively benign. Endless varieties and quantities of flowers! Some rain showers, but conveniently scheduled after dinner. And bugs weren't too bad. Definitely worth the drive.
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| First peak at flowers and Windy Peak |
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| Lupines and Paintbrush |
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| Lupines, Paintbrush, and Charred Trunk |
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| Arrow-Leaved Groundsel |
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| Windy Peak |
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| Rock Mountain after Evening Shower |
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| Evening at Loudon Lake |
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| Remmel Mtn |
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| Morning Visitor, Loudon Lake |
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| Loudon Lake |
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| Karen and Border Monument |
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| Sunlit Shoulder of Armstrong Mountain |
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| Cathedral Peak (note US/CA border as whitish vertical line, center right) |
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| Phlox |
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| Armstrong Mountain Panarama |
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| Flowers, Loudon Lake and Windy Peak |
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| Sitka Valarian (?) |
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| Columbine |
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| Lupine and Charred Trunk |
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| Old Burn below Sunny Pass |
Activities
- Sightseeing: Grand Coulee Dam
- Hiking: The Boundary Trail from Horseshoe Basin trailhead to almost Sheelite Pass, with a side trip to Armstrong Mountain
"Oh Wow!" Moments
- Just when you thought you'd seen as many flowers as there could ever be, there'd be billions more!!
- The giant flat meadow on the top of Armstrong Mountain!
Random Scenes
- Hiking along an hour plus from the trailhead, minding his own business, Tom came across a double-log blowdown. He decided to take one step between the 2 logs, then another to clear the second. Much to his surprise, his back foot caught on the 1st log as he was making the 2nd step, and he was suddenly toppling over. Not too bad, until the weight of the pack took over and slammed his head into a (fortunately) very flat rock. Seriously hard bang. Blood started flowing. So, after assessing things for a couple minutes, they turned around a headed back to find some medical help (stitches? concussion? ). After hiking out and driving back towards civilization for an hour or so, they were surprised to find a hospital in Tanasket. A couple hours later, he was discharged with just a bandage on his head. The next day, we started the hike all over again!
- In our 2 long out-and-back drives to the trailhead, the road provided a number of obstacles. A giant boulder had rolled down onto the road, blocking 1 lane. We ran across a herd of cows on the move who were in no mood to clear out of our way. And we slowed once for a mama grouse and her chicks. But she darted under the car as we drove past, then flew along beside us (at the same speed) for several hundred yards. Not sure why, but it was a pretty interesting sight, driving along with a bird looking like your wing man.
Random Questions
- How do mosquitoes find you in the middle of nowhere? Are they already hanging out there (so, in otherwords, everywhere) for the slim chance that a mammal (and it's blood) will come along?
Tom's Daily Stress Points
- Did the head bonk lead to internal bleeding? (stress level = medium)
Sleeps
- Best Western Omak ... fine.
- Spectacle Lake (near Loomis) ... bare bones car camping
Noteable Eats
- Omak: Breadline Cafe ... decent dinner
- Tonasket: Shannon's ... very good breakfast
- Entiat: Entiat Pub 'n' Grub ... decent burger
Future Ideas
- Backpack to Cathedral Peak and Pass ... possibly via different route than Boundary Trail.
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