After yesterday’s unplanned extended, emotional hike, Alan and I opted for the Cascades visitor center and adjoining trails. The car trip was a short 1/2 hour. Ten hikers and one guide (Marianne) chose this option. It was a slightly cool start to the day at about 55 degrees and topped out at about 74.
Along the way we had the chance to get in photo opportunities at the North Cascades National Park welcome sign. Today’s hike was super easy - no poles. Alan and I did get four miles of walking the trails that surrounding visitor center.’We walked for a while with the whole group and then split off and went along the Skagit River and took another small loop to a “rock house.” It was used by some of the earliest residents of the area, native Americans called the Upper Skagit People. By dating hearth charcoal, archeologists determined that people cooked there for over 1200 years. Alan and I tried to determine how the people accessed the “house” as the area all around was very steep; we didn’t figure it out. We were the only two people on that small loop which made for a very serene walk. I use the term walk because there was almost no elevation gain (295 feet), no rock scrambles or roots!
The group reconnected for lunch at the visitor center. Afterwards some of the group listened to a nature talk about trees, while others relaxed. The talk was supposed to be outdoors, however the skies held onto smoke from fires in Washington state.
Our guide offered to stop at a local campground, Glacier Peak Campground, where we could pay $5.00 to take a hot shower. Alan and I were not passing up on the opportunity. The private shower area was spacious and the water was hot!
The photo is deceiving as it looks like we are level to the “Rock House.” In actuality we were on a raised platform, with the house and river a good steep 30 feet below.
The Skagit River
Blackberry patches with the camp area.
Alan and I each with a handful of the berries.
Brown paper bag lunches with our selections circled on the the bag. After breakfast, hikers fill out the next days lunch when picking up lunch.
In addition to sandwiches, snacks are provided to add to your bag, including: several different gorp, cookies (or in the case, Rice Krispy treats), carrots, cucumbers and celery.
More bathroom “artwork.”