MontanaChinook Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 Headed back inland off the coast last week, and went through the North Cascades National Park. Really cool area. Not too steep a climb, if you come at it from the west. Dog ears And saw this. Said hi to the guy but he didn't seem like he felt like talking so I left him alone. I hiked just on the outside of the park, since dogs aren't allowed in most areas inside. This range was in sight the entire hike. Really nice. The Chinook is in this photo... Anybody afraid of heights? Scout Dogg loves finding patches of snow in the summer Hike. I can see why this area doesn't get visited as much, even though it's as nice or nicer than most other national parks. Only one road through it, which is closed in the winter, and it's really steep to hike anywhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mission mike Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 Great mountain photos you have there, well done! we did that run up from the coast on highway 20 last August some steep climbs for the Toyota loaded as we were with three adults and gear, beautiful country and views, we stayed in the Winthrop area for five nights. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kayakthecoast Posted July 16, 2014 Share Posted July 16, 2014 It's the least visited Nat. Park in the USA. If you want a real high mountain wilderness canoe or kayak trip check out Ross lake. I used to kayak guide up there. You first kayak diablo lake and reach the bottom of a 500ft dam, no kidding! Then you pick up a phone and call the lost lake resort for a shuttle. A flat bed truck picks you and kayaks up ( you sit on the back of the truck, it's awesome) and wind up switchbacks through a tunnel just to reach Ross Lake!! Then you have twenty miles of complete wilderness camping literally all the way to Canada. Fantastic paddling, hiking etc. all you need is a permit, camp sites are very well maintained, and have bear caches, metal boxes! Check out Ross Lake on google earth. Sorry to jack your great post, I love this area, it's also a gateway to a lot of pot growing and smuggling so be aware and cautious off trail. The only other access is via north end of lake in Canada. Fact: we pay Canada for flooding their land when Diablo dam height was raised! It's a great wilderness adventure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MontanaChinook Posted July 16, 2014 Author Share Posted July 16, 2014 Thanks! Wow. That sounds great. Maybe some day... I'd definitely like to do some backpacking in there, but won't get around to that till my dog is too old for those kind of trips. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MontanaChinook Posted July 16, 2014 Author Share Posted July 16, 2014 Winthrop was cool. Definitely a tourist town, but there's not necessarily anything wrong with that. I liked Mazama better Luckily it was only around 7am when I was driving up the pass, and there weren't many people around. I was just going really slow to look at the mountains, and stopping to take photos. But dropping down to the eastern side definitely seemed like the steeper slope. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odyssey 4x4 Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 nice pics! I just made it into North California coming from Oregon. Definitely some steep long hills, the Toyota did great low and slow. You know it's a hill when you get to the top and there are big old rigs resting and cooling down on the side of the road. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MontanaChinook Posted July 18, 2014 Author Share Posted July 18, 2014 That's a long trek! Nice. Yeah, I haven't seen that too much. Probably will see it more now that the heat of summer is on us (and the smoke from fires, unfortunately). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolphinite no longer here Posted July 19, 2014 Share Posted July 19, 2014 Zach, I've been through North Cascades National Park several times and I agree, it's spectacular! Easy drive, too. I've spent several days doing day hikes up the mountain trails and spending the night in my Dolphin parked for free in one of the parking lots. Great place! Diablo and Ross Lakes are not to be missed, either. It seems like an undiscovered remote jewel when you see it for the first time. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MontanaChinook Posted July 21, 2014 Author Share Posted July 21, 2014 And there's an RV park in Marblemount with tent sites (which just means no hookups) for $10 a night! With showers and laundry. I liked Mazama. Looks like I'll be sticking around Helena next weekend. No Red Ants Pants, no bluegrass fest. A friend who moved back east is in town that weekend, and I'm broke anyway! Have fun. I'm definitely missing the summer festival scene right now... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kayakthecoast Posted July 21, 2014 Share Posted July 21, 2014 Happy travels Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sailfritz Posted February 19, 2015 Share Posted February 19, 2015 Enjoy reading these adventures. May starting a trip from San Jose, Ca. up through to Hope, BC visiting a friend in our 85' Dolphin. Want to come down to North Cascades and explore for a week. Any safe free camping or cheap spots? No power needed for us. On our way crossing the USA Northern route to Jersey and Southern route in the fall back to Calif. Long trip but looking forward to seeing lots of family and friends along the way (with laundry machines and hot showers!). Any suggestions for favorite other campsites or parks along the way? Thanks,............. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MontanaChinook Posted February 20, 2015 Author Share Posted February 20, 2015 Pretty sure this is the place I stayed. Just on the west side of the park, very close to the entrance. It was cheap, host was nice. It was pretty much empty when I was there. As far as camping along the northern and southern routes from east to west and west to east...no, I don't have experience. I'm going to be crossing from MN to UT then MT in about a month, and I'm just planning to get west as fast as possible. Plenty of camping all over Utah, Idaho, Wyoming and Montana, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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