Where: North Cascades, Washington
When: July 2008
Partners: DB & Ranger Chris
Route: Sahale Glacier
Mileage/Gain: 14/5,100
Armed with heavy packs, DB and I headed up the Cascade Pass Trail in anticipation of doing an overnight climb of Sahale Mountain, a mountain most folks improperly call 'Sahale Peak'. Eventually cruising over Cascade Pass and gaining the Sahale Arm Trail, we caught our first view of our objective.
As we continued up the trail, we were able to look down to Doubtful Lake and out to the unbelievably and impossibly delicious alpine peaks that surrounded us!
Gaining snow near the toe of the Sahale Glacier, we slogged across to find an available camp in this, the highest designated camp site in North Cascades National Park, and reportedly the finest high camp in the entire mountain range!
On the hike up, we'd bumped into a young man named Chris. He introduced himself as a new NPS ranger who'd been assigned as that day's task to explore his national park. He'd never climbed a mountain before -ever- and asked to accompany us to the summit. Sure!
Setting up a quick camp, we tied a rope around Chris' waist, put DB in the middle, and I led out - in my tennis shoes!
As we approached the class 4-5 summit pyramid, we headed directly up the final, short 50-degree firn slope that would put us on terra firma. Gaining the rock at the top of the snow, we traversed left and then I led up what proved to be only class 3-4 rock.
On top, the views were the sweetest I've ever seen!
Rather than climb back down the west side of the summit crag, we rappelled the south face and started back down the glacier.
Returning to camp, having bid Chris farewell so that he could hike back out to civilization, DB and I had dinner and marvelled at the intense scenery around us. A fun climb, and a terrific day!
******
Rising the next morning, I opened the tent flap, gazed out, and saw before me...
Enjoying the brief company of our mountain goat, we had breakfast, broke camp, and began our descent.
TOPO
The Best Summit Views Ever on Sahale Mountain
