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GoBlueHiker 
Obsessive Island Hopper...
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Posted on: May 29 2012, 3:08 pm |
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I'm getting married this July. For 12 days afterward my sweetheart and I are flying into Seattle and touring the PacNW in all it's greatness. We planned a long backpacking trip, but her knee isn't 100% after ACL surgery this winter, and we don't want to push it. So, we're playing touron instead from a rental car. I'll gladly play sherpa on short backcountry trips of 1-3 days, but that'll be about the limit of our reach on this trip.
I lived in the PDX area for several years and have hiked all around the PNW for handfuls more, I know the basic area, but I've been away in CO long enough that I'm doubting my judgement here. So help me out folks. 
Things we wish to see:
- A glacier. I've seen many, trekked solo over more than a few and basecamped on some of the biggest hunks of ice on Earth. But my baby hasn't been to a glacier up close and personal, and wants to see one. The obvious destination is Rainier... up to perhaps the Carbon Glacier from Ipsut Creek or up from Paradise to the Nisqually. We have traction devices; we're not trekking across the ice, just sauntering around the edges. But if anyone has any better ideas on where to go for big-glacier-viewing, let me know! Keep in mind our time constraints (Blue Glacier in Olympic, for instance, would be cool, but not within our time frame). Perhaps Mt. Baker would better serve our needs here?
- The Rainforests and coasts of Olympic NP. I pretty much have the bases covered on this one; I know where to take her. But the bigger question; where to stay? Any highly-suggested campgrounds we should check out, especially along the coast?
- Vancouver Island, BC -- We'll take the ferry across from PA for a day or few. Question: if we're spending more than a day, should we haul the car with us, or is public transportation in Victoria good enough to get around well? And again, any good suggestions on where to stay?
I'm open to other ideas as well. I'm leaving this pretty open-ended, all advice is welcome! If you had 12 days to show your love what you love about the Pacific Northwest in July/August, where would you show her? I'm just looking for ideas. Thanks a million!
- Mike
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Wealth needs more. Happiness needs less. Simplify.
www.RainForestTreks.com
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| Post Number: 2
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ol-zeke
me in the Tetons
Group: Members
Posts: 10923
Joined: Sep. 2002
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Posted on: May 29 2012, 4:40 pm |
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Glacier viewing--Don't forget Heliotrope TH in the Mt Baker area. Nice day hike right to the glacier.
short dayhike up to Baker also.
Vancouver--Since it will be a rental car, take it with you. The public trans is OK, but it doesn't make sense to leave yours parked. Navigation is not bad, as long as the passenger helps by keeping an eye out. Don't forget your Passports.
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Everything I know, I learned by doing it wrong at least twice.
The easiest way to ruin a Friday is to realize it is only Tuesday.
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| Post Number: 3
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GoBlueHiker
Obsessive Island Hopper...
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Posts: 14210
Joined: Jul. 2006
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Posted on: May 29 2012, 5:31 pm |
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Thanks Vince.
Oh, also, I'm gonna be giving you a call somewhat soon, some evening here. I wanna chat about a few things.
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Wealth needs more. Happiness needs less. Simplify.
www.RainForestTreks.com
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| Post Number: 4
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Eric H
Group: Members
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Posted on: May 29 2012, 10:01 pm |
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Plus one on Heliotrope.
Also, depending on your partner's ability, consider a one or two nighter to Hannegan Peak. 5 miles from TH, 3 thou feet, trail all the way.
Outrageous views (sleeping on top of the peak) into the Nooksack Cirque, Shuksan right there (and Baker a tad further off).
Best to go mid week but I wouldn't underestimate the payoff, views.
Other options nearby -- my partner has similar challenges and thru hours of map study, listening to backcountry rangers, I've figured out some real winners.
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| Post Number: 5
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cweston
Group: Members
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Posted on: May 29 2012, 10:42 pm |
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Congrats!
+1 on Heliotrope and Hannegan Peak.
You don't really need a car in Victoria unless you're planning to explore more of the island. We stayed in a nice B&B there years ago--I'll see if I can come up with the name.
There are some fantastic dayhikes in the Olys--you could drive the Obstruction Point road from Hurricane Ridge and take a brief hike in the high country along Grand Ridge or down toward Badger Valley. Or, if you like crowds, the High Divide trail out of Sol Duc.
Baldy is a great class 2 scramble from the Dungeness via the Maynard Burn Way Trail. Nice view of Olympus and everything else from the top.
In the Cascades, some of my favorite dayhikes are Vesper Peak, Mt. Pugh, and Mt. Aix (over Chinook Pass from Mt. Rainier). And perhaps the best of all, if you don't mind crowds, is Cascade Pass to Sahale Glacier.
Speaking of Cascade Pass, have you been to Stehekin? I'd seriously consider spending a few days there. If you take the boat from Chelan, there are several great dayhikes from the valley, as well as some primo 1-2 nighters (if she's up for that.) (Or you can hike in--now that the valley road is mostly closed, the shortest hikes in are about 20 miles.) I can give you way more Stehekin info if you're interested: I've been there several times and was there a good chuck of the Fall in 2008 as an artist-in-residence with the NPS.
When we lived in Seattle, we always took visitors to Discovery Park: great city, Puget Sound and Olympics views from the short, easy trail.
And for heaven's sake, take her to Ivars Salmon House on North Lake Union.
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| Post Number: 6
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GoBlueHiker
Obsessive Island Hopper...
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Posts: 14210
Joined: Jul. 2006
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Posted on: May 30 2012, 1:20 pm |
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Thanks guys, the suggestions help. Just to clarify, she's not a complete backpacking newbie, and she enjoys longer hikes. We went to SE Alaska for a week last summer, have taken lots of weekends together; we got engaged on a weekend backpack in Rocky Mountain NP. The only reasons we're limited are the total time of our trip (there's a lot we wanna fit in 12 days), and the fact that her knee and leg muscles aren't strong enough to risk hauling loads yet, so I'm playing sherpa on anything more than a dayhike. Prolly 3 days is our limit for any one leg of this trip. Were her knee stronger right now, we'd be off-trail for about 9-10 days followed by a couple days in Seattle.
We do, however, enjoy getting away from crowds. We're definitely planning on Mt. Baker; Heliotrope ridge looks too good to pass up, and although I'm sure we won't be completely alone, we should be able to avoid most the crowds we'd see dayhiking around Rainier.
I'm taking all the suggestions seriously so far, looking into them. Thanks for the tips guys, I appreciate them greatly!
- Mike
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Wealth needs more. Happiness needs less. Simplify.
www.RainForestTreks.com
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| Post Number: 7
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ol-zeke
me in the Tetons
Group: Members
Posts: 10923
Joined: Sep. 2002
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Posted on: May 30 2012, 3:32 pm |
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When we went to Heliotrope in a Sept, we were the only ones there. It was on a Thursday, though. Only the one stream crossing. Water might be higher for you, being in late July. Rock hopping route finding helps. Full album Here
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Everything I know, I learned by doing it wrong at least twice.
The easiest way to ruin a Friday is to realize it is only Tuesday.
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| Post Number: 8
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GoBlueHiker
Obsessive Island Hopper...
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Posts: 14210
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Posted on: May 30 2012, 4:33 pm |
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Vince: broken link? I'd like to see that album.
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Wealth needs more. Happiness needs less. Simplify.
www.RainForestTreks.com
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| Post Number: 9
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ol-zeke
me in the Tetons
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Joined: Sep. 2002
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Posted on: May 30 2012, 6:48 pm |
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http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/177738207XzPqSi
Sorry about that. I have been around here long enough to know I need to check posted links. This album has some bad shots of Baker covered in smoke from a fire that year, and some of Hannegan trail, Lake Ann, and the trail to Heliotrope Ridge. All of the folks in the pics were part of our group. We saw no others that day. BTW, Lake Ann is cold. I took a quick swim, and I do mean quick.
I find it amazing when people take my picture, and I have no idea what it was I was doing at the time. I think I was preparing to throw a rock at Zack, but cannot be sure. What dorks! He was always envisioning the photo before he ever took out his camera.  Never made it out onto the ice to check out those blue water pools. Bet they were cold!
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Everything I know, I learned by doing it wrong at least twice.
The easiest way to ruin a Friday is to realize it is only Tuesday.
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| Post Number: 10
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GaliWalker
Group: Members
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Joined: Feb. 2010
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Posted on: Jun. 04 2012, 1:54 pm |
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I've always been more partial to Mt Baker than Rainier, so I'd also vote for Heliotrope Ridge. However, if you haven't been to Cascade Pass before, that is an absolute must. Views of Mt Johannesburg with its hanging glaciers that release mini-avalanches every hour or so are awesome, right from the trailhead and only get better the higher you climb. Cascade Pass is stunning and the climb up Sahale Arm even more so.
Cascade Pass
In the photo above, take a left to go up Sahale Arm, or continue into Pelton Basin for a 3.5 miles, then take a left for another 1.5mi to access Horseshoe Basin:
One final suggestion, would be to consider the Mount Daniel area in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. Here's a teaser photo:
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'Gali'Walker => 'Mountain-pass' walker
Photos: http://galiwalker.zenfolio.com
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| Post Number: 11
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nilsy
Group: Members
Posts: 253
Joined: Jan. 2006
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Posted on: Jun. 05 2012, 4:21 pm |
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Congratulations Mike.
I did the ACL thing many years ago - the recovery was long and tough, but so worth it for not having to wear a huge brace (as I had done for 4 years). Tell her to hang in there.
An overnight to Sahale Arm followed by a Mt. Baker excursion would fit together rather nicely. The view from the Arm will give you the feel of being at a higher elevation - you look across at a wonderful series of jagged peaks.
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| Post Number: 12
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GoBlueHiker
Obsessive Island Hopper...
Group: Members
Posts: 14210
Joined: Jul. 2006
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Posted on: Jun. 07 2012, 12:06 pm |
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Thanks y'all, I appreciate it. And I am still reading the thread.
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Wealth needs more. Happiness needs less. Simplify.
www.RainForestTreks.com
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| Post Number: 13
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Dennis The Menace
Group: Members
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Joined: Apr. 2007
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Posted on: Jun. 07 2012, 2:12 pm |
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Congragulations Mike.
As others have mentioned, I highly recommend the Mount baker area. More specifically the border
area between Mount Baker Wilderness and North Cascades NP. Hannegan Peak is a short hike from
the trailhead and offers great views of the northeast side of mount shuksan
or to the north towards Canada
Another one is Lake Ann which is a short hike and you take the trail further up towards the
lower slopes of mount shuksan and get close up views of a hanging glacier off the slopes of
mount shuksan (I believe this was lower curtis glacier)
another cool pic of the lower curtis glacier
here is a cool pic of a valley looking down from the lower slopes of mount shuksan
have other cool pics of Mount Baker and mount shuksan around. See if I can't find them.
This probably was the most scenic area I've ever seen although the Minarets, Glacier NP
and part the eastern Sierra Nevada(particular around the palisades) come really close
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if you first punch someone and then that someone punches back and then you complain to
someone else that you were punched, then you're a silly fool
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| Post Number: 14
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Dennis The Menace
Group: Members
Posts: 8482
Joined: Apr. 2007
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Posted on: Jun. 07 2012, 2:13 pm |
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Oh and one other thing you should be aware of in Washington is that, unlike Colorado, Washington
has a very deep snowpack. In fact the Snow Water Equivalent is way way above normal. Easily comparable
with last year(even more so).
In fact check this out and take note of the olympics where its over 400% of normal
http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/ftpref....ate.pdf
insane. So the 188% of normal would correspond to the Mount Baker area so who knows how
much of the snowpack wil remain in July. Hannegan peak is a little over 6000 feet and
so the way the snowpack is now, the snow conditions could still be a problem in July
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if you first punch someone and then that someone punches back and then you complain to
someone else that you were punched, then you're a silly fool
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| Post Number: 15
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GoBlueHiker
Obsessive Island Hopper...
Group: Members
Posts: 14210
Joined: Jul. 2006
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Posted on: Jun. 07 2012, 2:34 pm |
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Thanks for the heads-up, DTM. I've spent plenty of time in WA and know the general snowpack well there, but I didn't realize it was well-above normal this year. Good to know, thanks again.
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Wealth needs more. Happiness needs less. Simplify.
www.RainForestTreks.com
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| Post Number: 16
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| Post Number: 17
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Dennis The Menace
Group: Members
Posts: 8482
Joined: Apr. 2007
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Posted on: Jun. 08 2012, 9:51 pm |
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http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/ftpref....ate.pdf
Damn!! Now its 489% of normal for the olympics,217% of normal for the Glacier peak area(actually
slighly south and to the west) & 210% of normal for the Mount Baker area.
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if you first punch someone and then that someone punches back and then you complain to
someone else that you were punched, then you're a silly fool
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| Post Number: 19
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Dennis The Menace
Group: Members
Posts: 8482
Joined: Apr. 2007
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Posted on: Jun. 18 2012, 11:15 am |
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http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/gis/images/wa_swepctnormal_update.png
Damn.
2336% above normal(SWE again) for the olympics.
Everything else in Washington(by region) ranges from 180%(in the southeast part of the state)
to 301% above normal in the northeast part of Washington. North Cascades/Mount Baker area
is 288% above normal.
Obviously there is very little no snowmelt going on which is just like last year except
that it appears that there is probably even less snowmelt compared to this time last year.
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if you first punch someone and then that someone punches back and then you complain to
someone else that you were punched, then you're a silly fool
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