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Easy pass north cascades6/4/2023 ![]() ![]() Then it took me down to where I had lost it the day before. Back to Hannegan Pass and Outīack on Easy Ridge Trail, I carefully followed the path in the forest. But for now, I was about to lose the hard-earned altitude back to the river. It was tough to turn around after knowing how time-consuming it was to come to Easy Ridge. But clouds later hovered the northern pickets, which I took as a sign to go home.īut I didn’t want to leave yet. The wind had stopped before dawn to walk around the ridge while basking in the sun. It also helped when a few short shrubs shielded the tent from the gusts. Though, I had a restful night despite the constant blowing. The east wind howled in the early evening and never stopped. I later found a dry spot on the ridge and set up camp. Then the mists soon devoured everything in sight and reduced visibility to zero. The wind increased as more clouds rolled in before sunset. So I put on microspikes, scoped out the terrain, and stopped here. I also hesitated to go higher on the slope without crampons. The peak looked quite steep from the north, at least at this angle. Afterward, I reached Easy Peak’s north ridge at 6200′. It had become cloudy earlier, and soon, more clouds rolled into the area. I went over Point 5988 from the east to avoid the forested west slopes. Then it took forever to climb over the high point in halfway decent snow. Not sure how Easy Ridge got its name, but it took lots of sweat to come up here! I couldn’t yet see Easy Peak because Point 5988 was in the way. Soon, I went southbound on Easy Ridge and put on snowshoes shortly. But I never saw Mount Shuksan because of the clouds. I reached the saddle and soon had the first view to the east with Ruth Mountain on the west. But soon, the snow took over the ground again. Feeling frustrated, I went straight up the steep hill over many logs.Īs luck would have it, the trail reappeared as I tried avoiding the outcrops! Then I continued on the narrow path up to the 4800′ clearing. But I had somehow lost the trail after going through the opening covered in ferns. ![]() I was able to follow the faint path in the dense forest at first. On the other side was another marker, which I followed into the trees. Then I carefully crossed Chilliwack River in thigh-high water. Soon, I walked two miles to the hidden trail by a cairn and went down to the shore. Then I took a break by Copper Creek near the camp. The sounds of several waterfalls en route helped to ease the otherwise uneventful boredom. Views in the trees were spotty as I bypassed a few piles of down trees. Then snow faded past the first water gully. After re-entering the trees past the North Cascades National Park boundary, I dropped more altitude. I crossed Hannegan Peak’s snowy, mild east basin. The trail would reappear as I made my way down the switchbacks. On the other side of the forested Hannegan Pass was the start of the Chilliwack River Trail. So I carefully walked through those spots, not stepping into any holes. Along the way, small gullies still had snow on the trail. The weather has been great, with a constant view of Ruth Mountain atop the valley. Just as I had pictured, it was a defined path. ![]() I slept by the trailhead for an early start but didn’t leave until 10 AM! It was my first time on Hannegan Pass Trail, which some call Pacific Northwest Trail. ![]()
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