#pasayten

The northernmost section of the PCT passes through the Pasayten Wilderness, in Washington State.

By Rees Hughes

I have had some bad ideas in my time . . . my dalliance with infrared film is certainly on the list.  It wasn’t a mistake to experiment, but it was the only film I took on a magical week hiking the PCT in the Pasayten back in August, 1982.  That was the mistake.  Every time I look back at those photos, I find them very UNhelpful in my efforts to remember the beauty of that stretch of trail.

Infrared film is sensitive to infrared light and, in my case, necessitated use of a special filter that blocks all or most of the visible light spectrum (but lets infrared light pass through). Infrared light is on the red end of the spectrum in a range that is not visible to the naked eye.  As you can see from my two sample images, it characteristically turns green vegetation a bright red.

The Infrared-sensitive process was developed during World War 1 by the United States to improve aerial intelligence photography through haze. It was adapted for astronomy in the 1930’s and currently used in aerial survey applications such as vegetation and forestry surveys.  It takes a special touch to create a desirable effect on the trail.

We began at Canyon Creek trailhead, along Highway 20, hiked up the Jackita Ridge Trail, visited Devils Dome, then connected with the Pacific Crest Trail at Holman Pass and headed north. At Castle Pass we took the Three Fools Trail west, to Ross Lake, where we got the water taxi to Ross Dam and hitchhiked back home.

Here are a few pics from the trip.

Sunset atop Devils Dome, Pasayten Wilderness, North Cascades

This first one is a sunset from atop Devils Dome. We spent the night there, (08/08/08) and were observers of a spectacle of lightning storms that swept through that night, starting innumerable fires throughout the park. Like three fools we stayed there, atop the Devils Dome, mouths agape, as the night sky erupted and just watched.

  Jack Mountain from Devils Dome, Pasayten Wilderness, North Cascades

This is Jack Mountain, from Devils Dome.  Hiking in the Pasayten Wilderness is wonderful, lots of views and flowers.

Cascade Crest from Jackita Ridge Trail, Pasayten Wilderness

This was taken from the Jackita Ridge Trail, looking west – southwest. That long green meadow inviting you is Devils Garden.

Here is another view from the trail.

Jack Mountain, Pasayten Wilderness

After Devils Dome we made our way to Holman Pass where we intersected the PCT and turned north. The image on the right is from a glorious meadow (with a spring) just before Rock Pass. And the Double Rainbows is at Rock Pass looking north. That’s Lakeview Ridge stretching to the distance.

Double Rainbows at Rock Pass, Pasayten Wilderness

Pacific Crest Trail, Pasayten Wilderness

The wildflowers are all over (assuming you’re there at the right time!)

The Three Fools Trail was a struggle. It hadn’t been maintained in more that a decade, there were more than 200 down trees between Elbow Basin and Three Fools Creek…it was brutal!

The sunsets were magnificent. This is from Elbow Basin.

The Three Fools Trail lived up to its hype: Stunning scenery, no one to be seen anywhere and you’d have to be a fool to try!

Big Face Mountain from the Three Fools Trail, Pasayten Wilderness

Here is Big Face Mountain from the trail.

Ross Lake from the Lightning Creek Trail, North Cascades National Park

and lastly, Ross Lake, from the Lightning Creek Trail.

That was my first visit to the section of the PCT from Holman Pass, north to the border with Canada. I have revisited several times, access is not bad, at Slate Peak. You can park at a junction with the PCT, at 7,000 ft elevation to start your hike!

The views along Lakeview Ridge are to die for…that will be the subject of the next post!

Oh, the hitchhiking home part: When we debarked the water taxi and hiked up to Highway 20 we were more than a bit surprised to see hordes of cops. Not just regular ones, Border Patrol, guys in kevlar with nasty weapons, the place was swarming with them!

Eventually one of the cops came over to ID us sketchy looking hitchhikers and being polite and all the cop arranged a ride for us home. It turned out that a Park Employee had stumbled upon a huge marijuana farm, right there, near Ross Lake! So they came up with the swat team and got boats and went to raid the pot farm, but by the time they got there, the farmers had fled to parts unknown.

We previously posted some of Krista Eager’s reflections on her 2018 PCT experience.  Here are some more images from the beautiful North Cascades beginning with Fire Creek Pass on the bottom left and on into the Pasayten (remaining two images).

Krista grew up in Saskatoon, SK and has lived in a number of communities in western Canada since including Jasper Alberta, Vancouver BC, Courtenay BC, off the highway near Mt. Robson in BC, and Churchill Manitoba. She was inspired to hike the Arizona Trail after watching Tim Cope's documentary 'On the Trail of Genghis Khan' at the Banff Mountain Film Festival. Krista hiked the Heysen Trail in Australia while working ‘Down Under’ in 2016 - 2017. 

Dennis Golden walked the five miles of the PCT from Rainy to Cutthroat Pass on October 7th.  The 12 inches of fresh snow and colorful larches make for some spectacular photos although the snow must have made for an arduous slog.

The PCT in the north is empty now.  The building snow absorbs any noise that the wind may make and the long dark nights reinforce the penetrating cold and wet.  It will be months before hikers return to the Pasayten.

Tyson Fisher has captured some of the moods of the Pasayten. Although the top photo, Methow Pass (6600’), and the second photo (below), Rock Pass (6491’), are beautiful scenes, you can imagine wearing all of your clothes and still being cold in the damp air and piercing wind. Take it a step further and imagine desperately scanning this hostile landscape for a sheltered camping spot as the sun wanes and temperature begins to drop further.

I’m glad to be home in my warm and pleasant bed for the winter.