#5 PNW July 13 - 17 North Cascades NP WA to Whidbey Island Washington

North Cascades National Park to Whidbey Island Washington on the Olympic Peninsula 

This week our stops include Colonial Creek Campground (2 nights), Bay View State Park Campground (2 nights), and Deception Pass State Park Campground (1 night). 

July 13 & 14

Colonial Creek South Campground, North Cascades National Park, Washington

We get on the road and stop in the town of Winthrop to grab a few last minute items at the ACE hardware before going into the wilderness for a few days. The closer we get to the NP the bigger the mountains get with rugged peaks, glaciers, and thickly wooded with pines. The wow factor here is big. And the feel is very different from the more touristy NPs. It's wilder and less structured with an abundance of hiking, biking, mountain climbing, and kayaking opportunities. And many trails allow dogs! Click any picture to enlarge and X out to return)

A quick breakfast for a speedy departure.

The town of Winthrop is the last bit of civilization before entering the vast wilderness of the Cascades.

One of the many drive through coffee stands. The name!

The roads are getting steeper and much more curvy as we near Liberty Bell mountain up ahead. It stands at 7,720 feet.

This view of the winding road below from the Washington Pass Overlook at an elevation of 5,476 gives another perspective at Liberty Bell mountain.

Over millions of years glaciers and volcanoes were significant in sculpting the mountains and carving out the valleys in this landscape.

This provides an excellent description of how the landscape was formed. Click to enlarge.

The Washington Pass Overlook. 

We continue on and stop at Rainy Pass for a hike. There are day use fees and luckily our National Parks Lifetime Senior Pass (geezer pass) covers this. That pass was $80.00 when I was 62 and the benefits have far surpassed that. This popular hike goes through large pines and down to a crystal clear lake surrounded by mountains.

A variety of conifers dot the trail including Western & Mountain Hemlocks, Western Red Cedars, Pacific Silver Firs, and Douglas Firs

Lake Ann

In Bella goes!

Jonathan has had amazing luck at finding campgrounds that have been booked for months in the high season. Unbelievably he snags one for 2 nights in the heart of North Cascades National Park! Our campsite is surrounded by huge Douglas Firs with a small creek. The best site to date. And within a short walk to the to the trail head for Thunder Creek, an arm of Lake Diablo. 

Bella finds a cool spot to hang out at the campsite. Upon closer inspection we see that there is the tiniest of creeks under the foliage. That explains everything!

Old growth Douglas Firs are throughout the campground.

Thunder Creek

Mule deer in the campground.

A simple dinner of Trader Joe's jicama slaw, Trader Joe's giant baked beans, and smoked chicken breast. 

The next morning at 7 we drive 11 miles to the North Cascades visitor center to get some intel about the NP and see a few of the stunning view points along the way while it's still early. The first stop is the Lake Diablo dam. There is a very narrow road that goes across the lake to a viewing area of the dam. We are the only vehicle here which is great because I can't imagine meeting another car coming from the opposite direction on this narrow road. The next stop is Gorge Overlook. From the parking area it's a short walk to the bridge with a view of Gorge Creek Falls, a 242 foot cascade. We make a quick stop at the NP visitor center then head back to the campsite to hike the Thunder Lake trail. The hike is about 5 miles with some steep inclines and declines. And berries! It's amazing there are so many ripe one and we graze along the way. 

The Lake Diablo Dam road.

Lake Diablo back lit by the sunrise. Typically the lake is a striking color of blue but not in this light. 

Lake Diablo Dam

Lake Diablo Dam

The drive out of Lake Diablo dam

Gorge Falls

The general store in the town of Newhalem within the NP

Thunder Creek trail

Thunder Creek trail

The current is strong out near the middle so Bella is kept on the leash here for safety. It's hot out today so a dip and a drink is essential.

Huckleberries.

The ranger talk on bears. He tells us about the efforts to restore grizzly bears to the North Cascades are on hold. There have been some reported sightings presumably of bears that have made their way down from Canada but none have been tagged or radio collared. 

July 15 & 16

Bay View Washington, Bay View State Park

The next destination is about a 2 hour drive and will be our first look at the waterways of the Pacific Ocean. But first we take one last hike in the Cascades at Thunderhead Knob trail up to an overlook. Yesterday we had 18+k steps and so today we are dragging a bit until the surrounding beauty revives us.

We made it to the overlook making the hike so worth the effort.

The view!

A view of the Thunder Arm of Lake Diablo.

We get on the road to take us out of the NP boundary and head toward the Pacific Ocean. Once we get into civilization our first stop is Haggen Grocery, a slightly upscale regional chain in WA. We love a bargain but we also don't mind paying for quality. We know we're hitting a Trader Joe's tomorrow so we get enough for dinner and tomorrow's breakfast. 

Bella hangs out while we shop.

As we get toward Bay View there are miles of potato farms. Some other crops too but mostly potatoes.

Bella is happy to see water. Any water. She starts to drink but recoils at the saltiness.

Sunset overlooking Padilla Bay, an estuary in Puget Sound.

 

July 16

Today we get up early for a day trip to Bellingham where we will visit Northwest Exlorations Charter company where we will secure a Grand Banks 42 for next summer. After that we grab some lunch and head over to Freedom Boat club to go out on a boat we have reserved for today. 

Bella Vato at Bay View State Park campground.

We got a tour of one of the Grand Banks. The particular boat we reserved is on a Mother Goose flotilla to Alaska.

Beautiful hydrangeas in Bellingham

Clam chowder at the Web Locker restaurant.

Here we are in a 22 foot pilot house tooling around the San Juan's

Happy Captain!

A waterman coming in the cut with his catch of dungeness crab.

July 17 

Deception Pass State Park

Off we go to one of the most popular parks on Whidbey Island which is just south of the San Juan Islands in Puget Sound. Jonathan called and miraculously snagged a cancellation. This one even has an electric hookup, which we haven't had for a week or so (we really don't need it, but it feels deluxe). We get squared away and take a walk about to check out the campground, visitor center, and the nearby trail along the lake. Tomorrow we'll do the coastal cliff walk along Puget sound where we will have a birds eye view of deception pass.

Bella Vato nestled into the trees.

The weather is cool for the foreseeable future.

.

Thimble berries right at our campsite.

July 18

This morning we get up early to walk the coastal trail. It's foggy and cool. Deception Pass is actually a strait that separates Whidbey Island from Fidalgo Island. The pass is known for strong tidal currents and the Deception Pass bridge on Hwy 20, the road we've been on since we crossed over from Idaho to Washington. 

This gives an idea of the geography of the area.

A waterman going through the pass.

The Deception Pass bridge.

The trail is narrow and steep and not very well marked. We hit a few dead ends but it's easy enough to get back on the main trail.

Here we are high up on a cliff overlooking the pass.

Back on the beach.

Barely made it into the picture in time but good enough.

Time for coffee.

By the time we were done with the walk the day is warming up so ice coffee it is!

I found a few treasures that include 2 pieces of sea glass. My favorite!

The water pump has sounded a bit different for the last few days. Now we know why. This morning it quit. No water! Luckily Jonathan is no stranger to fixing a situation such as this from our time living aboard. Stay tuned.

From here we're off to Anacortes, WA! See you next week.