North Cascade Hiking Adventure
September 27 — October 1, 2023
Tour start and finish — Seattle, WA
Dates: 09/27 — 10/01, 2023
Price: $ 2290 per participant (limit: 11 participants).
Instructor: Alex Mironyuk, Karina Safari
Deposit: $ 400 (payments accepted for the remainder of the balance)
About this trip
Experience the great outdoors with this hiking trip that offers beautiful mountain views!
There are plenty of reasons to hike in the North Cascades. It’s scenic, challenging, and incredible. Plus, the state’s highest peaks are in this part of the country! Pack your bag and head for a view of the Cascade Mountains —these spots offer views that can’t be beaten!
Bring back a fantastic collection of Team photo memories of the most emotional moments of the trip captured by talented photographer and team leader Alex Mironyuk 📸 🏔 🤩
Stay at a hotel (double room occupancy)
Trip Cancellation Policy
The participant can cancel their trip anytime prior to departure with the following penalties:
- Cancellation 45+ days before departure — fully refundable
- Cancellation 45 to 21 days before departure — registration deposit is non-refundable
- Cancellation 20 to 0 calendar days before departure — full trip cost is nonrefundable
Trip cancellation insurance is advisable; it protects all registration deposits and payments for air and land costs.
Meals & water
On the day of arrival, we will make a stop at the grocery store to buy necessary trail snacks, fruits, and drinking water.
Hotel rooms are always equipped with mini-fridges to keep your groceries.
Breakfasts: included (regular hotel breakfast)
Lunches: Take your own trail snack. You can purchase it in advance and keep it in a fridge available for guests in the public living room area. In addition, we would suggest taking your own dry snacks from home, such as trail mix, energy bars, chocolate, etc.
If itinerary and time allow, we also stop by for lunch at the local cafeterias or breweries.
Dinners: Available at the lodge restaurant and nearby eateries in the village. We will take care of advanced reservations for the group.
Wifi and cellphone reception: Cellphone reception is limited or non-existent in national parks. Wi-fi will be available in the public areas of the hotel.
What to pack
Gear items:
- Suitcase OR Duffel for your MAIN luggage — PLEASE NO BULKY LUGGAGE ITEMS; PACK COMPACT as we don’t have much room in the van trunk. A carry-on size is preferred.
- A small backpack 28-35L for your day hikes (it should fit the following: your water reservoir, an extra layer, your personal hiking snack, sunblock, and your personal first aid kit)
- A rainproof cover for your day-pack
- Headlamp (it is good to have light when your hands are free. Always keep it in your backpack on a hiking trail)
- Trekking poles — a must-have for steep downhill trails (collapsable are better. Note: Standard hiking poles are not allowed in carry-on luggage during flights, collapsable ones haven’t been a problem; however, it depends on airline rules)
- Microspikes to hike over snow or ice
- Water bottle or camelback reservoir (1.5 to 2L)
- Small bags for your personal trash/leftovers for hiking days
- Sunblock (UV 50+)
- Lip balm (UV protection).
- Mosquito repellent (must have!)
- Your personal first aid kit (your personal medicines you can’t do without)
- Sunglasses
Optional:
- Ear plugs, if you are a sensitive sleeper
- Gaiters (protection for your boots and pants from mud, wetness, and dust) — recommended
Hiking Outfit:
- Good sturdy high-ankled, and waterproof hiking boots, well-worn before the trip (!) Please, no brand new boots; try them a few times on hiking trails before the trip to avoid painful blisters while on travel
- Comfortable tennis shoes (it’s good to have a change of shoes for off-trail activities)
- Hiking pants (long pants, no shorts, please)
- Light long-sleeved loose shirt for hiking (protection from sun and insects)
- A change of long/short-sleeved t-shirts as a base layer for hiking (preferably a quick-dry fabric, not cotton)
- A change of long-ankled hiking socks (not cotton. merino wool is the best)
- Fleece jacket or hoodie
- A windbreaker is better if the waterproof fabric
- Rain poncho — lightweight is better; any rain cover will work
- Sunhat
- Optional swimming suite: if you are brave enough to swim in the mountain lakes :)
What’s included
- All arrangements Itinerary, bookings, and arrangements
- Professional assistance Team Leader & Crew Photographer
- Ground transportation12-seater van
- Lodging Alpine lodge (basic rooms, bedding, shared bathroom)
What’s not included
- Flights to/from Seattle
- Meals Breakfasts, Lunches, and Dinners in Marblemount village
- Optional Upgrade Ensuite queen room with private shower
- Optional single room Your own room in the lodge (TBC upon availability)
- Hotels in Seattle If you arrive early or leave late from Seattle
Itinerary
Day 1
September 27, Wednesday
Our group is meeting at a rental car facility by 3 pm. We load our gear in our van and go to our simple hotel in the middle of the Mount Baker Wilderness.
We will check-in in our rooms and have the first dinner together.
Night in hotel
Day 2
September 28, Thursday
After breakfast, we will hike one of the most picturesque mountain trails — (the Park Butte trail).
We will hike to a historic fire lookout. Along with unobstructed panoramic views of Mount Baker, the Twin Sisters, and the rest of the North Cascades, the route to Park Butte offers the most that the North Cascades can provide for the outdoor enthusiast — wildflower-filled alpine meadows, rushing waterfalls, and thousands of small seasonal lakes full of melting water with stunning reflection of all surrounding mountains.
The trail length is 7.5 miles round trip with a 2200' elevation gain.
Night in hotel.
Day 3
September 29, Friday
This morning we will drive through the whole North Cascade National Park to get to our trailhead. If ever there was a hike to satisfy all a hiker’s desires, this trail comes as close as any. A loop hike with many fabulous changing faces throughout the different elevations (Heather-Maple Pass) features a unique fur forest at the beginning; ridgelines blanketed in wildflowers in summer, lakes ringed with larches, and countless dramatic views along the route. Nearby mountains include Corteo, Frisco, Goode, Stiletto, Black Peak, and many more.
The trail length is 7.5 miles round trip with a 2000' elevation gain.
Night in hotel.
Day 4
September 30, Saturday
After breakfast, we will drive to our perhaps most challenging trail on the trip — Cascade Pass Trail, with a possible extension to Sahale Arm toward the base of Sahale Glacier.
The view offers the exhilaration of climbing it certainly does, proceeding well above the tree line to a summit that hardly looks attainable from a distance. Still, it also provides an intimate view of the very heart of the North Cascades, the kind of immersive experience not available by gazing up from the valleys below. From wildflower meadows in its early stretches to stark granite at the top, it is a front-row seat for all that draws us upward.
From the top of the trail, you can enjoy the fantastic view of Sahale, Triad, Eldorado, Torment, Boston, Forbidden, Klawatti, and Sharkfin. You can see how closely one stack is on top of the next after the next.
The trail length is 7.4 miles round trip with a 1700' elevation gain (optional — 11.8 miles with a 3900' elevation gain).
Night in hotel.
Day 5
October 1, Sunday
Right after breakfast, we will check out from our rooms, and one more time, we will drive through the North Cascade National Park. But unlike two days ago, we will have time to stop at all pullouts to soak in that unforgettable beauty of surrounding mountains and clear turquoise lakes.
We will stretch our legs with short hikes to waterfalls, river dams, and viewpoints.
Very likely (if time permits) that day, we can perform one more small hike (up to 5-6 miles with up to 800' elevation gain).
Around 6 — 7 PM, we finally get to Seattle International Airport, where our trip will be officially over.
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