With the heat dome closing in on the North Cascades Chuck and I pulled off a wonderful springtime ascent to Maple Pass. More or less normal to Heather Pass where conditions went from dry to full on snow cover. Conditions were excellent thanks to the early start. Snow didn't start to soften up until around 10:30 on our way back. Still alot of snow up high. Wonder how much will be left after the heat wave is over.
A DRIVE BY SHOT OF MORNING LIGHT ON THE EARLY WINTER SPIRES
MAPLE PASS FROM THE TRAIL AS WE GET CLOSE TO HEATHER PASS
CHUCK ARRIVING AT HEATHER PASS
NORTH FROM HEATHER PASS
CHUCK GEARING UP AT HEATHER PASS
ANOTHER VIEW NORTH FROM HEATHER PASS
LOOKING EAST PAST LEWIS LAKE TO BLACK PEAK FROM HEATHER PASS
ANOTHER VIEW OF BLACK PEAK FROM HEATHER PASS
CHUCK STARTING THE MELLOW WALK OUT TO MAPLE PASS, NORTH CASCADES, WA
THE WALK TO MAPLE PASS INCLUDED A FEW UP DOWNS.
ONE OF THE NICER SECTIONS OF THE WALK OUT TO MAPLE PASS, NORTH CASCADES, WA
SOUTHWEST TO DOME PEAK FROM MAPLE PASS TRAIL
CHUCK AND CORTEO PEAK FROM THE MAPLE PASS TRAIL, NORTH CASCADES, WA
CHUCK FURTHER ALONG THE MAPLE PASS TRAIL, NORTH CASCADES, WA
CHUCK ON FINAL APPROACH TO MAPLE PASS
ANOTHER VIEW FROM THE TOP OF MAPLE PASS.
CHUCK ON A PERFECT DAY AT THE TOP OF MAPLE PASS.
CORTEO AND BLACK PEAKS FROM THE TOP OF MAPLE PASS, NORTH CASCADES, WA
LOOKING WEST UP THE VALLEY OF THE NORTH CASCADES HWY