It didn't get very cold last night and is 55 degrees this morning. But it is very overcast, no sun and strong winds. Too early to run the generator to make coffee (it's kind of noisy), so we head out to explore more of North Cascades.
We begin early by taking the short, steep road to Diablo Dam. We cross the dam and park on the other side to make coffee and hot chocolate and enjoy. No one around as the water thunders over the spillway.
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The surrounding mountains are engulfed in fog and clouds, which is moving fairly quickly in this wind. A few Seattle Light workers drive by and head for a building a quarter mile or so away, along the river. We get out to take photos in a light misty rain and strong wind and it feels good to get back into the warmth of the Trek to watch the clouds shift and swirl.
The pillars on the bridge crossing the dam remind us of chess pieces.
On the way to the Visitors Center, we stop to admire this cascading stream which tumbles almost the whole height of the mountain. Here are two sections. We take a short walk. It is still misty and water clings to everything.
This is called salal, and is related to heather. These flowers will produce deep purple berries.
Next stop is Gorge Lake and Gorge Creek Overlook. Just gorge-ous!
And then we stop at the Visitor's Center. It is closed, but there are several park employees outside with maps, information and a bear awareness display; including John, whom we met at the campground yesterday, and his wife Holly. He told us he would be here today and he suggests several trails.
The first is the short Sterling Munro Trail to a view of the Picket Range. The sign says it was considered impossible to climb until 1963. But the clouds are too low and thick to see the peaks which shield several glaciers.
Then, we make a short drive on a narrow road to the Trail of the Cedars along the Skagit River.
We walk among some beautiful big Western Red Cedar trees, up to 7'6" in diameter! Makes one feel so small!
The trail crosses the Skagit river to the tiny town of Newhalem, a "company town" for the Seattle Light workers who operate the dams (and a few National Park employees). 93% of the North Cascades National Park Complex is very rugged and barely developed. This tiny enclave and another called Diablo are the only development other than the park Visitor Center. All the buildings look as though they were built back in the 50s and 60s. Plain, brick, utilitarian.
The dogwood trees are blooming here and they are a sturdier, more full tree than we are used to seeing. Covered in pure white blooms! Wow! Much more robust than the more delicate understory dogwoods in Texas that bloom in early Spring. Gwynne, does your tree in PA look like this in bloom?
More pretty flowers along the path to the bridge. No idea what these are, but aren't they amazing?! So many varied colors and textures.
We hike back to the Trek and go back to the campground to make sure we have a site for tonight and claim site #150. ( The one we were in last night is reserved for today.) Another good spot! There are
only a few available and there may not be any later in the day.
A quick lunch and we head out to another trail, this one called Happy Creek Forest Walk. We have the place almost to ourselves. So pretty! I play with my f-stops and such on the camera as the light and shade are difficult to balance. A quiet and peaceful place with a light, expansive feeling - aptly named, we think.
We stop at Ross Dam Trail next. Beth opts to relax in the van while Greg does the mile and a half hike, which has a 500' elevation change.
Back to our campsite. Greg gets another fire going tonight and we have soup with cheese quesadillas and an ice cream sandwich for dessert! Yes, we have a freezer about the size of a loaf of bread - good for a dozen ice cream sandwiches (we DO have priorities😋).
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